Gordon Jump facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gordon Jump
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Jump in 1979
|
|
| Born |
Alexander Gordon Jump
April 1, 1932 Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
|
| Died | September 22, 2003 (aged 71) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
|
| Alma mater | Kansas State University |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1959–2003 |
| Spouse(s) |
|
| Children | 4 |
Alexander Gordon Jump (born April 1, 1932 – died September 22, 2003) was an American actor. He was famous for playing Arthur "Big Guy" Carlson in the TV show WKRP in Cincinnati from 1978 to 1982. He also played this role again in the show's spin-off, The New WKRP in Cincinnati.
Gordon Jump was also known for his role as Chief Tinkler in the sitcom Soap and as Mr. Horton in a two-part episode of Diff'rent Strokes. Many people remember him as the "Maytag repairman" in commercials for Maytag appliances. He played this character from 1989 until he retired in 2003.
Contents
Gordon Jump's Early Life
Gordon Jump was born Alexander Gordon Jump in 1932. He grew up in Centerville, Ohio, a town near Dayton, Ohio. After finishing Centerville High School, he went to Otterbein University.
Later, he moved to Kansas State University. There, he studied broadcasting and how people communicate. His first job in broadcasting was at WIBW-TV in Topeka, Kansas. He tried many things there, like writing, producing, and directing TV shows.
Gordon Jump even played a clown named "WIB the Clown" on an educational show for kids. He also reported the weather on the same channel. Sometimes, he had to report the weather before he could take off his clown makeup!
In 1961, he went back to Dayton, Ohio. He worked at WLWD as a director. He also hosted Gordon Jump's Fun Time, a popular show for younger children. He hosted High Time too, which was a variety show. In 1963, he moved to Los Angeles to become an actor.
Later in his life, Gordon Jump joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He also said he was a "lifelong Republican". This means he supported the Republican political party his whole life.
Gordon Jump's Acting Career
Gordon Jump started his acting career when he was 32 years old. He was in a play at the Glendale Centre Theatre in Glendale, California. People noticed his talent there, and he got an agent to help him find acting jobs.
His first small role on television was in the CBS show Daniel Boone. He had eight lines in that episode. During the 1960s, he got small parts in other TV shows like Get Smart, Lancer, and Green Acres. He continued to appear as a guest star in many TV series through the 1970s and 1990s.
After joining the LDS Church, Jump acted in several films made by the church. These films were for teaching and education. Some of them include When Thou Art Converted (1967) and What About Thad? (1970). He even played the role of Lehi, an important figure in the Book of Mormon, in a pageant in 1967.
In 1977, Gordon Jump got his first regular role as Chief of Police Tinkler in the show Soap. Then, in 1978, he got his most famous role. He played Arthur "Big Guy" Carlson, the funny and sometimes clumsy manager of a radio station, in the comedy show WKRP in Cincinnati.
In 1989, Gordon Jump became the new "Maytag repairman" in commercials. This character was known for being lonely because Maytag appliances never broke down. In the 1990s, he also starred in a new version of WKRP in Cincinnati called The New WKRP in Cincinnati. His last movie role was in a film called Changing of the Guard, which came out after he passed away.
Gordon Jump's Beliefs
Gordon Jump believed that movies and TV shows were very powerful tools. He thought they could share messages and give people a positive view of life. He also felt that theater and television could uplift and inspire people.
He tried to be honest in his acting, even when a script asked him to do things that went against his personal beliefs. He would play the character as truly as possible. He believed that actors should "stay true to their craft," meaning they should do their best acting, and their good character would show through.
When he was offered the role of Chief Tinkler in Soap, he and his church leader were worried about the show's content. Gordon Jump almost turned down the role. However, the show's creators convinced him to look at the deeper lessons in the show. He realized the show taught good lessons through humor. He took the role and encouraged people to look for the lessons in a finished film or show, rather than just focusing on whether an actor would do those things in real life.
Death
Gordon Jump passed away on September 22, 2003. He died at his home near Los Angeles, California, from a lung disease called pulmonary fibrosis. This led to his breathing failing.
Images for kids
-
Jump in 1979
