Actress Loretta Swit, most well-known for playing the role of Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan on the classic television comedy “M*A*S*H,” passed away on Friday at her home in New York City. Swit was 87.
Harlan Boll, Swit’s rep, stated that the official police report has her time of death listed as 12:01 p.m. on May 30. It’s believed she died of natural causes.
Swit was nominated for an Emmy for outstanding performance by a supporting actress in a comedy for her role on “M*A*S*H,” every year from 1974 to 1983, winning the award in 1980 and 1982.
The series underwent a significant shift in tone as it developed over its 11-year run. Starting out as a comedy, it evolved to embrace a deeper, more dramatic bend to complement its funny side. Swit evolved the character of Houlihan to go along with the program.
When her character first came on the series, she was made as a villain who often allied with Frank Burns, who is the antagonist of the show and the butt of jokes by Hawkeye and Trapper John.
A report from Variety discussed how the first step in her character’s transformation came when she finally saw Burns’ true colors. In an episode called “Mail Call Again,” Houlihan witnesses Frank lie to his wife when she finds out about the two of them.
Another major development moment occurs in the season five episode, “Bug Out,” where most personnel evacuate the area, with only Hawkeye, Margaret, and Radar left behind to care for a patient that cannot be moved. Her more human side shone through, and fans reacted positively.
While “M*A*S*H” was definitely the high point of her acting career, she starred in a number of other popular projects as well. After the series came to an end, Swit starred in a popular Emmy-nominated telepic called “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.”
Swit portrayed a teacher who takes the worst students and puts them in the school’s Christmas pageant. This began a long streak of TV movies she became known for, including 1985’s “The Execution.”
Her last TV appearance was in a 1998 episode of “Diagnosis Murder.”
“Swit was born Loretta Jane Szwed in Passaic, New Jersey, to Polish immigrant parents who were far from encouraging about a career in show business, but she could not be deterred, performing onstage for the first time at the age of 7. She trained as a singer at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and studied acting with Gene Frankel in Manhattan,” Variety reported.
The actress was married to actor Dennis Holahan from 1983 until they divorced in 1995.
Swit is also well known for her work with animal rights organizations. She founded the SwitHeart Animal Alliance, a charity dedicated to helping raise funds for animals. She also received the Betty White Award from Actors and Others for Animals, along with being recognized by other organizations.
