Roger Bowen | |
---|---|
![]() Bowen in 1971
|
|
Born |
Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. |
May 25, 1932
Died | February 16, 1996 Marathon, Florida, U.S. |
(aged 63)
Cause of death | Myocardial infarction |
Alma mater | Brown University |
Occupation | Actor, novelist |
Years active | 1963 – 1991 |
Spouse(s) | Ann Bowen |
Children | 3 |
Roger Bowen (May 25, 1932 – February 16, 1996) was an American comedic actor and novelist, known for his portrayal of Lt. Col. Henry Blake in the 1970 film M*A*S*H. He often portrayed stuffy defenders of the upper class and had regular roles on a number of television series. 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.
A native of Providence, Rhode Island, Bowen majored in English at Brown University, then attended graduate school at the University of Chicago. While writing theater reviews for The Chicago Maroon, he was asked to pen material for an improvisational troupe that included Alan Arkin and Mike Nichols. The troupe, Compass Players, evolved into The Second City. Bowen spent most of the 1960s playing "preppie" types on a number of TV & radio commercials. His first film role was 1968's Petulia, but his big movie break came in 1970 when he landed the role of Lieutenant Colonel Blake in Robert Altman's cult film M*A*S*H. Bowen had in fact served in the U.S. Army in Korea, albeit after the Korean conflict had ended. (After serving in Japan as a Special Agent in the Counter Intelligence Corps (441st CIC Detachment - Bepu Field Office) from 1957-58, Bowen was sent to the 308th CIC Detachment in Seoul, South Korea in 1958.)