Skip to content
MovieCove
Gordon Jump

Gordon Jump

Actor · Died September 22, 2003, aged 71 · Dayton, Ohio, USA

The burly character actor Gordon Jump will probably be best remembered for the role of the radio station manager Arthur Carlson in the TV sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati (1978). This is coincidental since, in the first part of his working life, he was found either behind a microphone or camera in stints with radio and TV stations in the Midwest, including producing jobs at stations in Kansas and Ohio. Moving to Los Angeles in 1963, he quickly became involved in stage productions with Nathan Hale and Ruth Hale, a couple who had opened a small theater in Glendale, California, several years earlier, in order to make ends meet. The Hales preferred the stage to film, and they abandoned Hollywood film hopes when their theater was successful. Others developing their acting talents with the Hales included Mike Farrell and Connie Stevens. Jump always credited Ruth Hale for the real start of his career as an actor, and it has been said that Jump remained most passionate about acting in live theater. He soon started appearing in numerous TV series, including Daniel Boone (1964), Get Smart (1965), and Green Acres (1965). Through his association with the Hale clan, he became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which led to appearances in educational and religious short films produced and directed by Judge Whitaker at Brigham Young University in the 1960s. He played a Mormon bishop in "You Make the Difference", a thoughtful husband in Marriage: What Kind for You? (1967), and even the Apostle Peter in Mormon Temple Film (1969). Ruth was instrumental in getting Jump to give up smoking, and she also admonished him to turn down offers to do beer commercials. To the end of his life, he took his membership in his faith seriously, including its health codes. He also was in other LDS church films including When Thou Art Converted 1967, What about Thad? 1969, The Guilty 1978 and Families are Forever 1982. Gordon remained predominantly a television actor throughout a long career in the arts, but he did appear in some small parts in feature films such as Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972). He also had a cameo appearance in The Singles Ward (2002), a comedy involving young Latter-Day Saint cultural experiences, which was written and directed by Kurt Hale, the grandson of Ruth and Nathan. Beyond his acting career, Gordon produced The Tony Randall Show (1976) and directed an episode of WKRP in Cincinnati (1978). In the last years of his life, he was readily recognizable as the lonely Maytag Washer repairman in commercials that ran on television for several years starting in 1989. He effectively portrayed Ol' Lonely until retiring from the role just before his death. (The repairman was lonely because the machines never broke down.) As is often the case for actors with a flair for comedy, he was also adept at playing dramatic roles. As is also often the case with character actors, his face is recognizable to many who never knew his name.

Read more

Biography from IMDb.

Born
April 1, 1932
Died
September 22, 2003 (aged 71)
From
Dayton, Ohio, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
45 on MovieCove · 96 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 36% in 30 days

What are Gordon Jump's films like?

Across their 11 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 28th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 50th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
38%
Morality
22%
Society
17%
Self
14%
Survival
8%
Power
2%
Friendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 9 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 7 · Serious 2 · Dark 0

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 8 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 0

Gentle: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their gentle movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 5 · Charged 4 · Intense 0

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 9 · Shifting 0 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 2

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 2 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 8 · Engaged 1 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 9 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

3 analyzed roles
Herald
1 of 3
Mentor
1 of 3
Shapeshifter
1 of 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
7
Hopeful
5
Joyful
4
Melancholic
3
Tense
2
Other
8

How their films linger

Feel-good8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy10
  • Bittersweet1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Gordon Jump's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 30 of their 45 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (15).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Gordon Jump's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

96 credits, 45 with a MovieCove page.

  • Changing of the Guard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Earl

  • Dismembered (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Medical Examiner

  • The Singles Ward(2002)

    as Airline Passenger

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • A Christmas Tail(2000)

    as Professor Thadeus A. Widstone

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Amazing Stories: The Movie III (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Father

  • Mike Hammer, Private Eye(1997)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows

  • Caroline in the City(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Gordon Jump

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • Bitter Vengeance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Arnold Fulmer

  • The New WKRP in Cincinnati (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 47 episodes · as Arthur Carlson

  • For Better or for Worse(1989)

    as Mr. Nelson

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Seinfeld(1989)

    Show 2 episodes · as Thomassoulo

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Baywatch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Justin Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Sheldon Wannamaker

  • Moving(1988)

    as Simon Eberhart

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Married... with Children(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Tot

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Perry Mason: The Case of the Lost Love(1987)

    as Arthur

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • On Fire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Chief John Heller

  • Darlin' Clementine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Mr. Ripple

  • Amazing Stories(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Father

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Tall Tales & Legends (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Ripple

  • Growing Pains(1985)

    Show 11 episodes · as Ed Malone

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • The Golden Girls(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Leonard Barton

