news

R.I.P. Wayne Rogers, Trapper John of 'MAS*H'

The actor who portrayed Trapper John McIntyre passed away December 31 at the age of 82. Watch the MeTV salute to Wayne Rogers all week.

January 4, 2016, 12:37PM By MeTV Staff

Wayne Rogers, who died on December 31 at the age of 82, leaves behind a legacy of portraying one of the most beloved characters on one of the most popular TV series of all time.

MAS*H

11/21 6:00PMSons and Bowlers
"After losing to the Marines once again, Colonel Potter wishes there was one sport the 4077th were any good at. When Klinger mentions he can bowl, the Colonel decides to have a bowling competition. Unfortunately, he and Klinger are the only 2 good bowlers in the camp, so BJ and Father Mulcahy are "recruited" to the team. Colonel Potter becomes obsessed with winning the game, and excludes Margaret from the team because she helped the team lose at softball. Then the 4077th team hear the Marines have got a "ringer" in their team after pulling some strings..... Meanwhile, Hawkeye finds out his father is in hospital and tries to speak to him over the phone, watched by Charles, who envies Hawkeye's close relationship with his father. "
11/21 6:30PMPicture This
"Potter's attempts to assemble the crew for a family portrait are thwarted by a feud between bunkmates Pierce, Hunnicutt, and Winchester. Things are not helped by the efforts of Margaret, Klinger and Mulcahy to bring the Swampmen back together. "
11/21 7:00PMThat Darn Kid
"Klinger buys a goat, with the intention of getting rich by selling it's milk. Then the goat eats the 4077th's $22,340 payroll, leaving paymaster Hawkeye holding the bag. Meanwhile, Charles also thinks he can make a killing when he sees an ancient vase. "

*available in most MeTV markets

On M*A*S*H, Rogers brought to life Trapper John McIntyre, the fun-loving Army surgeon of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. Although Rogers only appeared in the first three seasons of the long-running show, his character quickly became a fan favorite.

McIntyre was known as a legendary prankster, always causing trouble with his buddy Hawkeye Pierce, portrayed by Alan Alda. Initially Rogers and Alda were supposed to have equal screen time, yet when Alda's character became more popular with audiences, the writers and producers fed Hawkeye more scenes on the show. Because of this, Rogers left the show after the third season.

After M*A*S*H, Rogers continued to have success in acting, obtaining recurring role in popular television shows like Murder She Wrote. Beyond acting, Rogers also found success as a money manager and investor.

Rogers died from complications of pneumonia in Los Angeles. He is survived by his wife, two children, and four grandchildren.

To pay tribute to the actor, MeTV is airing classic episodes featuring Trapper John McIntyre's best moments as part of the "MeTV Salute to Wayne Rogers." Tune in to M*A*S*H this week, Monday through Friday, at 7PM | 6C.

The highlighted episodes include “Requiem for a Lightweight,” “Hot Lips and Empty Arms,” “Officer of the Day,” "Check-Up," "Kim," "Mail Call," "The Army-Navy Game," "Radar's Report," "As You Were," "O.R." and "Private Charles Lamb." Visit our schedule for more details.