Roger Bowen, American actor and author (b. 1932)
Roger Wendell Bowen (May 25, 1932 – February 16, 1996) was an American comedic actor and Novelist, best known for his portrayal of Lt. Col. Henry Blake in the 1970 film M*A*S*H, a low budget film that would go on to become one of Hollywood’s biggest box office grossing comedies of all time. To this day, M*A*S*H ranks 9th, with a modern-day adjusted box office gross of more than $460,000,000. M*A*S*H would eventually be named among AFI‘s 100 greatest American movies of all time.
Bowen went on to become one of the most ubiquitous character actors in television history, often portraying stuffy defenders of the upper class. He performed a myriad of roles in television series, motion pictures, commercials and voice-overs.
“He was everywhere - He was the guy everybody knew but didn’t know his name. People would see him on the street, stop, scratch their head and say, “Hey, I know that guy, or do I?” friend and fellow Second City Alumnus Ed Asner affectionately told ABC News shortly after Bowen’s death in 1996.Bowen considered himself a writer who only moonlighted as an actor. He wrote eleven novels (including Just Like a Movie) as well as sketches for Broadway and television. He was also one of the co-founders of Chicago's comedy and acting troupe The Second City.