By Andy Kriege, YSN The Maytag Man, as portrayed by actor Colin Ferguson, made his long-awaited return to live appearances on the BrandSource Expo floor on Tuesday.

Colin Ferguson (born July 22, 1972) is a Canadian-American actor, director and producer. He is known for playing Sheriff Jack Carter on the Syfy series Eureka, the Maytag Man, and Lewis on Then Came You.

While the original Maytag Repairman, Jesse White, who appeared in 68 commercials from 1967 to 1989, was a jowly character actor, Mr. Ferguson, who had the leading role as Sheriff Jack Carter on “Eureka,” which ran on the Syfy channel from 2006 to 2012, is more of a square-jawed, leading-man type.

The Maytag Man has been played by four different actors since his introduction in 1967, but his character hasn't changed until now. In his middle age, the Maytag Repairman has been swapped out for a newer model. After 46 years, the brand is giving its familiar mascot a makeover for the first time.

Jesse White, a character actor who appeared in scores of film and stage productions but earned universal recognition in a television commercial as the Maytag repairman whose phone never rings, died on Thursday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He was 79.

White died after complications of surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, said his daughter, Carole White Ita. In the popular Maytag commercials, White humorously made the point that the washing machines rarely--if ever--needed repair, making his job unbearably dull.

The Maytag Corporation is an American home and commercial appliance company owned by Whirlpool Corporation since April 2006. Newton, Iowa, U.S.

BENTON HARBOR, Mich., March 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) today completed its acquisition of Maytag Corporation. The combined enterprise will immediately begin the integration process.

For the record, The Maytag Man is an actor named Colin Ferguson. I used to watch him in a show called Eureka. He played the sheriff.

Lindsay ThompsonColin Ferguson / Spouse (m. 2012)

Maytag Corporation, in business since 1893, is the third largest manufacturer of major household appliances in the United States, trailing Whirlpool Corporation and GE Appliances. 1893 Frederick Louis Maytag and three partners establish a company to produce threshing-machine band cutters and self-feeder attachments.

Maytag utilizes Whirlpool factories in Clyde, Ohio, and Marion, Ohio, for assembly of its Maxima and Bravos series of washers and dryers. Maytag dishwashers are also manufactured in Ohio, at Whirlpool's Findlay plant.