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Frank Tilley

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Making the Grade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Mr. Harriman

  • Night Court(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Martin Glasscock

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Great Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Police Sergeant

  • For Lovers Only (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Harvey Pugh

  • Families Are Forever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Narrator

  • Simon & Simon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Midnight Offerings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Sherm Sotherland

  • The Big Stuffed Dog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Crazy

  • Mr. Krueger's Christmas(1980)

    as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Deer in the Works (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Salesman

  • Goldie and the Boxer(1979)

    as Alex Miller

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Evidence of Power (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Dr. Lawson

  • The Small One(1978)

    as Joseph (voice)

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Diff'rent Strokes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mr. Horton

  • WKRP in Cincinnati(1978)

    Show 90 episodes · Director · as Arthur Carlson

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • The Archie Situation Comedy Musical Variety Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Fred Andrews

  • House Calls(1978)

    as Dr. O'Brien

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Fury(1978)

    as Mr. Nuckells

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Skateboard(1978)

    as Mr. Harris

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Ruby and Oswald (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Clyde Gaydosh

  • The Incredible Hulk(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Mac

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Bill Piermont · as Maître d

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • Lou Grant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · as National Editor

  • Soap(1977)

    Show 12 episodes · as Chief of Police Tinkler

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Archie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Fred Andrews

  • Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Doctor

  • Spencer's Pilots (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Alice(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • City of Angels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Rich Man, Poor Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 12 episodes · as Dr. Simms

  • The Bionic Woman(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • Starsky and Hutch(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Vinnie

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Switch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Chuck Kreski · as Theodore Youngman

  • Cop on the Beat(1975)

    as Businessman

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Starsky & Hutch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Vinnie

  • A Cry for Help(1975)

    as Lloyd Hogan

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Strongest Man in the World(1975)

    as Krinkle Krunch Executive (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Police Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Prof. Southern

  • The Rockford Files(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Appleby

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Harry O (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • That's My Mama (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • Good Times(1974)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Kojak(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Jonas

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • A Touch of Grace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Trouble Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Salter

  • The Streets of San Francisco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Captain Lacy

  • The Paul Lynde Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Larry

  • Temperatures Rising (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Latimore

  • Conquest of the Planet of the Apes(1972)

    as Auctioneer

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • McMillan & Wife(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Doctor (uncredited) · as Medical Examiner

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • The New Dick Van Dyke Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Father Stone · as FBI agent · as Mr. Garriman

  • The Blue Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Investor

  • The Partridge Family(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Albertson · as Father · as Man · as Man #2 · as Minister · as Policeman · as Zack Feldman

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • The Young Rebels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Mary Tyler Moore Show(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Hank Morton · as Judy's Father

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Airport(1970)

    as Man Inspecting Hole in Plane (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Ransom Money (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Det. Capt. Hampton

  • Flareup(1969)

    as Security Guard

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Love, American Style (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Calhoun · as Engineer (uncredited)

  • The Brady Bunch(1969)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • Anatomy of a Crime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Carl

  • Pioneers in Petticoats (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Oscar Blair

  • Lancer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Pinkerton Agent in Mexico

  • The Doris Day Show(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Little League Manager · as Man #2 · as Mr. Robinson · as The Captain · as Ticket Agent

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • The Outsider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Carl

  • Mannix(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • The Second Hundred Years (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Guard · as Shopper

  • Get Smart(1965)

    Show 2 episodes · as Agent 51 (uncredited) · as Hobson · as Man in Cab

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Green Acres(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Clark · as Surveyor

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • Daniel Boone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Marcus Clements

  • Bewitched(1964)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 91st percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 96 titles from 1964 to 2004; peak year 1972.

Biggest box office

House Calls (1978)

$28M worldwide

Highest rated

WKRP in Cincinnati (1978)

Midcredits 90th

Most popular right now

The Partridge Family (1970)

Film career

19642004

Peak 1972 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting96 of 96: 95 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score58thDirecting1 of 96: 0 only directing, 1 with another role

By decade

1960s14 · acting1970s49 · 49 acting · 1 crew1980s24 · acting1990s6 · acting2000s3 · acting

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 0% of 7 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Gordon Jump's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 44th percentile, the median of all 17; across their 9 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 32nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

32ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Approval · how many liked their films

32ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Reach · how many have seen their films

43rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Midcredits score across 45 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up15
  • 50th to 74th14
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

19 of their 45 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser19
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · actor

Cop on the Beat (1975)

87th percentile spread · 31% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Soap (1977)

Midcredits 91st · 89% liked

Reviewers score the acting 60/100 in their films, across 8 reviewed titles; fans 70, detractors 38. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Gordon Jump work with?

People who share at least 2 of Gordon Jump's MovieCove titles; Jonathan Banks shares the most, 2.