Loretta Swit
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Loretta Jane Swit (born Loretta Jane Szwed; November 4, 1937 – May 30, 2025) was an American stage and television actress. She was widely known for her character roles, especially her role as Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan on M*A*S*H, for which she was nominated for Emmy Awards in each season of the long-running show, and won two, in 1980 and 1982.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Early life
Loretta Jane Szwed was born on November 4, 1937,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> in Passaic, New Jersey, to Lester and Nellie Szwed (née Kassack), who were both of Polish descent. Her father was a salesman and upholsterer. Swit's brother, Robert, was six years and one day her senior.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> As a child, Swit was a member of a Girl Scout troop sponsored by the Holy Rosary R.C. Church of Passaic.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
She graduated from Pope Pius XII High School in Passaic in 1955, where she had been a cheerleader, had taken part in theatrical productions, and was co-captain of the girls' basketball team.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="lssxsy">Template:Cite news</ref> She graduated from Katharine Gibbs School in Montclair, New Jersey, in June 1957, then was employed at a variety of clerical jobs, including as a stenographer in Bloomfield, New Jersey; personal secretary to Elsa Maxwell; secretary to the ambassador from Ghana to the United Nations; and at the American Rocket Society in New York City while being trained to dance by a classmate, Elizabeth Parent-Barber, a Rockette and student at the New York School of Ballet. During this time, she began developing her acting career.<ref name="Passaic Herald-News">Template:Cite news</ref>
She studied drama with Gene Frankel in Manhattan and considered him her acting coach. She regularly returned to his studio to speak with aspiring actors throughout her career. Swit was also a singer, having trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.<ref>Notable Past Students. American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Retrieved March 18, 2024.</ref>
Theatre
Swit's first off-Broadway appearance was in the Actors Playhouse production of An Enemy of the People. In 1961, Swit landed a role in the Circle in the Square production of The Balcony, written by Jean Genet and produced by José Quintero.<ref name="Passaic Herald-News"/>
In 1967, Swit toured with the national company of Any Wednesday, starring Gardner McKay. She continued as one of the Pigeon sisters opposite Don Rickles and Ernest Borgnine in a Los Angeles run of The Odd Couple.Template:Cn
In 1975, Swit played in Same Time, Next Year on Broadway opposite Ted Bessell.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She also performed on Broadway during the 1980s in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. From there, she played Agnes Gooch in the Las Vegas version of Mame, starring Susan Hayward and later, Celeste Holm.Template:Cn
She played Shirley Valentine, a one-woman play, from the 1990s into the 2010s, appearing in a variety of locales and revivals.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In October–November 2003, she starred as the title character in North Carolina Theatre's production of Mame in Raleigh, North Carolina.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In August–September 2010, Swit starred in the world premiere of the Mark Miller play Amorous Crossing at the Alhambra Dinner Theatre in Jacksonville, Florida, directed by Tod Booth.<ref>Patton, Charlie (August 20, 2010). "Loretta Swit shines in Alhambra's new show, 'Amorous CrossingTemplate:'". Florida Times-Union.</ref>
In 2016, Swit appeared in Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks at Totem Pole Playhouse in Fayetteville, Pennsylvania.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and again, in 2017, in Buffalo, New York.Template:Citation needed
Television
When Swit arrived in Hollywood in 1969, she performed guest roles in various television series, including Hawaii Five-O (her first TV credit), Gunsmoke, Mission: Impossible, and Mannix.
M*A*S*H
Starting in 1972, Swit played the extremely capable head nurse Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan in the television series M*A*S*H, a comedy set in a U.S. Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War. Swit inherited the star-making role from actress Sally Kellerman, who had portrayed Houlihan in the feature film. In the first few seasons, her character was single and blindly patriotic, and she had no friends among the camp surgeons and nurses, with the notable exception of her married lover, Major Frank Burns, portrayed by Larry Linville. Over time, her character was considerably softened. She married a lieutenant colonel but divorced soon after. She became good friends with her fellow officers, and her attitude towards the Koreans in and around the camp became more enlightened. The change reflected that of the series in general, from absurdist dark humor to mature comedy-drama. Swit was one of only four cast members to stay for all 11 seasons of the show, from 1972 to 1983 (the others were Alan Alda, Jamie Farr, and William Christopher).
Swit and Alda were the only actors to have been in both the pilot episode and the finale; she appeared in all but 11 of the total of 256 episodes. Swit received two Emmy Awards for her work on M*A*S*H.
