After his first year, he transferred to Kansas State University studying broadcasting and communication; he was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity.

He acted in several church-produced instructional and educational productions, including When Thou Art Converted (1967), Pioneers In Petticoats (1969),[8] and What About Thad?

[2]: 18 [9] In 1978, he landed his signature role of Arthur "Big Guy" Carlson on the situation comedy WKRP in Cincinnati, portraying a bumbling radio station manager.

He played Mr. Horton, the owner of a bicycle shop who attempts to molest series protagonist Arnold Jackson and his friend, Dudley.

[1] While his Los Angeles Times obituary called this role a "daring career turn",[1] Genevieve Koski at the AV Club's roundtable found the laugh track that played during the scene in which the boys see nude photographs "horrifying".

He appeared in the ninth and final season of Seinfeld, in which he played George Costanza's boss at a playground equipment company over two episodes.

Jump believed the film and television industry to be "the most powerful tool" that can "communicate" and "give... a positive outlook of life to many people.

"[6]: 1  According to his personal religious faith, he also believed theatre and television had the ability to uplift and edify individuals and felt that God uses a similar medium to guide his children.

He warned against portraying all theatrical characters like "missionaries", and instead encouraged actors to "stay true to their craft", through which their inner virtue would shine through.

The directors heard his concerns and suggested that the underlying messages of the show were more aligned to his beliefs as a Latter-day Saint than he realized; he was encouraged to read the "retribution scenes" in the script.