Wayne Rogers, who played ‘Trapper’ John on ‘M*A*S*H’, dies

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Rogers was on the show for just the first three of its 11 seasons, but his run, and his character, are especially revered by show devotees.

The two starred together on the 1970s series, with Rogers portraying Trapper John McIntyre alongside Alda’s Hawkeye Pierce. The character had been played by Elliott Gould within the 1970 movie. To begin with, the surgeons were equals, but Rogers soon began to feel that the scripts championed Alda’s character over his own. A contract dispute after the MASH’s third season led to the exit of both Wayne Rogers and McLean Stevenson, who played Colonel Henry Blake.

He was additionally the top of Wayne Rogers & Co., a inventory buying and selling funding company. Later, he received a Golden Globe nomination for playing one on the CBS comedy House Calls.

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

Rogers returned to television, most notably as a recurring character of Murder She Wrote in the early 1990’s.

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

Rogers also made appearances on TV’s Law of the Plainsman, Zane Grey Theater and Gunsmoke, and he was a frequent guest on Fox News Channel’s Cashin’ In investment program.