Actress Loretta Swit, best known for her role as Maj. Margaret 'Hot Lips' Houlihan, on the CBS show, MASH, breathed her last. She was 87.
Her publicist, Harlan Boll, confirmed the news, sharing that Swit died just after midnight on Friday, May 30, at her residence in New York City. She apparently died from natural causes.
Loretta Swit's career
Swit played the prominent role of US Army nurse Major Margaret 'Hot Lips' Houlihan in MASH, which was aired from 1972 to 1983. She met her ex-husband, Dennis Holahan on the show, where he made guest appearance as Per Johannsen.
The show was based on the 1968 book, MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors, written by a former Army surgeon. It was one of the most successful series in US television history- with season finale the most watched episode.
As reported by AP, Swit appeared in nearly every episode of MASH, which explored themes like racism, sexism and PTSD.
Apart from MASH, she also appeared in other television shows like The Muppet Show, Mission: Impossible and Murder, She Wrote.
Apart from television, Swit also acted in Broadway shows like Same Time, Next Year, and The Mystery of Edwin Drood. She was also an animal rights activist, who sold merchandise such as her SwitHeart perfume to support the efforts of animal welfare.
She won two Emmys for her stellar act in MASH, and was nominated for four Golden Globe awards.
Loretta Swit personal life
Swit was born Loretta Szwed on November 4, 1937, in Passaic, New Jersey, and was trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. She got married to Dennis Holahan in 1983. Swit and Holahan got divorced in 1995.
