Following M*A*S*H Star Loretta Swit’s Death At 87, A Lovely TV Tribute Is Already Planned For Her Iconic Character

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For eleven seasons spanning 1972-1983, M*A*S*H, a classic comedy on CBS, brought laughter as it presented a fictional account of the Korean War. A large ensemble of well-known actors graced the show throughout its run. Among the full cast, only Alan Alda and Loretta Swit appeared in both the first and final episodes. Regrettably, Loretta Swit, who played Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan, recently passed away at 87, leaving behind a trail of awards and recognition. One television network has already planned a week-long tribute in their 2025 schedule to honor her and her character.

Loretta Swit Dies At 87

Loretta Swit passed away around 12:00 am on May 30, as confirmed by her publicist Harlan Boll (via THR), and it appears that her death was due to natural causes according to a police report. Known for her role in M*A*S*H, she received ten Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress, which corresponds to every season of the series except for the initial one. She won the award in 1980 and 1982.

Among the cast members of “M*A*S*H,” only Swit and Alan Alda received multiple Emmy awards for their performances throughout the series’ eleven seasons. As the years passed, the show became increasingly dramatic, leading many to consider it more a dramedy by the time of its finale rather than simply a comedy.

For nearly three decades, the final episode of that popular TV series held the title as the most-watched television broadcast, attracting 105.97 million viewers in 1983. As a result, it was undoubtedly the show’s most-viewed episode and ensured that M*A*S*H would be fondly remembered for concluding successfully. To celebrate Loretta Swit’s long years of work, why not pay tribute by airing a marathon of its memorable episodes?

A M*A*S*H Marathon In Honor Of Loretta Swit

Over the next few nights from June 2nd to 5th, MeTV will be airing ten outstanding episodes from Loretta Swit’s time as Margaret Houlihan on M*A*S*H, which are available among the series’ 240 episodes currently streaming on Hulu. These episodes will be shown nightly at 7 p.m. ET, with two per night. Interestingly, MeTV has been the long-time network for M*A*S*H, and a collection of Houlihan’s most memorable moments is already on offer. Here’s your chance to revisit them!

If you’re a fan of the TV series ‘M*A*S*H’, you might have come across the episodes selected in tribute to Loretta Swit and her character. Here are the choices made to celebrate the actress:

  • Season 8, Episode 6 – “The Nurses”
  • Season 5, Episode 3 – “Margaret’s Engagement”
  • Season 6, Episode 13 – “Comrades in Arms: Part 1”
  • Season 6, Episode 14 – “Comrades in Arms: Part 2” 
  • Season 5, Episode 1 – “Bug Out Part 1”
  • Season 5, Episode 2 – “But Out Part 2”
  • Season 5, Episode 7 – “The Abduction of Margaret Houlihan
  • Season 10, Episode 12 – “The Birthday Girls”
  • Season 8, Episode 2 – “Are You Now, Margaret” 
  • Season 7, Episode 20 – “Hot Lips Back in Town

In memory of Loretta Swit’s impressive career that spanned both comedy and drama, it seems fitting to honor her legacy with a multi-day television tribute showcasing some of her best performances on M*A*S*H following her passing. Here at TopMob, our thoughts are with the family, friends, and loved ones of the late actress during this challenging period.

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2025-05-31 03:09