Latest news with #FarewellandAmen
Metro
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Beloved Emmy-winning actress and M*A*S*H star Loretta Swit dies aged 87
Loretta Swit, the Emmy-winning actress who became a household name for her portrayal of Major Margaret 'Hot Lips' Houlihan on the groundbreaking CBS series MASH*, has died at the age of 87. Swit passed away peacefully at her home in New York just after midnight on Friday, May 30 of suspected natural causes, according to a police report cited by her longtime publicist, Harlan Boll. For 11 seasons, Swit was a defining presence on MASH*, appearing in 240 of the show's 251 episodes between 1972 and 1983. She was one of only two cast members – alongside Alan Alda, who played Hawkeye Pierce – to appear in both the pilot and the much-watched series finale, Goodbye, Farewell and Amen, which drew more than 100 million viewers in 1983. Swit earned 10 Emmy nominations for her role on the show and won the award twice, in 1980 and 1982, for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Variety or Music Series. Her portrayal of the tough-yet-compassionate Army nurse Major Houlihan evolved steadily throughout the series, helping redefine how women were represented on television. 'She was [unique] at the time and in her time, which was the '50s, when [the Korean War] was happening,' Swit reflected in a 2004 interview for the TV Academy Foundation's The Interviews: An Oral History of Television. 'And she became even more unique, I think, because we allowed her to continue to grow – we watched her evolve. I don't think that's ever been done in quite that way.' Born Loretta Jane Szwed on November 4, 1937, in Passaic, New Jersey, Swit studied drama at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York before transitioning to television and film. Her early screen roles included appearances in such films as Freebie and the Bean (1974), Race with the Devil (1975), and Blake Edwards' dark comedy S.O.B. (1981). She also had a role in the surf-themed indie BoardHeads in 1998. In 1981, Swit starred in the original pilot for Cagney & Lacey, portraying Christine Cagney alongside Tyne Daly as Mary Beth Lacey. Due to contractual commitments to MASH*, she was unable to continue in the role when the series was picked up. More Trending Offscreen, Swit was a passionate advocate for animal rights. A vegetarian for many years, she adopted a vegan lifestyle in 1981 and devoted much of her life to animal welfare causes. Swit was married to actor Dennis Holahan from 1983 until their divorce in 1995. In 1989, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a testament to her enduring impact on television and popular culture. View More » She is survived by close friends, family, and countless fans who will remember her as one of television's greats. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Emilie Kiser's lawyer shares emotional statement after her son's death aged 3 MORE: Chucky and Howard the Duck actor Ed Gale dies aged 61 MORE: Kool & the Gang legend Michael Sumler dies 'in car crash' aged 71
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Loretta Swit dies: How many MASH cast members are still alive?
Loretta Swit, popular for her role as Major Margaret 'Hot Lips' Houlihan on MASH*, died on Friday, her representative Harlan Boll confirmed to TMZ. She was 87 years old. The report cited police records to add that officials suspect that she passed away of natural causes. She was in her New York City home. Swit and Alan Alda were the longest-serving cast members on MASH, 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 sitcom aired for 11 years from 1972 to 1983. Its finale had over 100 million viewers. Read More: Loretta Swit dies at 87: What was the M*A*S*H star's net worth? Details: Born January 28, 1936, Alda is 89 years old. He appeared in all 256 episodes, winning six Emmys for acting, writing, and directing, including the series finale 'Goodbye, Farewell and Amen.' Post-MASH, he starred in The Aviator (2004, Oscar-nominated), ER, 30 Rock, and Ray Donovan (2022). Born November 4, 1937, Swit was 87 at the time of her death. She appeared in all but 11 episodes, winning two Emmys (1980, 1982). Post-MASH, she acted in The Love Boat, Murder, She Wrote, and Play the Flute (2019), and focused on animal rights through SwitHeart Animal Alliance. Born July 1, 1934, Farr is 90 years old. He appeared in all 11 seasons, initially recurring before becoming a regular in season four. Read More: Loretta Swit cause of death: How did M*A*S*H star die? All on health issues and more Born February 6, 1939, Farrell is 86 years old. He joined in season four, appearing in 187 episodes, and was nominated for an Emmy in 1980. Born May 24, 1943, Burghoff is 82 years old. He appeared in 174 episodes, leaving after season seven, with a notable performance in 'Abyssinia, Henry.' Born October 20, 1932, Christopher died on December 31, 2016, at 84 from lung cancer. Born April 7, 1933, Rogers died on December 31, 2015, at 82 from pneumonia complications. Born September 29, 1939, Linville died on April 10, 2000, at 60 from lung cancer complications. Born April 10, 1915, Morgan died on December 7, 2011, at 96 from pneumonia. Born November 14, 1927, Stevenson died on February 15, 1996, at 68 from a heart attack. He left after season three, with his character's death in 'Abyssinia, Henry' shocking viewers. He later starred in The McLean Stevenson Show. Born October 31, 1942, Stiers died on March 3, 2018, at 75 from bladder cancer. Born August 2, 1942, Adiarte died on April 15, 2025, at 82 from pneumonia in a Los Angeles hospital. Born March 1, 1938, Farrell died on April 2, 2023, at 84 from a stroke. She appeared in eight episodes, starting in season five. Born January 16, 1948, Nakahara died on February 16, 2020, at 72 from cancer. She appeared in 167 episodes as a recurring nurse.
