Alexander Gordon Jump (April 1, 1932 – September 22, 2003) was an American actor best known as the clueless, yet occasionally wise, radio station manager Arthur "Big Guy" Carlson in the TV series WKRP in Cincinnati and the incompetent Chief of Police Tinkler in the sitcom Soap. Jump guest starred on a two-part episode of the 1980s sitcom Diff'rent Strokes, in which he portrayed a pedophile who tries to molest main characters Arnold and his friend, Dudley. He also played the "Maytag Repairman" in commercials for Maytag brand appliances, from 1989 until his retirement from the role in July 2003.[1]
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Gordon Jump | |
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Born | Alexander Gordon Jump (1932-04-01)April 1, 1932 Dayton, Ohio, U.S. |
Died | September 22, 2003(2003-09-22) (aged 71) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Alma mater | Kansas State University |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1959–2003 |
Spouses |
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Children | 4 |
Born Alexander Gordon Jump, Jump was raised in Centerville, Ohio, a suburb of Dayton. Jump graduated from Centerville High School and enrolled in Otterbein College. After his first year, Jump transferred to Kansas State University, where he studied broadcasting and communications and was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. Jump got his first job in the broadcasting industry with WIBW-TV in Topeka. There, he dabbled in "writing, producing, and directing."[2]: 17 Jump was the title character in WIBW's "WIB the Clown" production, an educational children's program. Jump reported the weather on the same 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.[3] He continued as a producer and on-air personality at WLWD, hosting Gordon Jump's Fun Time, a popular show for younger children,[4] and High Time, a variety series,[5] before moving to Los Angeles in 1963 to pursue acting.[2]: 17 Later in his life, Jump converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).[6]: 1
Jump's acting career began at age 32. Jump participated in a theatre production at the Glendale Centre Theatre in Glendale, California, where he was noticed for talent and offered an agent.[6]: 1 The theatre was owned by Nathan and Ruth Hale, a family who were members of the LDS Church. It was there that Jump first learned about the LDS Church.[7][8]
Jump's first break on television was his guest role as Samuel Clements in CBS's Daniel Boone,[2]: 18 where he had eight lines.[6]: 1 During the 1960s, he landed minor roles in television on such shows as Get Smart,[9] Lancer,[10] Here Come the Brides,[11] and Green Acres.[12][13] He guest-starred in a number of series during the 1970s and through the 1990s.[9]
In the 1960s, Jump converted to the LDS Church. Subsequently, he acted in several church-produced instructional and educational productions, including When Thou Art Converted (1967), Pioneers In Petticoats (1969),[8] and What About Thad? (1970),[14]. In 1967, he played the role of Lehi in the Burbank pageant People of the Book.[15] He also appeared as the apostle Peter in a 1969 film used as part of the church's temple ceremonies.[16] Jump would return to church-related films with a small role in the 2002 comedy The Singles Ward.[17] Jump and Robert Starling, an independent filmmaker, founded Associated Latter-day Media Artists (ALMA) together.[8]
Jump's first recurring role came in 1977, as Chief of Police Tinkler in Soap.[2]: 18 [9] 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.[2]: iii Jump stated that the character of Arthur Carlson was based on a real-world WQXI executive.[2]: 7
After WKRP in Cincinnati folded in 1982, Jump made an appearance on a two-part episode of Diff'rent Strokes, titled "The Bicycle Man". He played Mr. Horton, the owner of a bicycle shop who attempts to molest series protagonist Arnold Jackson and his friend, Dudley.[1] While his Los Angeles Times obituary called this role a "daring career turn,"[1] Genevieve Koski at the AV Club's roundtable found the laughtrack that played during the scene in which the boys see nude photographs "horrifying".[18] Koski's fellow roundtable member Donna Bowman disagreed, stating that the special humanized the situation.[18]
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[19] entitled The New WKRP in Cincinnati. He also appeared in the ninth and final season of Seinfeld, in which 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.
