Father of two daughters: TV actress Carole Ita White of "Laverne & Shirley" (1976) fame and Janet Jonas.
His widow Celia (Simmy) Cohn White died August 5, 2003.
Jesse played the ever-idle Maytag repairman from 1968 until 1989, when he went on to become a consultant for the Maytag Company.
Known for playing the sanitarium orderly Wilson in the story "Harvey" about the invisible rabbit on the stage in New York, in the movie with James Stewart and in the 1972 television production, also with Stewart.
White was not the original Maytag repairman of TV adverts. The role was first played by the actor Tom Pedi.