Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Gordon Jump Dies -- of WKRP, Maytag Ads
AP/Newsday ^ | September 22, 2003 | Lynn Elber

Posted on 09/22/2003 7:40:21 PM PDT by 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.

(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bigguy; gordonjump; maytag; obit; obituary; wkrp
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-8081-100101-120121 next last
To: MrConfettiMan; Skooz; lainie
LOL!

I make a brilliant political observation on a thread and it's {{{ CRICKETS }}}

But mention that Bailey Quarters is hot and my "Comments To You" page is bursting at the seams.

Good to see we have our priorities straight. :o)

81 posted on 09/23/2003 5:32:41 AM PDT by eddie willers
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 78 | View Replies]

To: lainie
Priceless... I have never laughed so hard...
82 posted on 09/23/2003 5:34:35 AM PDT by carton253 (All I need to know about Islam I learned on 9/11/2001)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: js1138
Just about the only network tv show I miss. Where are the DVDs?

Funniest show of all time. It has a wonderful cast, and the roles were allowed to evolve. In the first one, Loni Anderson was cast as a bimbo. By the end she was running the station.

Turkeys can't fly? The fight of the mascots? LesNesmond news would be an improvement over what passes as news today.

At least, TV stations will hopefully reair the whole series now, and we can remember what real comedy is. Today all we get is PC lessons on how we should lead our lives.

83 posted on 09/23/2003 5:39:59 AM PDT by grania ("Won't get fooled again")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: lainie
Arguably the funniest line ever uttered on television.
Goodbye, Mister Carlson.
84 posted on 09/23/2003 5:40:32 AM PDT by dyed_in_the_wool ("I don't know how you survived, slave. It doesn't matter. Prepare to terminate." -- Sark)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All
The other episode that made me laugh until I couldn't breath was when Venus and Johnny were doing the public service for drinking and driving. The more Johnny drank, the sharper his reflexes became. Venus was gone after a couple of drinks.

The other plot was the WKRP "karp" vs the "pig" (I don't remember the competitor's call letters)... they had the fight in the bathroom.

85 posted on 09/23/2003 5:41:48 AM PDT by carton253 (All I need to know about Islam I learned on 9/11/2001)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 82 | View Replies]

Bailey Bump!

Would that young ladies would emulate her instead of Britney, et al.

How about a DVD: The Best of Bailey?
86 posted on 09/23/2003 5:44:16 AM PDT by Museum Twenty (Proud supporter of President George W. Bush.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 85 | View Replies]

To: chaosagent
(Voiceover from "Dr." Johnny Fever. . . "Reeddd Wigglers, The Cadillac of Worms - available at finer worm stores everywhere!")

OK, so I made up the last four words. But they are representative of the humor Fever (Howard Hesseman) brought to the series. Of course, the rest of the ensemble cast, including Gordon Jump, contributed to the humor on the show as well. To list all of the memorable WKRP quotes. . . well, this thread is doing a great job of it.

I miss WKRP. One of the best television comedy series ever produced!
87 posted on 09/23/2003 5:47:50 AM PDT by AVNative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: lainie
God surely must have a special place for people who have brought smiles and laughter to so many others.
88 posted on 09/23/2003 5:54:11 AM PDT by freeangel (freeangel)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: carton253
WKRP (the carp) vs. WPIG (the pig)!

Don't forget Les Nessman's Silver Sow award for excellence in agricultural reporting. WPIG hated losing it to Les that year. . .
89 posted on 09/23/2003 5:56:33 AM PDT by AVNative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 85 | View Replies]

To: Finalapproach29er
Carlson thought it was foot powder!

And, he put it on his feet, much to Fever's dismay!

One moment I cherish is the panic that ensued when Les ran into the studio to warn Fever and Flytrap that Herb was selling life insurance.

90 posted on 09/23/2003 5:56:46 AM PDT by Fresh Wind (Repeat after me: I, Cruz Bustamonte, do solemnly swear...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 76 | View Replies]

To: AVNative
Thanks for that...

That was one funny episode...

Of course, how many of us still refer to the "Les Nessman office..."

91 posted on 09/23/2003 5:59:35 AM PDT by carton253 (All I need to know about Islam I learned on 9/11/2001)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 89 | View Replies]

To: Finalapproach29er
"I've got a monkey on my foot."
92 posted on 09/23/2003 6:10:10 AM PDT by cincinnati65
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 76 | View Replies]

To: eddie willers
Funny, I don't remember you ever making any brilliant political observations.

As a matter of fact, I can't recall ever seeing your name on this site before this thread. :)

93 posted on 09/23/2003 6:10:23 AM PDT by MrConfettiMan ("Yes! I am a citizen! Now which way to the welfare office?" - Apu, The Simpsons)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 81 | View Replies]

To: MrConfettiMan
Funny, I don't remember you ever making any brilliant political observations.

Touche'

As a matter of fact, I can't recall ever seeing your name on this site before this thread. :)

What are you...brain damaged? ;-)

94 posted on 09/23/2003 6:19:48 AM PDT by eddie willers
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 93 | View Replies]

To: eddie willers
LOL! How'd you know? :-D
95 posted on 09/23/2003 6:27:49 AM PDT by MrConfettiMan ("Yes! I am a citizen! Now which way to the welfare office?" - Apu, The Simpsons)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 94 | View Replies]

To: lainie
He also played a child molester in a particularly horrid "very special episode" of Diff'rent Strokes.
96 posted on 09/23/2003 6:28:40 AM PDT by Sloth ("I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!" -- Jacobim Mugatu, 'Zoolander')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: lainie
The funniest episode of WKRP ever. Live turkeys from a news helicopter.

Sad news.
97 posted on 09/23/2003 6:29:24 AM PDT by Bikers4Bush
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GodBlessPeggyNoonan
Would that young ladies would emulate her instead of Britney, et al.

Bailey is easy on the eyes, for sure, but is about as left-wing as you can get. Somewhere to the left of Marx, I'd guess.

Hey, at least Brit isn't a Bush-basher (give the kid a break).

98 posted on 09/23/2003 6:29:50 AM PDT by chimera
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 86 | View Replies]

To: lainie
Let's not forget his role as the Child Molester on the "very special episode" of Different Strokes".
99 posted on 09/23/2003 7:28:36 AM PDT by Clemenza (East side, West side, all around the town. Tripping the light fantastic on the sidewalks of New York)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: lainie
Funiest episode on network TV...A gut buster!
100 posted on 09/23/2003 7:29:53 AM PDT by FlatLandBeer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-8081-100101-120121 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson