Loretta Swit, the Emmy-winning actress best known for portraying Maj. Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan on the landmark television series M*A*S*H, died on May 30, 2025, at her home in Manhattan at the age of 87. Her death was confirmed by her publicist, Harlan Boll.
Early Life and Education
Loretta Swit was born on November 4, 1937, in Passaic, New Jersey, to Polish-American parents Lester and Nellie Szwed. Her father worked as a salesman and upholsterer. She had one older brother, Robert. A Girl Scout with the Holy Rosary Scouts and a student athlete, she graduated from Pope Pius XII High School in 1955, where she was co-captain of the women’s basketball team and active in theater.
After graduating from the Katharine Gibbs School in 1957, Swit held several clerical jobs — including as a secretary to socialite Elsa Maxwell and a Ghanaian ambassador to the UN — before pursuing acting full-time. She trained as a dancer, studied drama under Gene Frankel in New York City, and studied voice at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Theater Career
Swit began her career in New York theater, performing in An Enemy of the People and Jean Genet’s The Balcony. In the late 1960s and 1970s, she toured nationally in Any Wednesday, starred in The Odd Couple, and appeared in Same Time, Next Year on Broadway. Her stage work continued throughout her life, including productions of The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Mame, Shirley Valentine, and Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks, with performances stretching into the 2010s.
Television Stardom: M*A*S*H
Swit rose to national fame in 1972 when she was cast as Maj. Margaret Houlihan in M*A*S*H, a series set during the Korean War. Taking over the role from Sally Kellerman (who portrayed Houlihan in the 1970 film), Swit’s Houlihan began as a by-the-book, authoritarian figure and evolved into a respected and layered character.
Over 11 seasons and 245 episodes, Swit became one of only four cast members to remain with the show from pilot to finale. She was nominated for ten Emmy Awards and won twice, in 1980 and 1982. Her favorite episodes included “Hot Lips and Empty Arms,” “Margaret’s Engagement,” and “The Nurses.”
She remained close to her castmates, including Harry Morgan and Alan Alda, and reflected fondly on her time on the show. “It was the greatest time in my career,” she told The Guardian in 2001.
See also: The Complete Book of M*A*S*H
Other Television and Film Work
Beyond M*A*S*H, Swit appeared in a wide array of shows including Hawaii Five-O, Mission: Impossible, Bonanza, The Love Boat, Match Game, and Hollywood Squares. She played Christine Cagney in the pilot for Cagney & Lacey and starred in TV movies such as The Last Day (1975). In 1988, she hosted the documentary Korean War—The Untold Story and later the series Those Incredible Animals on the Discovery Channel.
She also appeared in films such as Freebie and the Bean (1974), Race With the Devil (1975), S.O.B. (1981), and BoardHeads (1998).
Writing and Advocacy
Swit was the author of A Needlepoint Scrapbook, showcasing her interest in crafts. She was also a committed animal rights activist and vegan since 1981, frequently advocating for humane causes and rescue efforts.
Personal Life and Final Days
According to a police report, Loretta Swit died just after midnight on Friday, May 30, 2025, of suspected natural causes at her home in New York City. Her death was announced by her longtime publicist, Harlan Boll. She was 87.
Swit had a notable impact both as an actress and as an animal welfare activist. She was known for her compassionate lifestyle and her advocacy as a committed vegan since 1981. She used her platform to support numerous rescue organizations and humane causes.
She married actor Dennis Holahan in 1983; they divorced in 1988. Holahan also appeared on M*A*S*H as a Swedish diplomat who became romantically involved with her character in a single episode.
Swit spent her later years in Manhattan, where she remained involved in theater and animal activism, and often reflected on her time in M*A*S*H with great fondness.
Swit passed away peacefully of natural causes on May 30, 2025. She was 87.
Legacy
Swit appeared in 240 of M*A*S*H’s 251 episodes and was one of only two cast members — along with Alan Alda — to appear in both the series’ pilot and record-setting finale. That finale, which aired on February 28, 1983, drew nearly 106 million viewers. A 35-second kiss between Swit and Alda during the final episode has been described as the most expensive kiss in television history due to the massive advertising value of the broadcast.
As a tough, by-the-book major, Swit’s portrayal of Houlihan marked a rare representation of a strong, evolving female character on television during the 1970s and early 1980s. Swit noted in a 2004 interview with the TV Academy Foundation that Houlihan’s evolution — from an often-caricatured figure to a respected professional — was what made the character so unique and beloved.
In addition to her television legacy, Swit also made a mark in film with supporting roles in Freebie and the Bean (1974), Race With the Devil (1975), S.O.B. (1981), and BoardHeads (1998).
She is remembered not only for her trailblazing work in television but also for her tireless compassion, wit, and creative spirit.
Funeral Arrangements
Loretta Swit passed away peacefully at her Manhattan home. According to FindaGrave.com, she is buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, California.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are the frequently asjed quesyions about Loretta Swit and her life, legacy, death and funeral arrangments.
No, Loretta Swit did not have any children.
Yes, she was married to actor Dennis Holahan from 1983 until their divorce in 1988.
She is best known for playing Maj. Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan on M*A*S*H.
She won two Emmy Awards for her role on M*A*S*H, in 1980 and 1982.
She died of suspected natural causes at her home in Manhattan.
No, she was an actress who portrayed a military nurse but did not serve in the armed forces.
She appeared in films such as Freebie and the Bean, Race With the Devil, and S.O.B., and hosted TV programs like Those Incredible Animals.
Yes, she authored A Needlepoint Scrapbook, reflecting her love of needlepoint.
Yes, she was a lifelong animal rights advocate and a vegan since 1981.