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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)
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Loretta Swit, who played libido-driven Maj. ‘Hot Lips' Houlihan on ‘M*A*S*H,' dies at 87
Loretta Swit, the Emmy-winning actor best known for her time as Maj. Margaret 'Hot Lips' Houlihan on the TV version of 'M*A*S*H,' died Friday in her New York City apartment, her representative confirmed to The Times. She was 87. Swit was found by her housekeeper around 10 a.m., according to publicist Harlan Boll, who said he had been on the phone with her at 11 p.m. local time Thursday night — 2 a.m. Friday in New York. Her doorman saw her drop something in the mail at 4 a.m. Friday, New York time, Boll said, and six hours later, she was gone. The actor — born Loretta Jane Szwed on Nov. 4, 1937, in Passaic, N.J. — loved playing Hot Lips so much that she was the only performer other than Alan Alda who stayed on the series from its pilot in 1972 through its much-watched finale in 1983. 'M*A*S*H,' set during the Korean War, was a sitcom but also more than that to Swit. 'There is, I think, an intelligence behind the humor,' she told The Times in 1977. 'The audience is huge, and they deserve to be entertained on the highest level we can achieve.' Though her portrayal of the libido-driven blond in fatigues and Army boots catapulted Swit to household-name status, she had been in acting since before her 8th birthday in stage productions and musicals in New York. She left home at 17 to work in the theater, temping at secretarial jobs while studying at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. A confessed workaholic, Swit moved easily from comedy to drama, acting in 'Same Time, Next Year,' 'Mame' and 'The Odd Couple' before moving to Los Angeles to star in 'M*A*S*H.' She appeared in iconic series such as 'Hawaii Five-O,' 'Mission: Impossible' and 'Mannix,' and had a productive television career until very recently. Her most recent TV appearance was as herself in the 2024 Fox tribute special 'M*A*S*H: The Comedy That Changed Television.' Her theater work was plentiful, and in addition to Broadway, off-Broadway, regional and national work, included shows in Southern California. She joined Harry Hamlin in 'One November Yankee' at the NoHo Arts Center in 2012, three years after doing a reading of the play with a different actor at the Pasadena Playhouse. 'M*A*S*H' filmed its outdoor scenes at Malibu Creek State Park, where the set was re-created for fans' enjoyment in 2008. 'It's thrilling to be honored in this way,' Swit told The Times that year. 'I think if I had to sum it up, what we're most proud of is that we made everybody come together. And I think this will also bring people together.' Swit was nominated for five Emmys for her Hot Lips role and won for supporting actress in a comedy, variety or music series in 1980 and 1982. She garnered four Golden Globe nominations for her work on 'M*A*S*H,' in the lead and supporting actress categories, but did not win. She was given a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame in 1989, near what is now the home of Amoeba Music. An animal lover, Swit set up the SwitHeart Animal Alliance to prevent cruelty and end animal suffering. The alliance worked with numerous nonprofit organizations and programs to protect, rescue, train and care for animals and preserve their habitat, while raising public awareness about issues that concern domestic, farm, exotic, wild and native animals. She created an art book, 'SwitHeart: The Watercolour Artistry & Animal Activism of Loretta Swit,' which includes 65 of her full-color paintings and drawings and 22 of her photographs. Proceeds went to animal causes, and the 2016 Betty White Award from the group Actors and Others for Animals was but one of the many honors she received for her philanthropic work. Former freelance writer T.L. Stanley contributed to this report.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Loretta Swit dies at 87: What was the M*A*S*H star's net worth?
Loretta Swit, Margaret 'Hot Lips' Houlihan, on the legendary CBS sitcom M*A*S*H*, has passed away at the age of 87. Her publicist, Harlan Boll, confirmed the sad news, stating that Swit died just after midnight on Friday at her home in New York City. The police report said the cause is suspected to be natural. ALSO READ| Loretta Swit cause of death: How did M*A*S*H star die? All on health issues and more Over the course of her career, Swit amassed a net worth of $4 million. While M*A*S*H* was her most famous role, she also brought her talent to the stage in a number of acclaimed productions, including The Balcony, Any Wednesday, Same Time, Next Year, and Mame. She also became a familiar face to fans of game shows, regularly appearing as a celebrity guest on hit series like Pyramid and Match Game during the 1970s.
