Wayne Rogers, who played the wacky, lovable doctor Trapper John in the M*A*S*H. television series has passed away due to complications of pneumonia on December 31st at the age of 82.

The good-looking 6’3” actor was born on April 7, 1933 in Birmingham, Alabama attended Princeton University earning a degree in history in 1954 before joining the United States Navy.

After leaving the Navy, Mr. Rogers was accepted to the prestigious Sanford Meisner acting school where he honed his craft in New York stage productions of No Time for Sergeants and Bus Stop.

Working in minor parts in films as Odds Against Tomorrow, The Glory Guys, and Cool Hand Luke and the Ted V. Mikels sci-fi movie The Astro-Zombies, he finally got his big break in television on the soap opera The Edge of Night.

Other television roles include Combat, Honey West, 12 O’clock High,  Gunsmoke, The Invaders, The F.B.I. and Wanted: Dead Or Alive.

It wasn’t until 1972 that Mr. Rogers was chosen to play a role he would be known for all over the world as Trapper John in M*A*S*H.

After leaving the series, Mr. Rogers continued his craft and won a Golden Globe for his work in the television series House Calls.

With fewer roles being available, Mr. Rogers concentrated his talents towards becoming a successful investor and businessman who also managed the careers of Peter Falk and James Caan.

STARBURST sends their thoughts to his family and friends.

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