Latest news with #TheCompleteBookofM*A*S*H
7NEWS
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
M*A*S*H star Loretta Swit dead at 87
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 said Swit died on 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 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 February 28, 1983 is still the most-watched episode of any scripted series ever. 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 1970s 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.'
West Australian
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Loretta Swit: Beloved M*A*S*H actor who play Margaret ‘Hot Lips' Houlihan dead aged 87
One of TV's most beloved actors, Loretta Swit, famed for her portrayal of Margaret Houlihan on the ground-breaking TV series M*A*S*H, has died. Major Margaret 'Hot Lips' Houlihan was a cornerstone role for Loretta Swit as she rose to fame, and along with Alan Alda become the longest-serving member of the cast, during the show's 11-year run. Ms Swit who won two Emmy awards for her portrayal of Houlihan, died at her home in New York on Friday at the age of 87. Her publicist Harlan Boll said Ms Swit's passing was likely from natural causes. M*A*S*H ran on TV screens around the world from 1972 to 1983 and revolved around life at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, which gave the show its name. The two-and-a-half-hour finale on February 28, 1983 is still the most-watched episode of any scripted series ever. In Robert Altman's 1970 film, Margaret 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 1970s 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.' With AAP.
Perth Now
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Beloved M*A*S*H actor dies in New York
One of TV's most beloved actors, Loretta Swit, famed for her portrayal of Margaret Houlihan on the ground-breaking TV series M*A*S*H, has died. Major Margaret 'Hot Lips' Houlihan was a cornerstone role for Loretta Swit as she rose to fame, and along with Alan Alda become the longest-serving member of the cast, during the show's 11-year run. Ms Swit who won two Emmy awards for her portrayal of Houlihan, died at her home in New York on Friday at the age of 87. Her publicist Harlan Boll said Ms Swit's passing was likely from natural causes. M*A*S*H ran on TV screens around the world from 1972 to 1983 and revolved around life at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, which gave the show its name. The two-and-a-half-hour finale on February 28, 1983 is still the most-watched episode of any scripted series ever. In Robert Altman's 1970 film, Margaret 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 1970s 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.' With AAP.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Loretta Swit, Emmy-winning actress and star of M*A*S*H, dies aged 87
Loretta Swit, who won Emmy Awards for her role on the comedy series M*A*S*H, has died aged 87. Her publicist, Harlan Boll, said the actress passed away at her home in New York City just after midday on Friday, likely from natural causes. She was best known for her star turn as Major Margaret Houlihan on CBS' M*A*S*H, which aired for 11 years from 1972 to 1983. Based on Robert Altman's 1970 film of the same name, M*A*S*H has been ranked as one of the greatest shows of all time by Rolling Stone and Time Out, with the finale watched by more than 100 million viewers - the most-watched episode of any scripted series ever. In the film, Major Margaret Houlihan was a one-dimensional, promiscuous character nicknamed Hot Lips, but the character was developed and deepened in the show. Swit told Suzy Kalter, author of "The Complete Book of M*A*S*H," that as the show went on, "I decided to try to play her as a real person, in an intelligent fashion, even if it meant hurting the jokes". She won Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1980 and 1982 for her role in the show. Born Loretta Jane Szwed in Passaic, New Jersey, in 1937, she was the daughter of Polish immigrants. She enrolled in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts before arriving in Hollywood in 1969. Along with M*A*S*H, she made appearances in shows like Gunsmoke, Hawaii Five-O, Mission Impossible and Bonanza. Swit also made regular appearances in theatre, starring on Broadway in 1975 in Same Time, Next Year, and The Mystery of Edwin Drood in 1986. Swit also appeared in a number of TV musical specials, including The Muppet Show and the Broadway musical It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman.
The Advertiser
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
M*A*S*H star Loretta Swit dead at 87
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 said Swit died on 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 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 February 28, 1983 is still the most-watched episode of any scripted series ever. 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 1970s 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." 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 said Swit died on 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 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 February 28, 1983 is still the most-watched episode of any scripted series ever. 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 1970s 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." 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 said Swit died on 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 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 February 28, 1983 is still the most-watched episode of any scripted series ever. 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 1970s 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." 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 said Swit died on 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 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 February 28, 1983 is still the most-watched episode of any scripted series ever. 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 1970s 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."
