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

Wayne Rogers, who played Trapper John on the classic TV series M.A.S.H. There was even later a spinoff show developed around his character, Trapper John, MD, but as the show was set more than three decades after M.A.S.H.

The 82-year-old passed away peacefully on New Year’s Eve surrounded by his family after suffering complications from pneumonia.

His character and Hawkeye Pierce – played by Alan Alda – often seemed to have an endless supply of both booze and one-liners.

The character of “Trapper” John – originated in the “MASH” movie by Elliott Gould opposite Donald Sutherland as Hawkeye – was eager to return to his wife and daughters but still found time to canoodle with the nurses of the fictional 4077 Mobile Army Surgical Hospital.

William Wayne McMillan Rogers III was born on April 7, 1933, in Birmingham, Alabama.

Alan Alda remembered his “M.A.S.H.” co-star Wayne Rogers with a touching post on Twitter on Friday.

In addition to TV, Rogers made appearances in several films, including Cool Hand Luke with Paul Newman and Rob Reiner’s Ghosts of Mississippi.

He also had recurring roles in TV shows “City of Angels”, “House Calls”, and “Murder, She Wrote”.

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… In 1988 and 1990, he appeared as an expert witness before the House Judiciary Committee to speak in favor of maintaining the Glass-Steagall banking laws of the 1930s. He frequently appeared on Fox Business Network’s “Cashin’ In” and served as national chairman of the Easter Seals campaign.

Rogers also was a businessman, investing in ventures such as a film-distribution company and wine-making and bridal businesses. In his personal life, Rogers married and had two children with Mitzi McWhorter.