Jump died on September 22, 2003 from pulmonary fibrosis, leading to respiratory failure at his home near Los Angeles, California.[20]
Jump believed the film and television industry to be "the most powerful tool" that can both "communicate" and "give... a positive outlook of life to many people."[6]: 1 According to his personal religious faith, Jump also believed theatre and television had the ability to uplift and edify individuals, and speculated that God uses a similar medium to guide his children.[6]: 1
When certain scripts required Jump to act in ways that went against his religious convictions, he stated that his acting required the same "honesty and judiciousness" as the rest of his life.[6]: 5 He would portray the fictional character as accurately as possible so as to deliver an honest representation of the story to his audience. He warned against portraying all theatrical characters like "missionaries," and instead encouraged actors to "stay true to their craft," through which their inner virtue would be able to shine through.[6]: 7, 11 Additionally, Jump did not believe in censorship, claiming instead that "if you teach people correct principles, they can govern themselves," a paraphrase of a teaching by Joseph Smith.[2]: 95 [21]
When Jump was offered the role of Chief Tinkler in Soap, he and his current LDS Church bishop were wary that the content of the program was contrary to his faith. Jump returned to the producers the next day with the intention of refusing the role. The directors heard Jump's concerns and suggested that the underlying messages of the show were more aligned to Jump's beliefs as a Latter-day Saint than he realized. He was encouraged him to read the "retribution scenes" in the script. Jump was impressed by the depth of the lessons in the show, told through humor.[6]: 8 He took the role in Soap, and recommends to viewers of faith to evaluate the lessons taught by the finished artistic product of a film or show, rather than evaluate whether an actor would actually do some of the things they portray on screen.[6]: 7
Film | ||||
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Year | Title | Role | Notes | Citation |
1965 | Marriage- What Kind For You? | Business Man at the New Years party. | LDS Church film | [22] |
1967 | When Thou Art Converted | Typewriter Boss and Elders Quorum President | LDS Church film | [23][24] |
1969 | Pioneers In Petticoats | LDS Church film | [25] | |
1969 | What About Thad? | Bishop in the LDS Church | LDS Church film | [26] |
1969 | Flareup | Security Guard | [27] | |
1969 | Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Temple Film | The Apostle Peter | [28][16] | |
1970 | Ransom Money | [29] | ||
1972 | Conquest of the Planet of the Apes | Auctioneer | [30] | |
1972 | Trouble Man | Salter | [31] | |
1972 | Rolling Man | [32][13] | ||
1975 | A Cry For Help | Lloyd Hogan | [33] | |
1976 | Sybil | [34] | ||
1977 | Skateboard | Harris | [35] | |
1978 | Ruby and Oswald | [36][13] | ||
1978 | The Guilty | LDS Church film. | [37] | |
1978 | The Fury | Nuckells | [38] | |
1978 | House Calls | Dr. O'Brien | [39] | |
1978 | The Small One | Joseph | Voice, Short animated film | [40] |
1979 | Goldie and the Boxer | Alex | [41][13] | |
1979 | Evidence of Power | Dr. Lawson | [42] | |
1980 | Mr. Krueger's Christmas | Narrator | LDS Church film | [43] |
1981 | Midnight Offerings | [44][13] | ||
1982 | For Lovers Only | Harvey Pugh | [45][13] | |
1982 | Families are Forever | LDS church film | [46] | |
1984 | Making the Grade | Mr. Harriman | [47] | |
1985 | Darlin' Clementine | [48] | ||
1987 | Perry Mason: The Case of the Lost Love | [49][13] | ||
1987 | On Fire | [50][13] | ||
1988 | Moving | Simon Eberhart | [51] | |
1988 | Justin Case | Sheldon Wannamaker | [52][13] | |
1990 | Honeymoon Academy | Mr. Nelson | Alternative title: For Better or For Worse | [53] |
1994 | Bitter Vengeance | Arnold Fulmer | [54] | |
1999 | A Dog's Tale | Professor Thadeus A. Widstone | [55] | |
2002 | The Singles Ward | An Airline Passenger | [56] | |
2003 | Dismembered | [57] | ||
Television | ||||
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Citation |
1965 | Daniel Boone | Marcus Clements | 1 episode | [9][13] |
1966 | Get Smart | Hobson | 2 episodes "Casablanca" "Maxwell Smart, Private Eye" | [9][13] |
1967 | T.H.E. Cat | 1 episode | ||
1968 | Green Acres | [9][13] | ||
1968 | Lancer | 1 episode "The Homecoming" | [13] | |
1970 | Mannix | Charlie | 1 episode "Once upon a Saturday" | [9][13] |
1970–1974 | The Partridge Family | Man #2 / Zack Feldman / Father | 7 episodes | [9][13] |
1970 | The Brady Bunch | Mechanic / Collins | 2 episodes | [9][13] |
1970 | The Young Rebels | 1 episode "The Hostages" | [13] | |
1970–1973 | Love, American Style | [9] | ||
1971 | The Doris Day Show | Mr. Robinson | 1 episode | [9] |
1971 | Bewitched | 2 episodes "The Return of Darrin the Bold" "Money Happy Returns" | [9][13] | |
