Wayne Rogers

Wayne M. Rogers, one of the stars of the television series M*A*S*H, a Broadway producer, and now a news contributor to the Fox Network, is an entertainment icon. As an entrepreneur, he has been involved in investment activities for over 40 years, including real estate development and business management of a number of motion picture personalities, as well as co-ventures with other prominent individuals and institutions.

Rogers became one of Hollywood's most popular stars by portraying immensely affable leads in such programs as House Calls and M*A*S*H. He created one of TV's most memorable villains when he portrayed a dangerously immoral child molester in the critically honored One Terrific Guy. His portrayal made headlines when it prompted a young California girl to confront a molester whose abuse she had feared to expose. The man was convicted and sent to prison. Equally powerful were his depictions of an insensitive but redeemable auto dealer and jazz musician in The Gig, a corrupt politician in the mini-series Bluegrass, and a wife-rapist in The Killing Time with Kiefer Sutherland. Rogers has also produced such films as Once in Paris, the award-winning HBO films Age-Old Friends and Perfect Witness, and several Broadway smash hits.

One of those rare people who are able to do a lot of things well at the same time, Rogers has become a successful and influential entrepreneur and financier. He is a founding shareholder in six banks and current owner in four; the active managing director and co-owner of Stop-N-Save, a privately held convenience store chain based in Tallahassee, Florida; the former owner of the Rancho Tierra Rejada vineyard; chairman and co-owner of the legendary Kleinfeld, the largest bridal retailer in the country; a minor owner of the Oakland Athletics; a partner in Stargazer Entertainment, Inc. – with wife Amy Hirsh Rogers – which has produced Emmy and ACE Award-winning TV movies starring such actors as Brian Dennehy, Roy Scheider, Sonia Braga, and Hume Cronyn; and serves on the board of directors of NYSE semiconductor company Vishay Intertechnology. Using his unique approach of "ask the consumer first," Rogers' successful real estate ventures have included subdivisions and commercial office developments in Florida, Arizona, California, and Utah. His business expertise evolved into his management of other top Hollywood talents, led to him appearing as an expert witness before the House Banking Committee, and earned him his current spot as a panelist on the Fox Business Channel's top-rated weekly show Cashin' In.

Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Rogers graduated from Princeton University with a degree in history. He had dabbled in dramatics in college, performing in Princeton's Triangle show, but it was during naval service as a navigator that it first occurred to him to become a professional actor. After being discharged from the Navy as a lieutenant, he studied at Sanford Meisner's Neighborhood Playhouse with dancer Martha Graham. He appeared on The Dick Powell Theater, then became a regular on Stagecoach West, and made his motion picture debut in Robert Wise's Odds Against Tomorrow. After guest appearances in such television shows as The Fugitive, Gunsmoke, and The FBI, and roles in such motion pictures as Cool Hand Luke, Pocket Money, and WUSA, all three directed by Stuart Rosenberg and starring Paul Newman, he was given the coveted role of "Trapper John" on M*A*S*H.

Most recently, Rogers authored Make Your Own Rules: A Renegade Guide to Unconventional Success. The book paints a portrait of Rogers' many and varied successes, from acting to entrepreneurship.