Gordon Jump

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

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. 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. He continued as a producer and on-air personality at WLWD, hosting Gordon Jumps Fun Time, a popular show for younger children, and High Time, a variety series, before moving to Los Angeles in 1963 to pursue acting.

Jump's first break on television was his guest role as Marcus Clements in CBS's Daniel Boone, Here Come the Brides, and Green Acres.

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), In 1967, he played the role of Lehi in the Burbank pageant People of the Book. He appeared as Peter, the apostle, in a 1969 film which was used in some of the church's temple ceremonies. He and Robert Starling, an independent filmmaker, began Associated Latter-day Media Artists. 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. Koski's fellow roundtable member Donna Bowman disagreed, stating that the special humanized the situation. 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." 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.

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,

Filmography

Film

Television Year Title Role Notes Citation 1965 Daniel Boone Marcus Clements 1 episode 1966 Get Smart Hobson 2 episodes "Casablanca" "Maxwell Smart, Private Eye" 1967 T.H.E. Cat 1 episode1968 Green Acres Surveyor 1 episode: "How to Get from Hooterville to Pixley Without Moving". Lancer 1 episode "The Homecoming" 1970 Mannix Charlie 1 episode "Once upon a Saturday" 1970–1974 The Partridge Family Man #2 / Zack Feldman / Father 7 episodes 1970 The Brady Bunch Mechanic / Collins 2 episodes The Young Rebels 1 episode "The Hostages" 1970–1973 Love, American Style 1971 The Doris Day Show Mr. Robinson 1 episode Bewitched 2 episodes "The Return of Darrin the Bold" "Money Happy Returns" Cade's County 1 episode "Violent Echo" 1971-1974 Partridge Family 4 episodes "The Strike-Out King (1973)" "Art For Mom's Sake (1974)" 1971-1973 Love, American Style 2 episodes "Love and the Bowling Ball (1971)" "Love and the Suspicious Husband (1973)" The New Dick Van Dyke Show 1 episode 1972–1973 The Mary Tyler Moore Show Hank Morton / Judy's Father 2 episodes "The Courtship of Mary's Father's Daughter (1972)" 1973 A Touch of Grace Greenwald 1 episode The Paul Lynde Show Larry 1 episode "The Congressman's Son" 1974 Chase1 episode "$35 Will Fly You to the Moon" Kojak Jonas 1 episode "Slay Ride" The Apple's Way McCloud Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers Mr. Mead 1 episode Girl With Something Extra1 episode "Guess Who's Feeding the Pigeons?" 1975-1976 The Rockford Files Freddie 2 episodes "Just By Accident (1975)" "A Bad Deal in the Valley (1976)" 1974–1975 That's My Mama Officer O'Reilley 3 episodes "The Last Haircut (1974)" 1975 Harry O 2 episodes "Anatomy of a Frame" & "Lester II" Police Woman 1 episode "No Place to Hide" Starsky and Hutch The Streets of San Francisco Sergeant Lacy 1 episode Switch 1 episode "Stung From Behind" ABC Afterschool Special 1 episode "Fawn Story" The Lost Saucer The Mayor 1 episode "The Tiny Years"1976 The Bionic Woman Charles Butler 1 episode "Welcome Home, Jaime" McMillan & Wife Rich Man, Poor Man Dr. Simms 1 episode Alice Sheriff McElroy 1 episode McDuff, the Talking Dog Amos Ferguson 11 episodes Archie Mr. Andrews 1 episode "Pilot" 1977 Black Sheep Squadron 1 episode "Last One for Hutch" Good Times Lou Grant National Editor 6 episodes The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries Officer Hooper 1 episode "Mystery of the Diamond Triangle" 1977-1978 Soap Chief of Police Tinkler 12 episodes 1978 The Incredible Hulk Mac 1 episode 1978–1982 WKRP in Cincinnati Arthur "Big Guy" Carlson, Station Manager 88 episodes (90 in syndication) 1980-1987 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)" 1981 Project Peacock 1 episode "The Big Stuffed Dog (special)" 1983 Diff'rent Strokes Mr. Horton 2 episodes: "The Bicycle Man" (two parts) Just a Little More Love (NBC special) Great Day 1 episode "Pilot" 1984 Second Edition 1 episode "Pilot" 1985 CBS Children's Mystery Theatre 1 episode "The Dirkin Detective Agency" Night Court American agent 1 episode "World War III" Amazing Stories 1 episode "Guilt Trip" Tall Tales & Legends Mr. Ripple 1 episode 1986–1991 Growing Pains Ed Malone 11 episodes 1986 Simon & Simon Ross Garrett 1 episode "Camp Apollo" New Love American Style 1 episode "Love and the Balcony" The Golden Girls Leonard Barton 1 episode Murder, She Wrote Mayor Tilly 1 episode: "If the Frame Fits" 1987 What a Country 1 episode "The Love Potion" 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 episodes1994 Baywatch Max Edelman 2 episodes Kino's Storytime Himself, narrator of Horton Hatches the Egg 1 episode 1995 Empty Nest Bud 1 episode1997 Married... with Children Mr. Tot 1 episode Seinfeld Mr. Thomassoulo 2 episodes 1998 Mike Hammer, Private Eye Augustus Hancock Sterling, The General 2 episodes