Topic: Jesse White

Jesse White (January 3, 1917 – January 9, 1997) was an American television, film, and stage character actor. He is best remembered for portraying the Maytag repairman in television commercials, a role he played from 1967 to 1988.

Born in Buffalo, New York and raised in Akron, Ohio, White began acting in local stage productions at 15. After moving to Cleveland, he worked a variety of jobs while working the nightclub circuit. In the late 1930s, he appeared in vaudeville performances. In 1942, White made his Broadway debut in The Moon is Down, followed by the role of a sanitarium orderly in Harvey. He would later reprise his role in the 1950 film version and the 1972 television movie.

In 1947, White made his film debut in a small part in Kiss of Death. During the 1950s, he began landing roles on television shows, including appearances in Make Room for Daddy and Dear Phoebe. In 1954, he landed a semiregular role on Private Secretary, starring Ann Sothern, Ann Tyrrell, and Don Porter. The role led to another semiregular part as Oscar Pudney in The Ann Sothern Show in 1960. White guest-starred on Four Star Playhouse and The Bob Cummings Show. He also appeared in roles in The Bad Seed (1956); Designing Woman (1957), with Lauren Bacall; and Marjorie Morningstar (1958), with Natalie Wood and Gene Kelly.