Wayne Rogers was a rugged and durable individual, born in Birmingham, Alabama on April 7, 1933. After graduating from Princeton University with a degree in history in 1954, he joined the Navy, where he discovered his passion for theater by chance.
Rogers honed his craft at the Neighborhood Playhouse, studying with renowned acting teacher Sanford Meisner and dancer Martha Graham. He appeared in numerous off-Broadway and regional plays, including "Bus Stop" and "No Time for Sergeants," and had a brief stint on the daytime soap "The Edge of Night" in 1956.
Before finding success on television, Rogers made minor appearances in films such as "Odds Against Tomorrow" (1959),"The Glory Guys" (1965),and "Cool Hand Luke" (1967). He co-starred in the short-lived TV western series "Stagecoach West" (1960) and co-produced and wrote the script for the cult sci-fi film "The Astro-Zombies" (1968).
Rogers' breakthrough role came in 1972, when he played "Trapper John" in the classic comedy series "M*A*S*H." Alongside Alan Alda's "Hawkeye Pierce," the show was a huge hit, and Rogers enjoyed equal success at the beginning. However, as the show progressed, his character began to receive less screen time, and he eventually quit the series after three seasons due to a contractual dispute.
Rogers went on to appear in several TV movies and comedy series, including "House Calls" (1979),for which he received a Golden Globe nomination. He continued to work in film and television throughout the 1980s and 1990s, but never quite matched the success he found during his time on "M*A*S*H."
In his later years, Rogers was seen in fewer films and television shows, but continued to work as a businessman and investor, managing the affairs of stars such as Peter Falk and James Caan. He died on New Year's Eve in 2015 at the age of 82, due to complications from pneumonia.