Her favorite episodes were "Hot Lips and Empty Arms", "Margaret's Engagement", and "The Nurses".<ref>M*A*S*H: The Martinis & Medicine Collection – Special Features: Disc 1 – "My Favorite MASH"</ref>
She also had a close relationship with Harry Morgan, who played Colonel Sherman T. Potter. They became neighbors after the series ended until his death on December 7, 2011.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref> Swit remained close to Alda, along with his wife, three daughters and seven grandchildren.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Cagney and Lacey
In 1981, Swit played the role of Christine Cagney in the movie pilot for the television series Cagney & Lacey but was precluded by contractual obligations from continuing the role. Meg Foster portrayed Cagney for the first six episodes of the television series, then Sharon Gless took over the role.Template:Cn
Other TV work
Swit also guest-starred in television shows, such as: The Muppet Show, Bonanza, The Love Boat and Gunsmoke. She also appeared as a celebrity guest on game shows, including: Match Game, Pyramid, Win, Lose or Draw, Password and Hollywood Squares. Additionally, she starred in Christmas programs such as the television version of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and 1987's PBS special A Christmas Calendar.<ref>"A Christmas Calendar (1987)". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved October 26, 2008.</ref> In 1988, she hosted Korean War—The Untold Story, a documentary on the true events of the war, and went to South Korea to film it, becoming the first M*A*S*H cast member to actually visit the country since Jamie Farr's service there in the mid-1950s while a member of the U.S. Army. In 1992, she hosted the 26-part series Those Incredible Animals on the Discovery Channel. Swit's last appearance was on GSN Live on October 10, 2008.
She was also in the TV movie The Last Day (1975), with Richard Widmark and Robert Conrad.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Swit guest-starred with Mike Connors in Mannix, Episode 78, Season 4, "Figures in a Landscape", written by Paul Krasny and directed by Donn Mullally, originally airing on October 10, 1970.
Swit guest-starred as Wanda Russell in the Hawaii Five-O episode titled "Three Dead Cows at Makapuu", which aired February 25, 1970. She also starred in the Hawaii Five-O episode "Bait Once, Bait Twice", on January 4, 1972.
Personal life and death
Swit was once linked with musician Bill Hudson.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She married actor Dennis Holahan in 1983 and divorced him in 1995.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Holahan played Per Johannsen, a Swedish diplomat who became briefly involved with Swit's character in an episode of M*A*S*H.
Swit was an animal rights activist.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She was a vegetarian for many years before becoming a vegan in 1981.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Swit wrote a book on needlepoint, titled A Needlepoint Scrapbook.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Swit died at her home in New York City, on May 30, 2025, at the age of 87.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Stand Up and Be Counted | Hilary McBride | |
| 1973 | Deadhead Miles | Lady With Glass Eye | |
| 1974 | Policewomen | Police clerk | Uncredited |
| Freebie and the Bean | Mildred Meyers, Red's Wife | ||
| 1975 | Race with the Devil | Alice | |
| 1981 | S.O.B. | Polly Reed | |
| 1985 | Beer | B.D. Tucker | |
| 1986 | Whoops Apocalypse | President Barbara Adams | |
| 1996 | Forest Warrior | Shirley | |
| 1998 | Beach Movie | Mrs. Jones | |
| 2019 | Play the Flute | Mrs. Kincaid |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970–1972 | Hawaii Five-O | Anna Schreuder / Wanda Russell / Betty | 4 episodes |
| 1970 | Mission: Impossible | Midge Larson | Episode: "Homecoming" |
| Mannix | Dorothy Harker / Jill Packard | Episodes: "Only One Death to a Customer" (Season 3-Episode 20), "Figures in a Landscape" (Season 4-Episode 04) | |
| Gunsmoke | Belle Clark / Donna | Episodes: "The Pack Rat", "Snow Train" (Parts 1 & 2) | |
| 1971 | Cade's County | Ginny Lomax | Episode: "Homecoming" |
| The Bold Ones: The New Doctors | Rosalyn | Episode: "The Convicts" | |
| 1972 | Fireball Forward | Nurse (uncredited) | TV movie |
