WKRP's Gordon Jump RIP
09-22-03 | 09:05 PM
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WKRP's Gordon Jump RIP
Gordon Jump of 'WKRP' and Maytag ad fame dies at 71
LOS ANGELES (AP) — 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 a condition called pulmonary fibrosis, said his cousin, Katherine Jump Wagner. The illness involves 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 and is believed to have died at his home in Coto de Caza, she said.
The upscale community is southeast of Los Angeles in Orange County.
Jump portrayed the Maytag repairman "Ol' Lonely," a well-recognized advertising symbol, from 1989 until he retired from the role in July and actor Hardy Rawls took over.
From 1967-88, Jesse White played the repairman who never gets a service call because of Maytag's reliability. White died in 1997 at age 79.
"Gordon was an incredibly talented actor and a remarkable human being," said Ralph Hake, chairman and chief executive officer of Maytag Corp. "It was natural for him to project an image of warmth, caring, dependability, respect and humor, because that's exactly the kind of person he was. ... We will miss him dearly."
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 played Arthur Carlson in WKRP in Cincinnati, which aired on CBS from 1978-82 and featured Gary Sandy, Loni Anderson, Tim Reid and Howard Hesseman 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.
He 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 John F. Kennedy, and Conquest of the Planet of the Apes.
Jump is survived by his wife, Betty; daughters, Cindy, Kiva, Maggi Jo and Laura and one son, Chris, Maytag said in a statement. He also had a brother, Wagner said.
Funeral services were pending Monday.
http://www.usatoday.com/life/2003-09-22-jump-obit_x.htm
LOS ANGELES (AP) — 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 a condition called pulmonary fibrosis, said his cousin, Katherine Jump Wagner. The illness involves 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 and is believed to have died at his home in Coto de Caza, she said.
The upscale community is southeast of Los Angeles in Orange County.
Jump portrayed the Maytag repairman "Ol' Lonely," a well-recognized advertising symbol, from 1989 until he retired from the role in July and actor Hardy Rawls took over.
From 1967-88, Jesse White played the repairman who never gets a service call because of Maytag's reliability. White died in 1997 at age 79.
"Gordon was an incredibly talented actor and a remarkable human being," said Ralph Hake, chairman and chief executive officer of Maytag Corp. "It was natural for him to project an image of warmth, caring, dependability, respect and humor, because that's exactly the kind of person he was. ... We will miss him dearly."
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 played Arthur Carlson in WKRP in Cincinnati, which aired on CBS from 1978-82 and featured Gary Sandy, Loni Anderson, Tim Reid and Howard Hesseman 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.
He 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 John F. Kennedy, and Conquest of the Planet of the Apes.
Jump is survived by his wife, Betty; daughters, Cindy, Kiva, Maggi Jo and Laura and one son, Chris, Maytag said in a statement. He also had a brother, Wagner said.
Funeral services were pending Monday.
http://www.usatoday.com/life/2003-09-22-jump-obit_x.htm
09-22-03 | 09:25 PM
#4
That's sad. What's also sad is that Three's Company is being fast tracked to DVD in the wake of Ritter's death, but will the death of Jump fast track a WKRP DVD? I some how doubt it, since that has been one series doomed to never come to DVD due to all the music rights involved. Quite a shame, too. The show, and Jump, were great and should be seen on DVD for others to enjoy. Once in a while on the TV Land Kitschen is just not enough.
09-22-03 | 10:22 PM
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09-22-03 | 11:15 PM
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From: Gateway Cities/Harbor Region
09-23-03 | 05:01 AM
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I loved WKRP and Arthur Carlson. Definitely one of my top five comedy series of all time. It is too bad that he didn't go onto anything bigger, since he was obviously talented...
09-23-03 | 09:48 AM
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He was also the grandpa on Growing Pains.
09-23-03 | 11:45 AM
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From: Cleveland, OH
Let's not forget his role on Seinfeld as George's boss at "Play Now" - Mr. Thomassoulo:
Thomassoulo: You win, George. We’ve had it. If you leave right now, Play Now will give you six months pay. That’s half of your entire contract. Please…just go.
George: You see...if I stay the whole year, I get it all.
Thomassoulo: Want to play hardball, huh? Fine. (Calls on intercom) "Attention Play Now employees! George Costanza’s handicapped bathroom is now open on the sixteenth floor to all employees and their families!"
George: Well played.
Thomassoulo: I’ll see you in hell, Costanza.
Thomassoulo: You win, George. We’ve had it. If you leave right now, Play Now will give you six months pay. That’s half of your entire contract. Please…just go.
George: You see...if I stay the whole year, I get it all.
Thomassoulo: Want to play hardball, huh? Fine. (Calls on intercom) "Attention Play Now employees! George Costanza’s handicapped bathroom is now open on the sixteenth floor to all employees and their families!"
George: Well played.
Thomassoulo: I’ll see you in hell, Costanza.
09-23-03 | 12:28 PM
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From: Formerly known as Groucho AND Bandoman/Death Moans, Iowa
Re: WKRP's Gordon Jump RIP
Originally posted by mediabear
His dramatic roles included a part in the TV movie Ruby and Oswald, about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and Conquest of the Planet of the Apes.
http://www.usatoday.com/life/2003-09-22-jump-obit_x.htm
His dramatic roles included a part in the TV movie Ruby and Oswald, about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and Conquest of the Planet of the Apes.
http://www.usatoday.com/life/2003-09-22-jump-obit_x.htm
09-23-03 | 07:24 PM
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From: Orlando, FL
Originally posted by Darren Garrison
The guy delivered the single best one-liner in all of TV history.
The guy delivered the single best one-liner in all of TV history.
"As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly !!"
09-23-03 | 07:53 PM
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From: Sesame Street (the apt. next to Bob's)
Originally posted by Spooky
Gordon has a recurring character in the second half of season one of SOAP, should anyone be interested - since that IS on DVD.
Gordon has a recurring character in the second half of season one of SOAP, should anyone be interested - since that IS on DVD.
Honk!
09-23-03 | 10:21 PM
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From: Formerly known as Darrin Garrison
Originally posted by k_lodge
Was the quote you were thinking of:
"As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly !!"
Was the quote you were thinking of:
"As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly !!"
09-24-03 | 12:16 AM
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From: Los Angeles , California
I was driving down the freeway a couple years ago. I saw a huge Mercedes next to me, and looked to see who was driving it. Low and behold it was Gordon Jump. R.I.P
09-24-03 | 02:32 AM
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From: Somewhere between Heaven and Hell
I walked in and took a couple free voice-over lessons at his studio. Never met the man but always enjoyed his work.
