Steven Rogers

Steven Rogers (born April 18, 1937) is a former actor and producer best known for his role as Doc Walton in Combat! and appearances in teen films of the mid-1960s.

Early life
He was born Richard Alan Rogers in Chicago, Illinois, and was an only child. His father, Tom, was a salesman who occasionally worked in radio. The family was independently wealthy thanks to American Linen Products, the textile business owned by his mother’s family. The family relocated to Southern California when Rogers was a child, and he grew up in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Northridge. Rogers told gossip columnist Rona Barrett in 1963 that his childhood was not a happy one, and he gained considerable weight from using food as a comfort mechanism.

Rogers attended college at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, but left to pursue a performance career through Estelle Harman's acting school. During a brief break to serve in the U.S. Army, Rogers kept up with his acting work through correspondence with Harman.

After his service ended, Rogers returned to acting. His entry into the field was an unbilled part in the 1962 revenge film 13 West Street, which starred Alan Ladd. Small TV roles followed.

He married his first wife, Keith, in 1960, and the couple had two children. A 1962 studio biography said Rogers was an avid reader, particularly fond of books about law and justice.

Combat! and film roles
In 1961, ABC agreed to produce a pilot for a television series about infantrymen in World War II's European theater. The series, called Combat!, was one of two World War II dramas ABC ordered (the other being The Gallant Men) for the 1962-63 season. Rogers and other actors read for the part of combat medic "Doc Walton," described in network press releases as "a gentle, sensitive youngster who is profoundly affected by his battlefield experiences." Rogers was cast the same day he auditioned. He later said he was surprised to get the role. Along with the other series regulars, Rogers went through a weeklong military training regimen at Fort Ord in northern California in May 1962 to prepare for filming the first season. Rogers, who had gone by "Rick," adopted the stage name "Steven" to avoid being confused with series lead Rick Jason.

Rogers, as Doc, was frequently highlighted in newspaper TV listings,  and one reviewer credited Rogers’ acting with saving Combat! from "going into mourning" in some of the show’s grittier storylines. Halfway through the first season, one report said fan mail addressed to Rogers outpaced that for series leads Rick Jason and Vic Morrow, leading to speculation he would be given a larger presence in the series. However, Rogers' character was rarely given a spotlight. In some episodes his appearance was restricted to a few lines or less in a single scene. Rogers later reflected fondly on working with Robert Altman (who directed ten episodes of the series), Jason, and series regulars Pierre Jalbert and Shecky Greene.

Rogers' involvement with Combat! ended with the close of the program's first season. Accounts differ as to the reason for Rogers’ departure. The actor told interviewer Tom Lisanti he left of his own accord, seeing little value in continuing as Doc when the character was given so little to do. Other sources held that Rogers’ performance dissatisfied Combat! producers, or indicated personal friction between Rogers and Combat! Executive Producer Selig Seligman. The medic role would be passed to Conlan Carter for the remainder of the series’ five-season run. After Combat! Rogers befriended filmmaker Roger Corman and his brother Gene Corman, and actor Bart Patton. The Cormans and Patton would give Rogers his re-entry to film, mainly in moderately-budgeted films aimed at teenage audiences. The first, Paramount's The Girls on the Beach, was released in 1965 amid a wave of similarly-themed beach movies. Rogers starred with Aron Kincaid and Martin West. Subsequently, Rogers was cast in a small supporting role in American International Pictures' Ski Party, which transplanted the beach formula to a mountain resort in winter. The following year, Rogers had a meatier role in Universal Studios’ Wild Wild Winter. Rogers' post-Combat! run ended with a brief supporting role in the 1968 biker movie Angels From Hell.

Rogers took a break from acting in the late 1960s teamed up with Wild Wild Winter co-star Don Edmonds to form a production company. Edmonds later recalled that the partnership didn't accomplish much. He convinced Rogers to sign on as a producer for his soft-core B-movie Wild Honey, which was released in 1972. It was Rogers' sole production credit, and the partnership fell apart shortly thereafter when Rogers and Edmonds had a falling out over "creative differences." The rupture with Edmonds and the apparent end of his acting career depressed Rogers; he later said he spent four days in a room by himself, trying to decide what to do next. He took up sewing, and built on the hobby by taking classes at UCLA's design school. That led to a stint in costume design, and Rogers’ clients included Cher and Sammy Davis, Jr.

Post-Hollywood
In the early 1980s, Rogers and his second wife, Carmen, made Park City, Utah, a second home. The couple became active in the community, supporting causes that included animal welfare, aiding domestic violence victims, and environmental and development concerns. In 2003, Rogers was feted with a gala honoring his career and philanthropic efforts that included a written commendation from the Park City’s mayor and city council.

In the mid-1980s, Rogers began collecting pool cues. One of his acquisitions was the "Celtic Prince," an ornate cue made by Thomas Wayne and valued at $100,000. Rogers claimed he bought it for less, and that the purchase was worth it. In 2004 he sponsored and helped host the second International Cue Collectors Showcase. A second collection of pool cues was housed in the Rogers' Los Angeles residence. His interest in the hobby was sparked by the 1961 film The Hustler, and in 2003 Rogers said, "Instead of playing golf, I went to play pool...I think it’s a great game."

In 1993, he co-founded a group to save the decaying Egyptian Theater in Park City. Rogers was considered instrumental in raising the money necessary for substantial repairs and structural improvements, including securing a donation from the Steiner Foundation. The theater was renamed in honor of Rogers' maternal grandmother, Mary Steiner, whom Rogers credited with inspiring his appreciation for the performing arts, and the theater’s 1998 season was dedicated to Rogers in recognition of his work. Throughout the 1990s, Rogers played occasional roles with a local theater group, and served for a time as its president. He also helped fund a youth acting program at the Egyptian.

Rogers did not join his former Combat! castmates at fan-organized reunions in 1996, 1998 and 2000. He did participate in a 2004 documentary about the series called Combat: Back to the Front. In it, Rogers said, "I couldn't believe that there were people out there who still really love this show. God bless you out there, fans."

Rogers suffered a stroke in the late 2000s and engaged in therapy to address its effects.