Loretta Swit, M*A*S*H’s ‘Hot Lips’ Houlihan, dies aged 87 – Alan Alda leads tributes

In various instances, she received Emmy nominations for her performance on M*A*S*H, a series where she appeared in almost all episodes, spanning its run from 1972 to 1983.

In 1983, the final episode of M*A*S*H, where Loretta Swit’s character, ‘Hot Lips’, appeared, set a record as the most-viewed TV episode ever broadcast, captivating an astonishing 106 million American viewers.

Swit was born Loretta Jane Szwed in Passaic, New Jersey, in 1937, going on to study drama.

She starred in Off Broadway productions throughout the ’60s.

In 1969, her first appearance on television was in an episode of Hawaii Five-O. Since then, she has taken on various roles in both TV shows and movies, such as The Bold Ones and Mission: Impossible series.

Her depiction of Margaret Houlihan in M*A*S*H, however, is what earned her widespread recognition and turned her into a globally recognized figure.

Alongside her screen roles, she continued to have a career on stage.

Swit was also nominated for four Golden Globes over the course of her career.

As a devoted admirer, I, much like Alan Alda who brought ‘Hawkeye’ Pierce to life in the iconic series M*A*S*H, paid an emotional tribute to my esteemed co-star Swit through a deeply moving post on X.

Loretta was an incredibly skilled actress. Her ten Emmy nominations and two victories were well-deserved. However, what truly set her apart was not just playing her role, but crafting it herself.

She put in a lot of effort to demonstrate to the writing team how they could transform the character from a one-dimensional sexist caricature into a genuine individual with authentic emotions and aspirations. It was a day of rejoicing when the script was released, where her character was no longer known as Hot Lips, but as Margaret. During her time here, Loretta truly made an impact.

Mike Farrell, the actor known for portraying Captain B.J. Hunnicutt on the popular sitcom, posted a photo of Swit on Instagram as a tribute.