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Jesse White, born Jesse Weidenfeld (January 4, 1917 – January 9, 1997), was an American character actor who played many roles in television, film and on stage. He was on television as the character "Cagey Calhoun" in the Ann Sothern comedy series "Private Secretary", which ran from 1953 to 1957. Also in commercials as the Maytag repairman, a role he played from 1967 to 1988. White appears in a late 'Seinfeld' episode, as one of the seniors living in a Florida housing complex who wants to depose Jerry's dad as chairman of the housing committee.

White's typical character was a kind of hotheaded, fast-talking, cut-to-the-chase kind of guy.

White's first credited film role was as a mental hospital orderly in the 1950 Jimmy Stewart comedy Harvey.

He had a funny role (even including some singing) as King Ferdinand of Spain in Stan Freberg's classic comedy album from 1961, The United States of America: Vol. I. He also participated in Freberg's long-awaited follow-up, Vol. II, in 1996.

A good example of White's work is in The Andy Griffith show in season 1, episode #018 aired February 6, 1961 titled "Andy, the Marriage Counselor" about a couple who can't seem to get along and require Andy's assistance as mediator.

Another good example of White's work was in an episode of The Twilight Zone called "Cavender Is Coming". In another Twilight Zone episode, "Once Upon a Time", he appeared with Buster Keaton as a repairman fixing a time machine intended to send Keaton's character back to the silent era.

White began his stint as the "lonely" Maytag Repairman in 1967, which eventually became pretty much his full-time job for the next 21 years, after which Gordon Jump assumed the role.

He was married to Celia Cohn, and had a daughter, actress Carole Ita White.

He died following surgery in 1997, 5 days after his 80th birthday.

• Jesse White at the Internet Movie Database
• A writeup about the Maytag Repairman, with photo

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