Gordon Jump

Gordon Jump (born Alexander Gordon Jump on April 1, 1932-died on September 22, 2003) made a guest appearance on Married... with Children as Earl Tot, the owner of Tot Industries, the maker of Al's favorite snack, Weenie Tots, in the Season 11 episode titled "How to Marry a Moron". He was best known for his role as the lonely Maytag repairman in the TV/radio commercial and print ads for the Maytag Corporation, and for his role as Arthur Carlson on WKRP in Cincinnati (In real life, he was a radio and TV personality). He also played the incompetent "Chief of Police Tinkler" in the ABC sitcom 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. 

After WKRP in Cincinnati was cancelled in 1982, Jump made an appearance on a two-part episode of Diff'rent Strokes, cast as Mr. Horton, the owner of a bicycle shop who attempts to sexually molest series protagonist Arnold Jackson and his friend, Dudley Ramsey. He later hosted the PBS series Make Yourself at Home, taught voice classes, and made frequent appearances on the hit ABC television series Growing Pains playing Joanna Kerns'  father. Jump also enjoyed working in theater.

In 1989, Jump took over the Maytag repairman role from Jesse White. 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. Jump's last movie role was in the 2004 film Changing of the Guard, released after his death.

Gordon worked with future Seinfeld TV series director Andy Ackerman during his time on WKRP. Gordon passed away in Los Angeles on September 22, 2003, as a result of pulmonary fibrosis and respiratory failure.

External links

• Gordon Jump article at Wikipedia