Fans and co-stars alike have paid tribute to Loretta Swit, who redefined her iconic “M*A*S*H” role, received 10 Emmy nominations, and forged enduring relationships with her co-stars.
Known for her role as Maj. Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan on the CBS sitcom “M*A*S*H,” actress and animal rights activist Loretta Swit died at the age of 87.
Swit died at her New York City home on Friday, May 30, 2025, shortly after midnight. According to a police investigation, her death is suspected to have been caused by natural causes. Harlan Boll, her long-time publicist, verified the information.
During the eleven seasons of “M*A*S*H,” from 1972 to 1983, Swit played the ground-breaking character of Maj. Houlihan, which made her a household name in the US and abroad. Sally Kellerman, who portrayed the character in the 1970 feature picture, passed the role on to her.
Initially viewed as a humorous cliché, “Hot Lips” developed into one of the most realistic and multifaceted characters on the show. Swit’s performance and contributions on set were significantly responsible for this change.
Her performance of Houlihan earned her praise from critics for breaking gender norms in media during the 1970s and 1980s, and it went on to become a landmark role in television history.
Alan Alda recalled Swit as an exceptionally gifted actor who received 10 Emmy nominations and two wins in a May 31 memorial to X. She worked hard to turn the character from a one-note joke into a genuine person with ambition and depth, he said, and she didn’t simply act the part—she built it.
He described how they celebrated the day the script stopped referring to her as “Hot Lips” and instead used her character’s name, Margaret. “Loretta made the most of her time here,” his post concluded.
On May 30, fellow co-star Mike Farrell, who played Captain B.J. Hunnicutt, also honoured him with a straightforward Instagram message. He posted an old black-and-white picture of Swit and wrote, “Loretta… 1937–2025.”
In a previous interview, Swit had characterised Farrell as a genuine and truthful friend—someone she could rely on to give her the best counsel and whose judgements were always grounded in reality.
She added that he was married to her best friend and remained a constant presence in her life. “Mike is just a very, very special human being,” she said.
Swit also mentioned her strong relationship with Alda, citing their long-standing friendship and sense of humour. She remembered having supper with his family and watching his daughters, and she compared her relationship with them to that of family.
She spoke warmly of the joy of spending time with people so deeply in love, noting Alda’s long marriage to his wife, Arlene. “Again, I keep referring to us as a family. We really are,” she stated.
Prior to “MASH,” Swit worked in repertory theatre and received training at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. After working as an understudy for “Any Wednesday” in 1965, she went on to play Agnes Gooch in “Mame” and one of the Pigeon sisters in “The Odd Couple.”
She referred to those years as pivotal in a 1979 interview, recalling how she boldly identified herself as an actress while standing in the unemployment queue. Following modest but noteworthy parts in television shows such as “Gunsmoke,” “Mission: Impossible,” “Mannix,” and “Hawaii Five-O,” she was cast in the role that made her famous in 1972 as Maj.
Later, the seasoned actor acknowledged her perseverance and will on set, describing how she would endure long days despite being ill without complaining. With the exception of the first season, Swit was nominated for an Emmy each year that “M*A*S*H” ran.
In the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Variety or Music Series, she took up two awards in 1980 and 1982. After the sitcom concluded, she continued to make appearances in films and television shows, such as “Beer,” “S.O.B.,” “Whoops Apocalypse,” and “Forest Warrior.”
In addition, she appeared in a number of television films, such as “The Execution,” “Miracle at Moreaux,” and “Dreams of Gold: The Mel Fisher Story.” She also continued to do steady stage work. In 1975, she debuted on Broadway in “Same Time, Next Year,” costarring with Ted Bessell.
She later took Cleo Laine’s position in “The Mystery of Edwin Drood.” After starring in more than 1,000 productions of “Shirley Valentine,” she won the Sarah Siddons Award in Chicago. She also performed as the lead in “Mame” in 2003 and travelled in performances of “The Vagina Monologues”.
Occasionally, Swit resumed her singing career and portrayed Linda Lavin in the television version of “It’s a Bird… It’s a Plane… It’s Superman!” In addition, she hosted the five seasons of the wildlife series “Those Incredible Animals” beginning in 1992. “Play the Flute” was her most recent known movie performance, which took place in 2019.
On December 21, 1983, Swit wed actor Dennis Holahan in a modest church ceremony in the San Fernando Valley. They had first connected when he made his lone guest appearance on “M*A*S*H.”
The wedding was attended by close friends and family, and co-stars Wayne Rogers, Harry Morgan, and Mike Farrell joined them for a reception at a restaurant in Beverly Hills. Later, the couple went to Egypt for their honeymoon. In 1995, they got divorced.
In addition to her successful acting career, Swit was well-known for her decades-long commitment to animal advocacy.
With Swit’s death, a unique chapter in television history comes to a close. Her decades-long contributions to theatre, film, and animal activism continue to be a part of her legacy as tributes keep coming up.
