Gordon Jump from WKRP Dies
 

Gordon Jump of 'WKRP' and Maytag Ad Dies
Mon Sep 22,10:20 PM ET Add Entertainment - AP to My Yahoo!


By LYNN ELBER, AP Television Writer

LOS ANGELES - Gordon Jump, who played a befuddled radio station manager on the sitcom "WKRP in Cincinnati" and made his mark in commercials as the lonely Maytag repairman, died Monday. He was 71.


AP Photo



Jump suffered from pulmonary fibrosis, said his cousin, Katherine Jump Wagner. The illness causes scarring of the air sacs of the lungs, leading to heart or respiratory failure.


Wagner, of Arcanum, Ohio, said she learned of her cousin's death from her father, also named Gordon Jump. Her cousin was under hospice care at his home southeast of Los Angeles, she said.


Jump played Arthur Carlson in "WKRP in Cincinnati," which aired on CBS from 1978-82 and featured Gary Sandy, Loni Anderson (news), Tim Reid, Howard Hesseman and Richard Sanders as the ragtag station's crew.


A native of Dayton, Ohio, Jump began his career working at radio and TV stations in the Midwest. He worked behind the microphone and the camera, including jobs as a producer for Kansas and Ohio stations.


Jump portrayed the Maytag repairman "Ol' Lonely," a well-recognized advertising symbol, from 1989 until he retired from the role in July and another actor took over.


"Gordon was an incredibly talented actor and a remarkable human being," said Ralph Hake, chairman and chief executive officer of Maytag Corp.


Jump came to appreciate the attention he got for the ad campaign and the steady work it provided, Wagner said. But his heart was elsewhere professionally.


"What he loved more than anything was doing theater. He was a marvelous actor," she said, recalling a visit to Florida to watch him perform in "Norman, Is That You?"


Jump began his Hollywood career after moving to Los Angeles in 1963, appearing on series including "Daniel Boone," "Get Smart" and "The Partridge Family."


His dramatic roles included a part in the TV movie "Ruby and Oswald," about the assassination of President Kennedy, and "Conquest of the Planet of the Apes."


Jump is survived by his wife, four daughters and a son, Maytag said in a statement. He also had a brother, Wagner said.


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how sad...

all my childhood tv stars are dying one by one.

RIP, Gordon Jump.

He was one of the pillars in that stellar show, WKRP in Cinncinnati - which I think is one of the best and most underrated tv comedies of all time.

In his memory:

"As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly!"

"I know some Japanese from the War." He then says something in Japanese and all of the Japanese tourists put their hands up in the air as to surrender.

[
In his memory:

"As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly!"





I was thinking this very same thought.That was one of the single funniest moments on television.

RIP Mr. Jump. :( :( :(

Rest in peace
 

So sad....

I think the Thanksgiving WKRP episode is the funniest single episode of a show ever on major network TV...

Silver

How sad. He was a very funny man on one of my favorite shows. Agree that the turkey episode is one of the all-time classics.

A hell of an actor, AND a Kappa Sigma brother - one who continued to maintain that he was proud to be a Kappa Sigma.

AEKDB, a sad loss for the entertainment community and for the fraternity

Collin

:(

:(

His family is in my thoughts.

I enjoy watching him on WKRP. He will be missed.

TV Land will be airing several hours of WKRP over the weekend. I just finished watching the excellent Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway show!!! Check your tv listings.

Farewell...
 

I remember watching TV at the Kappa Sigma house and every time that a Maytag (sp?) commercial would come on the guys would yell "BROTHER GORDON" so every time I see commercials or TV with him, I think of "BROTHER GORDON". I saw on the last commercial or so that he wasn't in it and it was the younger guy...I was wondering if he was not able to make commercials any more. Bummer...