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Gordon Jump

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Gordon Jump (born Alexander Gordon Jump April 1, 1932 - September 22, 2003) was an American actor. He was best known for his role as the lonely Maytag repairman in the TV/radio commercial and print ads for the Maytag Corporation from 1989 to 2003, and for his role as Arthur Carlson on WKRP in Cincinnati, "Chief of Police Tinkler" in the ABC sitcom Soap. [1]

On Married... with Children, he played Earl Tot, the owner of Tot Industries, the maker of Al's favorite snack, Weenie Tots, in the Season 11 episode, "How to Marry a Moron (Part 2)".

Early Life[]

Born Alexander Gordon Jump, Jump was raised in Centerville, a suburb of Dayton, Ohio. He graduated from Centerville High School and enrolled in Otterbein College. After his first year, he transferred to Kansas State University studying broadcasting and communication; he was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. He got his first television job with WIBW-TV in Topeka. He dabbled in "writing, producing, and directing" while at the station. Jump was the title character in WIBW's "WIB the Clown", an educational children's program. He reported the weather on the channel and was not always able to get his clown makeup off in time.

In September 1961, he returned to Dayton and joined WLWD as the station's director of special broadcast services. He continued as a producer and on-air personality at WLWD, hosting Gordon Jump's Fun Time, a popular show for younger children, and High Time, a variety series, before moving to Los Angeles in 1963 to pursue acting.

In 1978, in celebration of WIBW's 25th anniversary, he made an on air appearance to talk about his time at the station while also talking about his role on WKRP in Cincinnati.[2]

Career[]

Television and Film[]

Jump's acting career began when he was 32. Jump participated in a theatre production at the Glendale Centre Theatre in Glendale, California, where he was noticed and offered an agent. The theatre was owned by Nathan and Ruth Hale, who were members of the LDS Church. It was there that Jump first learned about the LDS Church.

Jump's first break on television was his guest role as Marcus Clements in CBS's Daniel Boone, where he had eight lines. During the 1960s, he landed minor roles in television on such shows as Get Smart, Lancer, Here Come the Brides, and Green Acres.

In the 1960s, Jump converted to the LDS Church. He acted in several church-produced instructional and educational productions, including When Thou Art Converted (1967), Pioneers In Petticoats (1969), and What About Thad? (1970). In 1967, he played the role of Lehi in the Burbank pageant People of the Book. He appeared as Peter, the apostle, in a 1969 film which was used in some of the church's temple ceremonies. He also acted in The Singles Ward in 2002, a LDS comedy series. He and Robert Starling, an independent filmmaker, began Associated Latter-day Media Artists.

Jump's first recurring role came in 1977, as Chief of Police Tinkler in Soap. In 1978, he landed his signature role of Arthur "Big Guy" Carlson on the situation comedy WKRP in Cincinnati, portraying a bumbling radio station manager whose main qualification for the job is being the son of the station's owner. Jump stated that the character of Arthur Carlson was based on a real-world WQXI executive

After WKRP in Cincinnati was cancelled in 1982, Jump made an appearance on a two-part "very special episode" of Diff'rent Strokes. In the controversial two parter, "The Bicycle Man", he played Mr. Horton, the owner of a bicycle shop who attempts to sexually molest series protagonist Arnold Jackson and his friend, Dudley Ramsey. Jump, who was typecast through his career, described it as a "gamble" to portray a pedophile "because you get typed so easily.” He called playing Mr. Horton "one of [his] most painful but rewarding parts".

He later hosted the PBS series Make Yourself at Home.

Throughout the 1980s, Jump made appearances on many other shows. These appearances include The Love Boat, Night Court, The Golden Girls, Murder, She Wrote, and Who's the Boss?.

Between 1986 and 1991, Jump had a recurring role on the hit ABC television series Growing Pains. On the show, he played Ed Malone, the Irish-born father to Maggie Seaver and father-in-law to Jason Seaver (played by fellow MWC guest star, Alan Thicke). Jump also enjoyed working in theater.

In the 1990s, Jump starred in a short-lived revival of WKRP in Cincinnati entitled The New WKRP in Cincinnati.

He also appeared in the ninth and final season of Seinfeld, where he played George Costanza's boss at a playground equipment company over two episodes. Gordon had previously worked with Seinfeld TV series director Andy Ackerman during his time on WKRP.

Jump's last movie role was in the 2004 film Changing of the Guard, released after his death.

Commercials[]

In 1989, Jump took over the Maytag repairman role, known as "Ol' Lonely", from Jesse White and appeared in numerous ads for the brand until his retirement from acting in 2003. Because he was its spokesperson, Maytag customers would approach him in real life and ask him for help with their appliances.

Personal Life[]

After moving to Los Angeles, Jump converted and became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). His religious beliefs shaped his acting and the roles that he chose to take.

Jump was a self-described "lifelong Republican".

Death[]

Gordon passed away in Los Angeles on September 22, 2003, as a result of pulmonary fibrosis and respiratory failure. He is buried at El Toro Memorial Park in Orange County, California.

External links[]

References[]

  1. ↑ Oliver, Myrna. "Gordon Jump, 71; Was 'Maytag Man' in Ads, 'Big Guy' on 'WKRP' TV Series", The Los Angeles Times, September 24, 2003. Retrieved on 2012-01-29. 
  2. ↑ WIBW remembers Gordon Jump
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