25 Facts About Gordon Jump

Alexander Gordon Jump was an American actor best known for playing Arthur "Big Guy" Carlson in the series WKRP in Cincinnati ; he reprised the role in its spinoff The New WKRP in Cincinnati.

Gordon Jump played Chief Tinkler in the sitcom Soap and Mr Horton on a two-part episode of the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes.

Gordon Jump appeared in Maytag commercials as the "Maytag repairman" from 1989 until he retired in 2003.

Gordon Jump graduated from Centerville High School and enrolled in Otterbein College.

Gordon Jump got his first television job with WIBW-TV in Topeka.

Gordon Jump dabbled in "writing, producing, and directing" while at the station.

Gordon Jump reported the weather on the channel and was not always able to get his clown makeup off in time.

Later in his life, Gordon Jump converted and became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Gordon Jump participated in a theatre production at the Glendale Centre Theatre in Glendale, California, where he was noticed and offered an agent.

Gordon Jump appeared as Peter, the apostle, in a 1969 film which was used in some of the church's temple ceremonies.

Gordon Jump acted in The Singles Ward in 2002, a LDS comedy series.

Gordon Jump's first recurring role came in 1977, as Chief of Police Tinkler in Soap.

Gordon Jump stated that the character of Arthur Carlson was based on a real-world WQXI executive.

Gordon Jump had a recurring role as Maggie Seaver's father on Growing Pains.

Gordon Jump played Mr Horton, the owner of a bicycle shop who attempts to molest series protagonist Arnold Jackson and his friend, Dudley.

In 1989, Gordon Jump took over the Maytag repairman role from Jesse White.

Gordon Jump 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.

When scripts required Gordon 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.

Gordon Jump portrayed the fictional character as accurately as possible to deliver an honest representation of the story to his audience.

Gordon Jump 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.

Additionally, Gordon 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.

When Gordon 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.

Gordon Jump returned to the producers the next day with the intention of refusing the role.

Gordon Jump died on September 22,2003, from pulmonary fibrosis that led to respiratory failure at his home near Los Angeles.

Gordon Jump is interred at the El Toro Memorial Park in Lake Forest, California.