The Tragic Death Of Wayne Rogers - "Captain 'Trapper' John McIntyre"

He attended Ramsay High School and later went on to study history at Princeton University. After completing his undergraduate studies, Rogers served in the United States Navy before pursuing a career in acting.

According to ‘The New York Times,’ Rogers planned on going to law school but had a change of heart when his ship, the USS Denebola, stopped at Brooklyn, New York, where he attended a friend’s theater rehearsal, which “hooked” him.

Rogers began his acting career in the 1950s, making his debut on screen in the film ‘Cool Hand Luke’ (1967) alongside Paul Newman. He appeared in ‘Wanted Dead or Alive,’ ‘Gomer Pyle,’ and ‘U.S.M.C.,’ however, he gained widespread recognition and popularity for his role in ‘M*A*S*H’, which premiered in 1972 and became one of the most beloved and successful television series of its time.

Rogers portrayed “Captain ‘Trapper’ John McIntyre”, one of the witty and irreverent surgeons stationed at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War. He played the character for the first three seasons (1972–1975) and left the show due to a contractual dispute.

It is said that he originally tried for the role of “Hawkeye Pierce” but disliked the character’s personality and was offered to audition for “Trapper John,” which allegedly had an equally important role. However, Rogers discovered that this was not the case and left the show.

Apart from his work in MAS*H, Wayne Rogers had a diverse acting career in both film and television. He appeared in various TV shows such as ‘City of Angels,’ ‘House Calls,’ and ‘Murder, She Wrote,’ among others. He also had roles in films like ‘The Hot Touch’ (1982) and ‘Ghosts of Mississippi’ (1996).

In addition to his acting career, Wayne Rogers was involved in business and finance. He earned a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from the Graduate School of Business at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Rogers became a successful investor and entrepreneur, co-founding the investment partnership Wayne Rogers & Co. He was a regular panelist on the television series ‘Cashin' In,’ a financial analysis program on the Fox News Channel.

He had two children, Bill and Laura Rogers, with Mitzi McWhorter, an actress he married in 1960 and divorced in 1983. He then married Amy Hirsh in 1988 and moved to Florida in 2001.

Wayne Rogers passed away on December 31, 2015, at the age of 82. The cause of death was complications from pneumonia. His death was mourned by fans, colleagues, and friends, and he was remembered for his contributions to the entertainment industry and his success in the world of finance.