Wayne Rogers Dead: MASH actor dies age 82

The actor later changed career paths to become an investor

(Associated Press)

Wayne Rogers, who is best known for playing Trapper John McIntyre in the television series M*A*S*H, has died aged 82.

His publicist confirmed he died of complications from pneumonia on Thursday while surrounded by family in Los Angeles.

Rogers played the army surgeon in the TV series which centred around a military hospital in South Korea during the Korean War.

Appearing in the first five of 11 seasons, Rogers’ character was best known for regularly swapping jokes with his partner in crime Hawkeye Pierce, played by Alan Alda.

Wayne Rogers and Alan Alda in M*A*S*H (REX/TM & copyright 20th Century Fox.)

Aside from M*A*SH, Rogers had a recurring role on Murder She Wrote in the 1990s. He previously starred in a variety of Western films such as Law of the Plainsman and StageCoach West.

However, he later moved away from acting to pursue investing and money managing. In 1988 and 1990 he appeared as an expert witness before the US House of Representatives to speak in favour of maintaining the Glass-Steagall banking laws of the 1930s.

More recently he had regular appearances on the Fox News investment programme Cashin’ In.

Rogers is survived by his wife Amy, two children, Bill and Laura, and four grandchildren.

Additional reporting by Associated Press.