‘M*A*S*H*’ star Wayne Rogers dies at age 82

Wayne Rogers, a star of the CBS Korean War comedy “M.A.S.H.” for its first three seasons turned entrepreneur and financier, died his family announced. Rogers was 82.

Rogers died from complications from pneumonia in Los Angeles, according to his family Thursday.

In 1972, Rogers was cast as surgeon Trapper John McIntyre in “M.A.S.H.” He left the series in 1975 after its third season following a contract dispute. He also expressed displeasure over the writing for his character.

Rogers later said, “If I had known that the show was going to run that long, I probably would have kept my mouth shut and stayed put.”

“M.A.S.H.” continued to run until 1983.

However, Rogers wasn’t away from series television for long. In 1976, he starred in the NBC midseason 1930’s detective drama, “City of Angels,” which was canceled after 13 episodes.

In 1977, Rogers was the male lead in “It Happened One Christmas,” the feminist made-for-television remake of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” starring and produced by Marlo Thomas.

Rogers again played a doctor on a CBS comedy adapted from a movie in “House Calls,” which ran from 1979-82. For his work on the show, he received a Golden Globe nomination for best actor in a television musical or comedy series in 1981 but lost out to Alan Alda, his “M.A.S.H.” co-star.

Born April 7, 1933, in Birmingham, Ala., Rogers graduated from Princeton University, where he dabbled in dramatics, performing in its Triangle show. Rogers first had the idea of becoming a professional actor while serving as a navigator in the U.S. Navy.

Following his discharge, Rogers studied at Sanford Meisner’s Neighborhood Playhouse and with dancer Martha Graham and worked as a waiter and lifeguard.

Eventually, Rogers would be cast in road companies of “No Time For Sergeants” and “Teahouse Of The August Moon.” Rogers also found roles in the waning days of New York-based television anthologies in the late 1950s in “Armstrong Circle Theater,” “Studio One” and “Kraft Television Theatre.”

Rogers starred in the 1960-61 ABC Western, “Stagecoach West,” playing stagecoach driver Luke Perry.

In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, Rogers appeared in the Paul Newman films “Cool Hand Luke,” “WUSA” and “Pocket Money” and guest-starred on “The FBI” in several roles.

Rogers worked steadily in the 1980s in made-for-television movies, including playing astronaut Tony Nelson in “I Dream of Jeannie: 15 Years Later” in 1985 and as a teacher and baseball coach turned child molester in “One Terrific Guy” in 1986.

In recent years, Rogers turned most of his attention to his business interests as chairman of the investment strategy firm Wayne M. Rogers & Co., CEO and chairman of Stop-N-Save, a Tallahassee, Fla.-based privately held convenience store chain, bank owner, chairman of the bridal retailer Kleinfeld, financier and Broadway producer.

Rogers was also a regular expert contributor for the Fox News Channel’s business shows.

Rogers’ final acting roles both came in 2003 in the film comedy “Nobody Knows Anything!” whose cast also included future talk show host Stephen Colbert, and the mad-for-television movie “Miracle Dogs.”

Rogers received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005.

Rogers is survived by his wife, Amy, his children Laura and Bill, and four grandchildren.

—City News Service