Trivia

When he left M*A*S*H (1972) in 1975, he was sued for breach of contract, but the case was thrown out because he had no contract. Producers wanted him to sign a morality clause, in which he could be suspended or fired at any time, and he refused because he wanted the same privilege regarding the producers.

After leaving M*A*S*H (1972), he turned down the lead role on the television series Trapper John, M.D. (1979) because he did not want to be typecast as a doctor on television. Ironically, he accepted a role as a doctor shortly thereafter on another television series, House Calls (1979).

Was one of three investors in the Kleinfeld bridal store in New York City and created a chain of bridal stores with initial outlets in Chicago, Illinois, and Los Angeles, California.

Graduated with a history degree from Princeton University (1954), where he was a member of the Princeton Triangle Club, and served in the United States Navy before becoming an actor.

Has been the managing director of the Stop-N-Save convenience food chains in Tallahassee, Florida, for almost 10 years. (August 2003)

Described M*A*S*H (1972) co-star McLean Stevenson as being "one of the funniest men I had ever met", fondly recalling in an interview one day on the set wherein Stevenson had been goofing around with a fly swatter.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 7018 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on December 13, 2005.

Chairman of the Board and co-owner, with Ronnie Rothstein, of "Kleinfeld Bridal".

Good friends with Alan Alda.

Survived by his wife Amy Hirsh Rogers, two children Bill and Laura by his first marriage, and four grandchildren Alexander, Daniel, William and Anais.

Following his death, he was interred at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.

Chairman and president of Wayne Rogers & Co., a stock trading investment company.

In addition to the disputes about contracts, he says he also left M*A*S*H (1972) because he felt the writers were not giving Trapper John any character development. Specifically, he did not like how the Trapper John character began and ended the movie with the same role significance as Hawkeye (e.g., Trapper John was brought into the movie because the unit needed a "chest cutter") but deteriorated in role significance as the sitcom progressed.

His M*A*S*H* co-star William Christopher died one year to the day after he did.

Was the second actor to play the "M*A*S*H" character Trapper John McIntyre, the first one being Elliott Gould in the film M*A*S*H (1970) and the third one being Pernell Roberts on the television series Trapper John, M.D. (1979).

Authored the book "Make Your Own Rules: A Renegade Guide to Unconventional Success" (2001). This is a business book on how to succeed in business peppered with personal anecdotes.

Owns three homes: in Los Angeles, California, Destin, Florida, and Deer Valley, Utah.

Attended Ramsay High School in Birmingham, Alabama, and graduated from the Webb School in Bell Buckle, Tennessee.