Loretta Swit, Emmy-Winning ‘MAS*H’ Icon Who Played ‘Hot Lips’ Houlihan, Dies at 87

“Loretta Swit, Star of ‘MAS*H’ and Emmy Winner, Dies at Age 87”

REQUIRED TO KNOW:

•  Loretta Swit, an Emmy-winning actress, passed away on Friday, May 30, at the age of 87.
•  Swit’s publicist, Harlan Boll, has verified that she passed away due to natural causes at her residence in New York City.
•  The actress was most renowned for her portrayal of Major Margaret J “Hot Lips” Houlihan, a chief nurse during the Korean War, on the CBS series M*A*S*H from 1972 to 1983.

 Loretta Swit has passed away.  She was 87 years old.

Harlan Boll, the actress’ publicist, verified the information to on Friday, May 30.  The natural causes of Swit’s death occurred in the early morning hours of Friday at her residence in New York City.

 The news was initially reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

The actress was most renowned for her portrayal of Major Margaret J “Hot Lips” Houlihan, a chief nurse in the Korean War, on the CBS series M*A*S*H from 1972 to 1983.  She received two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, four Golden Globe nominations, and a TV Land Impact Award for the portrayal.

The series continues to be one of the most successful and acclaimed in the annals of US television.  When it concluded in 1983, its season finale was the most viewed episode of any television series in history.

In the role of “Hot Lips,” Swit portrayed a resilient yet tenacious Army nurse who acquired the moniker as a result of an affair with Major Frank Burns, who was portrayed by Larry Linville.

At a time when US forces were withdrawing from Vietnam and grappling with the repercussions of that conflict, the program employed humor and pranks to address challenging topics such as racism, misogyny, and the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) within the military.

It was inspired by the 1968 novel “MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors,” which was written by a former Army surgeon.

Loretta Swit was born Loretta Szwed in New Jersey and received her education at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City.

In addition to M*A*S*H, she appeared in a plethora of other television programs, films, and even game shows throughout her career.

She appeared on Broadway in Mame, Same Time, Next Year, and Shirley Valentine, for which she received the Sarah Siddons Award, Chicago’s highest honor in the field of theater.

Her television credits encompassed appearances on The Muppet Show, Mission: Impossible, and Murder, She Wrote.

 Loretta Swit was nominated for four Golden Globe awards in addition to her Emmys.

 “Acting is not concealment to me; it is disclosure.”  In 2010, she stated in an interview with the Star magazine, “We grant you permission to experience emotions.” 

“That is the most critical aspect of life, as the moment one ceases to experience emotions is the moment one is declared deceased.”

In an interview with an author regarding her character on M*A*S*H, she stated, “I resolved to portray her as a genuine individual, with intelligence, even if it resulted in the jokes being compromised, around the second or third year.”  She was a character that was perpetually evolving; she was never static.

According to a statement from her publicist, Mr. Boll, Swit was also an artist and animal rights activist who established a charity to advocate against animal cruelty.

 Jamie Farr, who also played Corporal Klinger in M*A*S*H, referred to Swit as his “adopted sister.”

Farr stated in a statement, “We embraced each other from the moment we met, on what was intended to be a one-day appearance on M*A*S*H. This friendship has lasted a lifetime.”  “I am unable to articulate the extent to which she will be missed.”