Gordon Jump
Birth nameAlexander Gordon Jump
Birth dateApril 1, 1932
Birth placeDayton, Ohio, U.S.
Death dateSeptember 22, 2003 (aged 71)
Death placeLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Known forWKRP in Cincinnati
OccupationActor
Years active1959–2003
Spouse
  • Olinda D. Kandt (m. 1954; div. 1962)
  • Anna F. Inge Jump (m. 1963; div. 1992)
  • Betty McKeever (m. 1993)
Alma materKansas State University

Alexander Gordon Jump (April 1, 1932 – September 22, 2003) was an American actor best known for playing Arthur "Big Guy" Carlson in the series WKRP in Cincinnati (1978–1982); he reprised the role in its spinoff The New WKRP in Cincinnati (1991–1993). He also played Chief Tinkler in the sitcom Soap (1977–1978) and Mr. Horton on a two-part episode of the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes (1983). He appeared in Maytag commercials as the "Maytag repairman" from 1989 until he retired in 2003.[1]

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.[2]: 17 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.[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 and became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).[6]: 1

Career

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.[6]: 1 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.[7][8]

Jump's first break on television was his guest role as Marcus 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]

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),[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 appeared as Peter, the apostle, in a 1969 film which was used in some of the church's temple ceremonies.[16] He also acted in The Singles Ward in 2002, a LDS comedy series.[17] He and Robert Starling, an independent filmmaker, began Associated Latter-day Media Artists.[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 was cancelled in 1982, Jump made appearances on many other shows.[9] These appearances include The Love Boat, Night Court, The Golden Girls, Murder, She Wrote, and Who's the Boss? He had a recurring role as Maggie Seaver's father on Growing Pains.

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 laugh track 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 two-season revival of WKRP in Cincinnati[19] entitled The New WKRP in Cincinnati. He 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. His last movie role was in the 2004 film Changing of the Guard, released after his death.

Inspiration and spirituality

Jump believed the film and television industry to be "the most powerful tool" that can "communicate" and "give... a positive outlook of life to many people."[6]: 1 According to his personal religious faith, he also believed theatre and television had the ability to uplift and edify individuals and felt that God uses a similar medium to guide his children.[6]: 1

When scripts required Jump to act in ways that went against his religious convictions, he said that his acting required the same "honesty and judiciousness" as the rest of his life.[6]: 5 He portrayed the fictional character as accurately as possible 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 shine through.[6]: 7, 11 Additionally, Jump did not believe in censorship, claiming that "if you teach people correct principles, they can govern themselves", which is a paraphrase of a teaching by Joseph Smith.[2]: 95[20]

When Jump was offered the role of Chief Tinkler in Soap, he and the LDS Church bishop of his church 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 his concerns and suggested that the underlying messages of the show were more aligned to his beliefs as a Latter-day Saint than he realized; he was encouraged to read the "retribution scenes" in the script. Impressed by the depth of the lessons told through humor,[6]: 8 Jump took the role in Soap and recommended that viewers of faith 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 which they portray on screen.[6]: 7

