‘MASH’ Star Wayne Rogers Dead at 82

Wayne Rogers, who is remembered as “Trapper John” McIntyre on the first three seasons of CBS’ “M.A.S.H,” died Thursday in Los Angeles due to complications from pneumonia.  He was 82.

Born William Wayne McMillan Rogers III on April 7, 1933 in Birmingham, Alabama, Rogers got an early start on television on daytime soap opera “The Edge of Night” in 1956 before appearing in small roles on theatricals “Odds Against Tomorrow” (1959), “The Glory Guys” (1965) and “Cool Hand Luke” (1967).  His first regularly scheduled television series was 1960-61 western “Stagecoach West,” which was followed by numerous guest appearances on shows including “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” “Gunsmoke,” “The Fugitive” and “The F.B.I.”  Rogers exited “MASH” in 1975 after a contract dispute and went on to star in two other series, NBC detective drama “City of Angels” in 1976 and CBS sitcom “House Calls” from 1979-82, for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe award in 1979.

Outside of his acting career, Rogers was chairman of Wayne M. Rogers & Co., an investment strategy firm; chief executive of the convenience store chain Stop-N-Save; and chairman of Kleinfeld Bridal, one of the world’s largest wedding dress vendors. He frequently appeared on Fox Business Network’s “Cashin’ In” and served as national chairman of the Easter Seals campaign.

Rogers was also a successful theatrical producer, with producer credits for the original Broadway runs of “Brighton Beach Memoirs” and “Biloxi Blues” and of the 1985 revival of “The Odd Couple.” 

He is survived by his wife, Amy; a son; a daughter; and four grandchildren.