Latest news with #3rdAnnualTelevisionAcademyHonors
The Star
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Emmy-winner actor Loretta Swit, who played Houlihan on 'M.A.S.H.,' dies at 87
Actress Loretta Swit arrives at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' 3rd Annual Television Academy Honors in Beverly Hills, Calif., 2010. — AP Loretta Swit, who won two Emmy Awards playing Major Margaret Houlihan, the demanding head nurse of a behind-the-lines surgical unit during the Korean War on the pioneering hit TV series M.A.S.H. , has died. She was 87. Publicist Harlan Boll says Swit died Friday at her home in New York City, likely from natural causes. Swit and Alan Alda were the longest-serving cast members on M.A.S.H. , which was based on Robert Altman's 1970 film, which was itself based on a novel by Richard Hooker, the pseudonym of H. Richard Hornberger. The CBS show aired for 11 years from 1972 to 1983, revolving around life at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, which gave the show its name. The two-and-a-half-hour finale on Feb 28, 1983, lured over 100 million viewers, the most-watched episode of any scripted series ever. Actress Loretta Swit poses in Los Angeles, Calif., on Nov. 21, 1983. (AP Photo/Wally Fong, File) Rolling Stone magazine put M.A.S.H. at No. 25 of the best TV shows of all time, while Time Out put it at No. 34. It won the Impact Award at the 2009 TV Land annual awards. It won a Peabody Award in 1975 for the depth of its humour and the manner in which comedy is used to lift the spirit and, as well, to offer a profound statement on the nature of war. In Altman's 1970 film, Houlihan was a one-dimensional character – a sex-crazed bimbo who earned the nickname Hot Lips. Her intimate moments were broadcast to the entire camp after somebody planted a microphone under her bed. Sally Kellerman played Houlihan in the movie version and Swit took it over for TV, eventually deepening and creating her into a much fuller character. The sexual appetite was played down and she wasn't even called Hot Lips in the later years. The growing awareness of feminism in the '70s spurred Houlihan's transformation from caricature to real person, but a lot of the change was due to Swit's influence on the scriptwriters. "Around the second or third year I decided to try to play her as a real person, in an intelligent fashion, even if it meant hurting the jokes," Swit told Suzy Kalter, author of The Complete Book of M.A.S.H. "To oversimplify it, I took each traumatic change that happened in her life and kept it. I didn't go into the next episode as if it were a different character in a different play. She was a character in constant flux; she never stopped developing." M.A.S.H. wasn't an instant hit. It finished its first season in 46th place, out of 75 network TV series, but it nabbed nine Emmy nominations. It was rewarded with a better time slot for its sophomore season, paired on Saturday nights with All in the Family , then TV's highest-rated show. At the 1974 Emmys, it was crowned best comedy, with Alda winning as best comedy actor. – AP
Economic Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Who is Loretta Swit, who died at age of 87? Here's all about MASH star's career, life, family and death
AP FILE - Actress Loretta Swit arrives at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' 3rd Annual Television Academy Honors in Beverly Hills, Calif., Wednesday, May 5, 2010. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File) Loretta Swit, best known for her role as Major Margaret 'Hot Lips' Houlihan on the long-running series MASH, died on May 30. She was 87. The news was confirmed by her died at her home in New York City. Her representative, Harlan Boll, shared that the police recorded her death at 12:01 p.m. on May 30. The cause of death is believed to be natural. Swit gained attention for her performance in the series MASH. She received Emmy nominations every year from 1974 to 1983. She won in 1980 and again in 1982. Her character changed over time, reflecting the show's shift from comedy to the beginning, Houlihan was portrayed as a strict and unlikable character. This changed in later episodes. In season four, she began to question her relationship with Frank Burns. In season five, she stayed behind to help a patient, which showed her dedication. In another episode, she shared her feelings with fellow nurses, revealing her loneliness. Also Read: Love Island USA Season 7: Who are new love islanders? See release date, time, episode schedule, contestants, host and where to watch In season six, Margaret and Hawkeye were stuck in a hut during an attack. They shared a night together, ending their rivalry. Swit also appeared on the 'Rickles' special in 1975 with Larry continued acting after MASH. She starred in TV movies like The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and The Execution. She also appeared on shows like The Love Boat and Diagnosis Murder. Her film credits included Beer and Forest was born Loretta Jane Szwed in Passaic, New Jersey. She trained in singing and acting in New York City. She began her television career in 1969 with guest roles on several shows. Also Read: And Just Like That Season 3: How to watch series online? See release date, time, episode schedule, cast, storyline and where to watch Swit acted in theater throughout her life. She made her Broadway debut in 1975 and later toured with plays like Mame and The Vagina Monologues. She played many roles on stage over the was married to actor Dennis Holahan from 1983 to 1995. She supported animal rights and started the SwitHeart Animal Alliance. She received awards from various groups for her work helping animals. What was Loretta Swit's most famous role? Loretta Swit was best known for playing Major Margaret Houlihan on the TV series MASH from 1972 to 1983. What causes did Loretta Swit support? Loretta Swit supported animal welfare and founded SwitHeart Animal Alliance to raise money and awareness for animal protection.