Death

Jump died on September 22, 2003, from pulmonary fibrosis that led to respiratory failure at his home near Los Angeles. He is interred at the El Toro Memorial Park in Lake Forest, California.[21]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotesCitation
1965Marriage- What Kind For You?Business Man at the New Years partyLDS Church film[22]
1967When Thou Art ConvertedTypewriter Boss and Elders Quorum President[23][24]
1969Pioneers In Petticoats[25]
What About Thad?Bishop in the LDS Church[26]
FlareupSecurity Guard[27]
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Temple FilmThe Apostle Peter[28][16]
1970Ransom Money[29]
1972Conquest of the Planet of the ApesAuctioneer[30]
Trouble ManSalter[31]
Rolling Man[32][13]
1975A Cry For HelpLloyd Hogan[33]
1976Sybil[34]
1977SkateboardHarris[35]
1978Ruby and Oswald[36][13]
The GuiltyLDS Church film.[37]
The FuryNuckells[38]
House CallsDr. O'Brien[39]
The Small OneJosephVoice, Short animated film[40]
1979Goldie and the BoxerAlex[41][13]
Evidence of PowerDr. Lawson[42]
1980Mr. Krueger's ChristmasNarratorLDS Church film[43]
1981Midnight Offerings[44][13]
1982For Lovers OnlyHarvey Pugh[45][13]
Families are ForeverLDS church film[46]
1984Making the GradeMr. Harriman[47]
1985Darlin' Clementine[48]
1987Perry Mason: The Case of the Lost Love[49][13]
On Fire[50][13]
1988MovingSimon Eberhart[51]
Justin CaseSheldon Wannamaker[52][13]
1990Honeymoon AcademyMr. NelsonAlternative title: For Better or For Worse[53]
1994Bitter VengeanceArnold Fulmer[54]
1999A Dog's TaleProfessor Thadeus A. Widstone[55]
2002The Singles WardAn Airline Passenger[56]
2003Dismembered[57]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesCitation
1965Daniel BooneMarcus Clements1 episode[9][13]
1966Get SmartHobson2 episodes "Casablanca" "Maxwell Smart, Private Eye"[9][13]
1967T.H.E. Cat1 episode
1968Green AcresSurveyor1 episode: "How to Get from Hooterville to Pixley Without Moving".[9][13]
Lancer1 episode "The Homecoming"[13]
1970MannixCharlie1 episode "Once upon a Saturday"[9][13]
1970–1974The Partridge FamilyMan #2 / Zack Feldman / Father7 episodes[9][13]
1970The Brady BunchMechanic / Collins2 episodes[9][13]
The Young Rebels1 episode "The Hostages"[13]
1970–1973Love, American Style[9]
1971The Doris Day ShowMr. Robinson1 episode[9]
Bewitched2 episodes "The Return of Darrin the Bold" "Money Happy Returns"[9][13]
Cade's County1 episode "Violent Echo"[13]
1971-1974Partridge Family4 episodes "The Strike-Out King (1973)" "Art For Mom's Sake (1974)"[13]
1971-1973Love, American Style2 episodes "Love and the Bowling Ball (1971)" "Love and the Suspicious Husband (1973)"[13]
The New Dick Van Dyke Show1 episode[9][13]
1972–1973The Mary Tyler Moore ShowHank Morton / Judy's Father2 episodes "The Courtship of Mary's Father's Daughter (1972)"[9][13]
1973A Touch of GraceGreenwald1 episode[13]
The Paul Lynde ShowLarry1 episode "The Congressman's Son"[13]
1974Chase1 episode "$35 Will Fly You to the Moon"[13]
KojakJonas1 episode "Slay Ride"[9][13]
The Apple's Way[9]
McCloud[9]
Paul Sand in Friends and LoversMr. Mead1 episode[13]
Girl With Something Extra1 episode "Guess Who's Feeding the Pigeons?"[13]
1975-1976The Rockford FilesFreddie2 episodes "Just By Accident (1975)" "A Bad Deal in the Valley (1976)"[9][13]
1974–1975That's My MamaOfficer O'Reilley3 episodes "The Last Haircut (1974)"[9][13]
1975Harry O2 episodes "Anatomy of a Frame" & "Lester II"[9][13]
Police Woman1 episode "No Place to Hide"[9][13]
Starsky and Hutch[9]
The Streets of San FranciscoSergeant Lacy1 episode
Switch1 episode "Stung From Behind"[13]
ABC Afterschool Special1 episode "Fawn Story"[13]
The Lost SaucerThe Mayor1 episode "The Tiny Years"
1976The Bionic WomanCharles Butler1 episode "Welcome Home, Jaime"[9][13]
McMillan & Wife[9]
Rich Man, Poor ManDr. Simms1 episode
AliceSheriff McElroy1 episode[9][13]
McDuff, the Talking DogAmos Ferguson11 episodes[13]
ArchieMr. Andrews1 episode "Pilot"[13]
1977Black Sheep Squadron1 episode "Last One for Hutch"[13]
Good Times[9][13]
Lou GrantNational Editor6 episodes[9]
The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew MysteriesOfficer Hooper1 episode "Mystery of the Diamond Triangle"[13]
1977-1978SoapChief of Police Tinkler12 episodes[13]
1978The Incredible HulkMac1 episode[9]
1978–1982WKRP in CincinnatiArthur "Big Guy" Carlson, Station Manager88 episodes (90 in syndication)[13]
1980-1987The Love Boat6 episodes "The Invisible Maniac (1980)" "Putting on the Dog (1983)" "Aerobic April (1983)" "Frat Wars (1986)" "Who Killed Maxwell Thorn? (1987)"[13]
1981Project Peacock1 episode "The Big Stuffed Dog (special)"[13]
1983Diff'rent StrokesMr. Horton2 episodes: "The Bicycle Man" (two parts)[9][13]
Just a Little More Love(NBC special)[13]
Great Day1 episode "Pilot"[13]
1984Second Edition1 episode "Pilot"[13]
1985CBS Children's Mystery Theatre1 episode "The Dirkin Detective Agency"[13]
Night CourtAmerican agent1 episode "World War III"[9][13]
Amazing Stories1 episode "Guilt Trip"[13]
Tall Tales & LegendsMr. Ripple1 episode
1986–1991Growing PainsEd Malone11 episodes[9]
1986Simon & SimonRoss Garrett1 episode "Camp Apollo"[9][13]
New Love American Style1 episode "Love and the Balcony"[13]
The Golden GirlsLeonard Barton1 episode[13]
Murder, She WroteMayor Tilly1 episode: "If the Frame Fits"[9][13]
1987What a Country1 episode "The Love Potion"[13]
1988Who's the Boss?Archie1 episode
1989Sister KateLucas Underwood1 episode
1991–1993The New WKRP in CincinnatiArthur 'Big Guy' Carlson46 episodes
1994BaywatchMax Edelman2 episodes[9]
Kino's StorytimeHimself, narrator of Horton Hatches the Egg1 episode
1995Empty NestBud1 episode
1997Married... with ChildrenMr. Tot1 episode[9]
SeinfeldMr. Thomassoulo2 episodes[9]
1998Mike Hammer, Private EyeAugustus Hancock Sterling, The General2 episodes