New York Post
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Alan Alda's Parkinson's disease management has become ‘almost a full-time job'
Alan Alda is taking on his illness with a smile. In 2015, the 'M*A*S*H' star was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. He also has face blindness, or prosopagnosia, which makes it difficult for him to recognize people. The 89-year-old told People magazine on Wednesday that managing his Parkinson's has 'gone from a part-time job to almost a full-time job keeping track of all these little solutions.' 'But it keeps me always looking for the funny side,' the actor shared. 'Almost every day I'm finding a new way to do something,' the father of three told the outlet. 'It's a little like a game. I've found whatever the little problem is, if I keep at it, I can eventually solve it, and then I feel like a million bucks. It's a way to have a good time under poor circumstances.' Acting continues to keep Alda busy. Most recently, he made a cameo appearance in Tina Fey's Netflix series adaptation of his 1981 film, 'The Four Seasons.' It has already been renewed for a second season. 4 Tina Fey and Alan Alda attend a special screening of the 1981 Original The Four Seasons Film at Paris Theater on April 27, 2025 in New York City. Getty Images for Netflix Alda's character in Fey's series is known for offering advice from his wife. It's no different from real life, he said. Alda has been married to his spouse, Arlene, for 68 years. 'She always says, 'The secret to marriage is a short memory,'' Alda told the outlet. 'We both try to practice being there when we're there: listening, answering, taking an interest. You can get used to somebody, no matter who it is. I've always thought if the Pope and Mother Teresa were a couple, after a few years, they'd have to work it out.' According to the outlet, Alda met Arlene, 92, during their college days in 1956 at a mutual friend's party in New York City. When a rum cake fell onto the floor, they were the only two guests who didn't hesitate to eat it. It was love at first sight. 4 (L-R) Alda, as Captain Benjamin Hawkeye Pierce, Wayne Rogers, as Captain Trapper John McIntyre, and Loretta Swit, as Major Margaret Houlihan, on the television series 'MASH,' in 1972. Getty Images '[I knew she was the one] when we ate the cake off the floor,' said Alda. 'There's something about flirting over food, and that she laughed at my jokes meant a lot. We still laugh at each other's jokes a lot, and she's getting funnier every day.' And as Alda navigates his Parkinson's, Arlene continues to be by his side. 'I don't have dexterity with my fingers the way I used to, so sometimes she has to tear a package open for me,' Alda explained. 'She's so good-natured about it. I'm always saying, 'Thank you.' I don't get proud. I'm glad that I can do something. Proud seems like a waste of time.' Back in 2019, Alda recalled to Fox News Digital what it was like filming the final episode of 'M*A*S*H,' titled 'Goodbye, Farewell and Amen,' which he also directed. The Washington Post reported more than 106 million viewers watched the series finale. The outlet also shared that the episode was so highly anticipated that 30-second advertising slots sold for $50,000, more than some slots for the 1983 Super Bowl. 4 Arlene Alda and actor Alan Alda, as they attend a Jewish Home LifeCare dinner at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, New York, New York March 11, 2015. Getty Images In addition to this, the United Press International reported that an estimated one million viewers in New York City alone used the toilet after the show ended, pouring 6.7 million gallons of water through the city's sewers. Alda said the pressure was on to deliver a final goodbye that fans wouldn't forget. 'I wanted to end it in a way that showed that everybody was going home with some kind of wound from the war,' said Alda. 'That the war didn't leave anybody the way they were when they started. Sometimes it was physical wounds, and sometimes it was emotional. We wanted to be authentic about that and genuine.' 'I also wanted to give everybody a goodbye, including the extras,' Alda continued. 'You know, the audience got to know the extras on the show. So I gave them all speeches about what they were all going to do when they got home. Which didn't always go well with them because they weren't used to acting, they were all used to being in the background.' 4 Alda was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2015. Getty Images The star admitted he was faced with even bigger obstacles. 'The other challenge in directing the final episode was the outdoor location that we used in the mountains of Malibu,' said Alda. 'It caught fire on a Friday night or Saturday morning, and the entire set burned to the ground. I still had a lot of scenes to shoot there. So I spent the weekend rewriting the script and wrote a fire into it. And the rest of the show took place in another location. But that's one of the fun things that happen when you're acting. You have everything prepared. Everything is all set up to go, and then at the last minute, you have to improvise, which is exciting.' He also told Fox News Digital that his wife's advice on keeping a short memory to ensure a long marriage 'works.' 'Two people can't live together unless they occasionally have a difference of opinion or a different way of doing things,' he said. 'And as you're working that out, no matter how strongly you feel, I think it's good to remember that you love this person. It's easy to forget when you get upset about something. And it shortens up the conversation a lot.'
