LOS ANGELES, Jan 1: Actor Wayne Rogers, famous for his portrayal of “Trapper” John McIntyre in the hugely popular television series “M*A*S*H”, died at the age of 82.
Rogers, who later played a wisecracking doctor on “House Calls,” passed away on Thursday of complications from pneumonia, said The Hollywood Reporter.
He appeared on “M*A*S*H” for only the first three of 11 seasons, but the army surgeon was one of the most popular characters on the show.
He turned down the Trapper John role in the series because he did not want to be typecast as a physician.
Rogers was born in Alabama and while serving in the Navy, he started acting and worked in the theatre in the 1950s before getting small film roles in movies such as “The Glory Guys” and “Cool Hand Luke.”
For Broadway, he co-produced Neil Simon’s “Brighton Beach Memoirs,” “Biloxi Blues,” “Broadway Bound” and a revival of “The Odd Couple”.
Apart from acting, Rogers was a business manager and financial counselor for fellow actors. He was part owner of a bank in San Jose, California, and another in North Carolina.
He is survived by his wife, Amy, a son, a daughter and four grandchildren. (PTI)
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