Actress Loretta Swit, renowned for portraying the sexually-charged Major 'Hot Lips' Houlihan in the iconic series 'M*A*S*H,' passes away at 87 years old.
Noted actress Loretta Swit, renowned for her Emmy-winning portrayal of Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan on the TV adaptation of "MAS*H," passed away on Friday in her New York City apartment, her representative confirmed to The Times. She was 87 years old.
Swit's housekeeper discovered her body around 10 a.m. according to her publicist, Harlan Boll, who stated that he had spoken with her at 11 p.m. local time on Thursday, which was 2 a.m. on Friday in New York. Her doorman reported seeing her deliver something in the mail at 4 a.m. that same day, New York time, Boll added, and by 10 a.m., Swit was gone.
In a retrospective piece from 1977, Swit told The Times, "There is, I think, an intelligence behind the humor. The audience is huge, and they deserve to be entertained on the highest level we can achieve." Swit's portrayal of the libido-driven, outspoken character catapulted her to household-name status, but her career in acting began long before, with stage productions and musicals in New York. She left home at the age of 17 to work in theater and studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Swit was a workaholic who effortlessly transitioned from comedy to drama, performing in productions such as "Same Time, Next Year," "Mame," and "The Odd Couple" before joining the cast of "MAS*H" in Los Angeles. She remained on the show from its debut in 1972 until its finale in 1983.
Swit's television career extended beyond "MASH," with guest appearances on shows like "Hawaii Five-O," "Mission: Impossible," and "Mannix." Her most recent television role was as herself in the 2024 Fox tribute special "MASH: The Comedy That Changed Television."
In addition to her acting work, Swit was an animal lover and established the SwitHeart Animal Alliance to combat animal cruelty and suffering. She worked with numerous organizations to support and care for animals, and raised public awareness about animal welfare issues. Swit's philanthropic efforts earned her numerous awards, including the Betty White Award from Actors and Others for Animals in 2016.
Luke Johnson is a freelance writer and contributed to this report.
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- Noted actress Loretta Swit, famously known for her Emmy-winning role as Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan on the TV series "MAS*H," resided in New York City.
- Swit's acting career began in theater and musicals in New York, and she later transitioned to television, working in productions in Hollywood, California.
- Loretta Swit, who passed away in Los Angeles, also had a passion for animals and established the SwitHeart Animal Alliance to combat animal cruelty and suffering.
- The Rams, a professional American football team based in Hollywood, California, and Swit were both associated with the entertainment capital of the world.
- The culture of Los Angeles, well-known for its Hollywood entertainment industry and celebrities, was where Swit spent many years of her successful television career.
- In her later years, Swit was active in the entertainment industry, with a television role as herself in the 2024 Fox tribute special "MAS*H: The Comedy That Changed Television."
