Actress Loretta Swit, well known for her role as Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan the long running television show M*A*S*H, has passed away at the age of 87.
She was born Loretta Jane Szwedon November 4th, 1937 to Lester and Nellie Szwed in Passaic, New Jersey.
Ms. Swit would appear as a guest on shows such as Hawaii Five-O, Gunsmoke, Mission: Impossible, and Mannix starting in 1969.
In 1972, she was cast to portray Major Margaret Houlihan in the television series M*A*S*H, for which she is most remembered. She would win two Emmys for her work in the series, winning in 1980 and 1982. Along with Alan Alda, Jamie Farr, and William Christopher, she was one of only four cast members to remain on the show for the entire 11 seasons.
She would remain close to M*A*S*H co-stars Alan Alda (‘Hawkeye’) and Harry Morgan (“Colonel Potter.”) Following the end of the series, she and Morgan would end up becoming neighbours until his death in 2011.
Ms. Swit was also spent time in the theatre, starting out with an Off-Broadway production of An Enemy of the People.
She passed away at her home in New York City on May 30th, 2025.
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Alan Alda, Mike Farrell Among Those Paying Tribute to Loretta Swit: “A Supremely Talented Actor”
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