Gordon Jump Dies -- of WKRP, Maytag Ads

AP/Newsday ^ | September 22, 2003 | Lynn Elber

[lainie]

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.

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

[lainie]

Better get a better notary

[Timesink]

Bailey was hot, but a bit uptight: "Nugent? I think his music is loud and repetitive, and I think his stage manner is pretentious, rude and obnoxious."

[RichInOC]

....grrrrrrrrrowwwwwllll...

[RichInOC]

That's not right. Ted's not pretentious...

[lainie]

But, he is loud, repetitive, pretentious, rude, and obnoxious.

[lorrainer]

That's not right. Ted's not pretentious...

LOL! Totally right

[Skooz]

Bailey was hotter than Jennifer.

Yep. No contest.

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

"Now back to more music and Les Nessman!"

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

Bailey was way hotter than Jennifer.

Another classic Big Guy moment was during the tornado episode, when no one can speak Japanese, and he tells them a phrase he learned in the Marines, and they all raise their hands to surrender.

[Conservative4Ever]

Naaa....the title is hysterical. I think he would have loved it. One of my favorite shows. WKRP....great cast...great opening song....the show was funny as hell. The turkey episode is a classic.

Red

[Conservative4Ever]

Les Nessman with his imaginary office and door.

Red

[Conservative4Ever]

Bwahahahahahahah......that was one of the funniest moments in TV.

Red

[Utilizer]

Oh, yes! I was in love with Bailey Quarters for SO many years! (and still am, I must confess)

[Pete]

I think the funniest line for me was when Mr. Carlson is wearing the sinus mask and Johnny comes in to talk to him about something. In mid-sentence, Johnny stops and asks him what the deal is with the "disco, bondage head-gear."

Also, when the show starts there is a radio scanning the dial. The last voice before the music kicks is a news broadcast that says, "The senator, while claiming he was not intoxicated, could not explain is nudity.". That always cracked me up.

[luigi]

Bailey was hotter than Jennifer.

...and the Japanese tourists

Hold me croser, tiny dancer

[Finalapproach29er]

Remember the one with the crooked DJ (Rex Winter) getting cocaine payola; Carlson thought it was foot powder!

[Finalapproach29er]

The "GODLESS" tornadoes!

[MrConfettiMan]

Bailey was hotter than Jennifer.

Yep. I loved her studious, librarian-glasses wearing, who-me?, smoldering look. }:-p

[AVNative]

Lyrics to the opening theme song of "WKRP in Cincinnati:"

Baby, if you've ever wondered
Wondered whatever became of me
I'm living on the air in Cincinnati
Cincinnati, WKRP
Got tired of the packing and unpacking
Town to town, up and down the dial
Maybe you and me were never meant to be
But think of me oh once in a while
I'm at WKRP in Cincinnati

---

So long, Big Guy. May God be merciful to you.

[MadelineZapeezda]

Was he repairman before or after this guy?