| Bonanza | Ellen Sue Greely | Episode: "A Visit to Upright" | |
| Young Dr. Kildare | Alice | Episode: "The Nature of the Beast" | |
| 1972–1983 | M*A*S*H | Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan | Template:Br separated entries |
| 1972 | Love, American Style | Doris | Segment "Love and the Pick-Up Fantasy" |
| 1973 | Ironside | Sally Pearson | Episode: "Ollinger's Last Case" |
| Match Game | Herself | Game Show Participant / Celebrity Guest Star | |
| Shirts/Skins | Linda Bush | TV movie | |
| Love, American Style | Mary Beth Scoggins | Segment "Love and the Locksmith" | |
| 1973–1979 | Pyramid | Herself | 90 episodes |
| Match Game | 51 episodes | ||
| The Mike Douglas Show | 6 episodes | ||
| 1974 | Petrocelli | Ella Knox | Episode: "By Reason of Madness" |
| The Merv Griffin Show | Herself | 1 episode | |
| 1975 | The Last Day | Daisy | TV movie |
| It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman | Sydney | ||
| Rickles | Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan | TV special | |
| The Bobby Vinton Show | Herself | 1 episode | |
| Celebrity Bowling | 2 episodes | ||
| 1976 | Good Heavens | Maxine | Episode: "Good Neighbor Maxine" |
| 1977 | The Hostage Heart | Chris LeBlanc | TV movie |
| 1977–1978 | The Love Boat | Terry Larsen / Anoushka Mishancov | 2 episodes |
| 1979 | Supertrain | Alice Phillips | Episode: "Hail to the Chief" |
| Mirror, Mirror | Sandy McLaren | TV movie | |
| Friendships, Secrets and Lies | B.J. | ||
| Valentine | Emily | ||
| 1979–1980 | Password Plus | Herself | Game Show Contestant / Celebrity Guest Star (4 episodes) |
| 1980 | The Muppet Show | 1 episode | |
| The Love Tapes | Samantha Young | TV movie | |
| 1981 | Cagney & Lacey | Detective Christine Cagney | |
| 1982 | The Kid from Nowhere | Caroline Baker | |
| Games Mother Never Taught You | Laura Bentells | ||
| 1983 | First Affair | Jane Simon | |
| The Best Christmas Pageant Ever | Grace Bradley | ||
| 1984 | The Love Boat | Kathy Ross | Episode: "My Mother, My Chaperone/The Present/The Death and Life of Sir Albert Demerest/Welcome Aboard" |
| 1985 | The Execution | Marysia Walenka | TV movie |
| Sam | Samantha Flynn | TV pilot episode | |
| Miracle at Moreaux | Sister Gabrielle | TV movie | |
| 1986 | Dreams of Gold: The Mel Fisher Story | Deo Fisher | |
| 1987 | A Christmas Calendar | Herself (Host) | TV special |
| 1988 | 14 Going on 30 | Miss Louisa Horton | TV movie |
| Dolly | LuWanda Novack | Episode: "#1.19" | |
| 1989 | ABC Afterschool Special | Wanda Karpinsky | Episode: "My Dad Can't Be Crazy... Can He?" |
| 1990 | A Matter of Principle | Jane Short | TV movie |
| 1991 | Hell Hath No Fury | Connie Stewart | |
| Memories of M*A*S*H | Herself / Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan | TV special | |
| 1992 | Batman: The Animated Series | Marcia Cates (voice) | Episode: "Mad as a Hatter" |
| A Killer Among Friends | Detective Patricia Staley | TV movie | |
| The Big Battalions | Cora Lynne | TV miniseries | |
| 1994 | Murder, She Wrote | Kim Mitchell | Episode: "Portrait of Death" |
| 1995 | Burke's Law | Evelyn Turner | Episode: "Who Killed the Sweet Smell of Success?" |
| 1997 | Cow and Chicken | Judge (voice) | Episode: "Space Cow/The Legend of Sailcat" |
| 1998 | Diagnosis: Murder | Maggie Dennings | Episode: "Drill for Death" |
| 1999–2004 | Hollywood Squares | Herself | 6 episodes |
| 2002 | M*A*S*H: 30th Anniversary Reunion | Herself / Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan | TV special |
Awards and honors
- In 1991, she won the Sarah Siddons Award for her work in Chicago theater.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Swit received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1989.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Published works
References
External links
Template:Commons category Template:Wikisource
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- 1937 births
- 2025 deaths
- 20th-century American actresses
- 21st-century American actresses
- Actresses from Passaic, New Jersey
- American Academy of Dramatic Arts alumni
- American film actresses
- American people of Polish descent
- American people of Swedish descent
- American stage actresses
- American television actresses
- Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Award winners
- Writers from Passaic, New Jersey