Profile of Gordon Jump on Famous Like Me

Gordon Jump (April 1, 1932 – September 22, 2003), born in Dayton, Ohio, USA, was an American actor, known for his role as the "Maytag Repairman" in commercials for Maytag brand appliances, from 1989 until his retirement from the role in July 2003. He is also well-known as the clueless radio station manager Arthur 'Big Guy' Carlson in the TV series WKRP in Cincinnati, and served viewers with a comical example of a Pointy Haired Boss. Jump was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

He began his career working at radio and television stations in the United States Midwest, including Ohio and Kansas. He was a TV producer and on-air personality in Dayton, Ohio, when he decided to move to Los Angeles and study acting.

He took minor roles in television, on such shows as Get Smart, The Partridge Family and The Rockford Files. He also guest-starred on a number of television series, including a memorable and somewhat infamous appearance playing a child molester on Diff'rent Strokes. After "WKRP" folded, Jump hosted the PBS series "Make Yourself at Home" and taught voice classes. Jump also enjoyed working in theater.

Jump had been suffering from pulmonary fibrosis, a disease that leaves the lungs scarred, restricting oxygen to tissue in the body and eventually causing heart or respiratory failure. He finally succumbed to the condition at the age of 71 at his home near Los Angeles, California.

Quotes

"As God is my Witness, I thought turkeys could fly!" —Gordon Jump, playing Arthur Carlson, on WKRP in Cincinnati (after bombarding a shopping center with live turkeys)

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