Latest news with #MASH*
India Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Emmy-winning actress and MASH star Loretta Swit dies at 87
Loretta Swit, famous for her legendary role as Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan in the classic TV show MASH*, has passed away at age 87. Per her publicist Harlan Boll, the Emmy Award-winning actress died on Friday at the home she shared in New York City, most likely from natural Enduring Television LegacySwit along with Alan Alda, was one of the longest-running cast members on MASH*, which was on air from 1972 to 1983. Based on a film and a novel, the CBS series showed life at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War. The series finale attracted more than 100 million viewers, making it the most-watched scripted TV episode portrayed as a comic stereotype in the 1970 film version, Houlihan was transformed by Swit into a complex, evolving character. Swit downplayed the nickname 'Hot Lips' and infused her role with emotional depth and feminist undertones. She credited the changes to both the cultural shift in the 1970s and her insistence on portraying Houlihan as a 'real person.' As reported by AP, Swit appeared in nearly every episode of MASH*, exploring themes like PTSD, racism, and sexism. Alan Alda credited Swit for inspiring deeper storylines for her character, saying she moved beyond the one-dimensional portrayal to something more authentic and And Screen CareerAside from MASH*, Swit acted in Broadway shows like Same Time, Next Year, and The Mystery of Edwin Drood. She also became an animal rights activist, selling merchandise such as her SwitHeart perfume to support animal welfare in Passaic, New Jersey, by Polish immigrants, Swit studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts before relocating to Hollywood in reputation lives on not only from her performances but in the lives of fans—nurses in particular—who were inspired by her Major leaves behind a career that assisted in redefining the way women were represented on television.(With inputs from AP)
Metro
3 days 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
