Wayne Rogers, “M*A*S*H” star has died at age 82

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Wayne Rogers, whose Trapper John McIntyre on “M.A.S.H.” was among the most beloved characters on one of the most popular shows of all time, died Thursday.

Entertainment Tonight, which broke the story, says Rogers died from complication from pneumonia.

Survivors include his wife, Amy Hirsh Rogers; two children from his first marriage; and four grandchildren.

Mr. Rogers is said to have subsequently turned down the Trapper John role in the series Trapper John, M.D.

Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Rogers graduated from Princeton University with a degree in history and enlisted in the Navy before beginning his acting career. He was initially considered for Alda’s character, but he preferred Trapper’s sunnier disposition to Hawkeye’s darkly acerbic personality.

Rogers was also a regular expert contributor for the Fox News Channel’s business shows. Radar O’Reilly, played by Gary Burghoff, was the one who delivered the news to both the world and the cast, who, other than Alan Alda, only learned of the major plot development as the scene was shot. He was reportedly frustrated by the show’s focus on Alda when he quit after three seasons, with Mike Farrell replacing him as B.J. Hunnicut.

Rogers again played a doctor on a CBS comedy adapted from a movie in “House Calls”, which ran from 1979-82.

Before “M*A*S*H” came along, Rogers’ roles included spots on several Westerns, “The Fugitive”, “Combat!” and “Cannon”. “When you start out to do things in life, you have no idea it’s going to be some sort of icon”, he told a Tallahassee Democrat reporter in a 2002 interview. A shrewd businessman – he later became a notable real estate developer and investor, with producing credits on several Neil Simon stage hits – he worked on Wall Street as well.