References

  1. ^ Oliver, Myrna (September 24, 2003). "Gordon Jump, 71; Was 'Maytag Man' in Ads, 'Big Guy' on 'WKRP' TV Series". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
  2. ^ Kassel, Michael B. (1993-06-15). America's Favorite Radio Station: WKRP in Cincinnati. Popular Press. ISBN 978-0-87972-584-6.
  3. ^ "WLW-D names Gordon Jump". Dayton Daily News. 19 September 1961. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Gordon makes successful Jump into local TV, not Minowland". The Journal-Herald (Dayton, Ohio). 27 September 1961. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  5. ^ "Dayton Daily News 09 Nov 1962, page 15"
  6. ^ Jump, Gordon (1981 October 16). Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University.
  7. ^ Hall, Andrew (11 May 2012). "2003 Mormon Literature Year in Review". Dawning of a Brighter Day. The Association for Mormon Letters.
  8. ^ Proctor, Maurine Jensen & Baggaley, Thomas (24 September 2003). "LDS Actor, Gordon Jump Dies". Meridian Magazine
  9. ^ Hunter, James Michael (2013). Mormons and Popular Culture: The Global Influence of an American Phenomenon. ABC-CLIO. p. 241. ISBN 978-0-313-39167-5.
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  11. ^ TV Guide. Triangle Publications. 1990.
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