M*A*S*H star Wayne Rogers has died at the age of 82

Rogers passed away from complications of pneumonia while surrounded by his family in Los Angeles, his publicist Rona Menashe said.

As the wise-cracking army surgeon, Wayne was one of the most memorable characters from the long-running drama, making mischief with his pal Hawkeye Pierce, played by Alan Alda.

In the TV series, based on the film about a Korean War field hospital, the two doctors blew off steam between surgeries pulling pranks, romancing nurses and tormenting their tent-mate Frank Burns, always with an endless supply of booze and one-liners.

Mash went on to run for a further 8 seasons, until 1983, with Mike Farrell replacing Rogers as Hawkeye’s new cohort, Captain BJ Hunnicut. “He also wrote a 2011 book, Make Your Own Rules, and appeared regularly on the Fox New business show Cashin” In.

In the film, it was Elliott Gould that played the Trapper John character and Donald Sutherland was Hawkeye.

He turned down the lead role in the TV spin-off Trapper John, M.D.

After leaving M*A*S*H*, he continued to guest-star on television, including in the Larry Hagman role in the TV movie I Dream of Jeannie… Rogers first had the idea of becoming a professional actor while serving as a navigator in the U.S. Navy.

Rogers, who hailed from Alabama, died right here on New Year’s eve.

Born April 7, 1933, in Birmingham, Ala., Rogers graduated from Princeton University, where he dabbled in dramatics, performing in its Triangle show.

Rogers was married to Amy Hirsh and had two children, Bill and Laura, as well as four grandchildren who survive him.

After his time working in Hollywood, Wayne Rogers became a successful money manager.