1971 | Cade's County | 1 episode "Violent Echo" | [13] | |
1971-74 | Partridge Family | 4 episodes "The Strike-Out King (1973)" "Art For Mom's Sake (1974)" | [13] | |
1971-73 | Love, American Style | 2 episodes "Love and the Bowling Ball (1971)" "Love and the Suspicious Husband (1973)" | [13] | |
1971–1973 | The New Dick Van Dyke Show | 1 episode | [9][13] | |
1972–1973 | The Mary Tyler Moore Show | Hank Morton / Judy's Father | 2 episodes "The Courtship of Mary's Father's Daughter (1972)" | [9][13] |
1973 | A Touch of Grace | Greenwald | 1 episode | [13] |
1973 | The Paul Lynde Show | Larry | 1 episode "The Congressman's Son" | [13] |
1974 | Chase | 1 episode "$35 Will Fly You to the Moon" | [13] | |
1974 | Kojak | Jonas | 1 episode "Slay Ride" | [9][13] |
1974 | The Apple's Way | [9] | ||
1974 | McCloud | [9] | ||
1974 | Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers | Mr. Mead | 1 episode | [13] |
1975-76 | The Rockford Files | Freddie | 2 episodes "Just By Accident (1975)" "A Bad Deal in the Valley (1976)" | [9][13] |
1974–1975 | That's My Mama | Officer O'Reilley | 3 episodes "The Last Haircut (1974)" | [9][13] |
1974 | Girl With Something Extra | 1 episode "Guess Who's Feeding the Pigeons?" | [13] | |
1975 | Harry O | 2 episodes "Anatomy of a Frame" "Lester II" | [9][13] | |
1975 | Police Woman | 1 episode "No Place to Hide" | [9][13] | |
1975 | Starsky and Hutch | [9] | ||
1975 | The Streets of San Francisco | Sergeant Lacy | 1 episode | |
1975 | Switch | 1 episode "Stung From Behind" | [13] | |
1975 | ABC Afterschool Special | 1 episode "Fawn Story" | [13] | |
1976 | The Bionic Woman | Charles Butler | 1 episode "Welcome Home, Jaime" | [9][13] |
1976 | McMillan & Wife | [9] | ||
1976 | Rich Man, Poor Man | Dr. Simms | 1 episode | |
1976 | Alice | Sheriff McElroy | 1 episode | [9][13] |
1976 | McDuff, the Talking Dog | Amos Ferguson | 11 episodes | [13] |
1976 | Archie | Mr. Andrews | 1 episode "Pilot" | [13] |
1977 | Black Sheep Squadron | 1 episode "Last One for Hutch" | [13] | |
1977 | Good Times | [9][13] | ||
1977 | Lou Grant | National Editor | 6 episodes | [9] |
1977 | The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries | Officer Hooper | 1 episode "Mystery of the Diamond Triangle" | [13] |
1977-1978 | Soap | Chief of Police Tinkler | 12 episodes | [13] |
1978 | The Incredible Hulk | Mac | 1 episode | [9] |
1978–1982 | WKRP in Cincinnati | Arthur "Big Guy" Carlson, Station Manager | 88 episodes (90 in syndication) | [13] |
1980-87 | The Love Boat | 6 episodes "The Invisible Maniac (1980)" "Putting on the Dog (1983)" "Aerobic April (1983)" "Frat Wars (1986)" "Who Killed Maxwell Thorn? (1987)" | [13] | |
1981 | Project Peacock | 1 episode "The Big Stuffed Dog (special)" | [13] | |
1983 | Diff'rent Strokes | Mr. Horton | 2 episodes: "The Bicycle Man" (two parts) | [9][13] |
1983 | Just a Little More Love | (NBC special) | [13] | |
1983 | Great Day | 1 episode "Pilot" | [13] | |
1984 | Second Edition | 1 episode "Pilot" | [13] | |
1985 | CBS Children's Mystery Theatre | 1 episode "The Dirkin Detective Agency" | [13] | |
1985 | Night Court | American agent | 1 episode "World War III" | [9][13] |
1985 | Amazing Stories | 1 episode "Guilt Trip" | [13] | |
1985 | Tall Tales & Legends | Mr. Ripple | 1 episode | |
1986–1991 | Growing Pains | Ed Malone | 11 episodes | [9] |
1986 | Simon & Simon | Ross Garrett | 1 episode "Camp Apollo" | [9][13] |
1986 | New Love American Style | 1 episode "Love and the Balcony" | [13] | |
1986 | The Golden Girls | Leonard Barton | 1 episode | [13] |
1986 | Murder, She Wrote | 1 episode "If the Frame Fits" | [9][13] | |
1987 | What a Country | 1 episode "The Love Potion" | [13] | |
1988 | Who's the Boss? | Archie | 1 episode | |
1989 | Sister Kate | Lucas Underwood | 1 episode | |
1991–1993 | The New WKRP in Cincinnati | Arthur 'Big Guy' Carlson | 46 episodes | |
1994 | Baywatch | Max Edelman | 2 episodes | [9] |
1994 | Kino's Storytime | Himself, narrator of Horton Hatches the Egg | 1 episode | |
1995 | Empty Nest | Bud | 1 episode | |
1997 | Married... with Children | Mr. Tot | 1 episode | [9] |
1997 | Seinfeld | Mr. Thomassoulo | 2 episodes | [9] |
1998 | Mike Hammer, Private Eye | Augustus Hancock Sterling, The General | 2 episodes |
Gordon Jump was the surveyor on season 4 episode 12 of Green Acres 1968, "How to Get from Hooterville to Pixley Without Moving".
Gordon Jump was Mayor Tilly on an episode of Murder She Wrote called "If The Frame Fits" in 1986
Gordon Jump, who played a befuddled radio station manager on the sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati and made his mark in commercials as the lonely Maytag repairman, died on Monday at his home southeast of Los Angeles. He had pulmonary fibrosis.
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has generic name (help)Preceded by | Maytag Repairman 1989–2003 |
Succeeded by Hardy Rawls |
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