Loretta Swit facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Loretta Swit
Swit on M*A*S*H set in 1972 as Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan
Born	Loretta Jane Szwed (1937-11-04)November 4, 1937 Passaic, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	May 30, 2025(2025-05-30) (aged 87) New York City, U.S.
Education	Katharine Gibbs College American Academy of Dramatic Arts
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1967–2019
Known for	M*A*S*H Pyramid
Spouse(s)	Dennis Holahan ​ ​ (m. 1983; div. 1995)​
Signature

Loretta Jane Swit (born Loretta Jane Szwed; November 4, 1937 – May 30, 2025) was an American actress. She was famous for playing Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan on the TV show M*A*S*H. For this role, she won two Emmy Awards, which are major awards for television.

Early Life and Education

Loretta Swit was born in Passaic, New Jersey, on November 4, 1937. Her parents, Lester and Nellie Szwed, were of Polish background. She had an older brother named Robert.

As a child, Loretta was a Girl Scout. She went to Pope Pius XII High School, where she was a cheerleader and played on the women's basketball team. She also took part in school plays, showing her early interest in acting.

After high school, she went to Katharine Gibbs School. She worked in office jobs while also training to be an actress. She studied drama in New York City and also trained as a singer.

Theatre Career

Loretta Swit started her acting career in theatre. Her first show off-Broadway was An Enemy of the People. In 1961, she was in a play called The Balcony.

In 1967, she toured with a play called Any Wednesday. She also performed in The Odd Couple in Los Angeles.

Later, she appeared on Broadway in plays like Same Time, Next Year and The Mystery of Edwin Drood. She also played Agnes Gooch in the musical Mame in Las Vegas.

From the 1990s into the 2010s, Swit performed in a one-woman play called Shirley Valentine. She continued to act in plays throughout her career, including Amorous Crossings and Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks.

Television Roles

When Loretta Swit moved to Hollywood in 1969, she started getting guest roles on many TV shows. Some of her early appearances were on Hawaii Five-O, Gunsmoke, and Mission: Impossible.

Starring in M*A*S*H

The cast of M*A*S*H in 1974. Loretta Swit is second from left.

The cast of M*A*S*H in 1977. Loretta Swit is in the front row, second from left.

In 1972, Loretta Swit began her most famous role as Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan in the TV series M*A*S*H. This show was a comedy about a U.S. Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War.

Her character, Major Houlihan, was the head nurse. At first, she was very strict and patriotic. Over time, her character became softer and made friends with the other officers. This change mirrored how the show itself developed from a dark comedy to a more mature comedy-drama.

Loretta Swit was one of only four actors who stayed for all 11 seasons of M*A*S*H, from 1972 to 1983. She and Alan Alda were the only actors to appear in both the first and last episodes. She won two Emmy Awards for her amazing work on the show.

She had a close friendship with Harry Morgan, who played Colonel Sherman T. Potter on the show. They even became neighbors after the series ended.

Other Notable TV Work

In 1981, Swit played Christine Cagney in the pilot movie for the TV series Cagney & Lacey. However, she couldn't continue the role because of other acting contracts.

She also appeared on many popular game shows like Match Game and Pyramid. She was a guest star on The Muppet Show and Hollywood Squares.

Loretta Swit hosted a documentary about the Korean War in 1988. She traveled to South Korea to film it, becoming the first M*A*S*H cast member to visit the country. In 1992, she hosted a series about animals called Those Incredible Animals on the Discovery Channel.

Personal Life

Loretta Swit with her book in 2019.

Loretta Swit married actor Dennis Holahan in 1983. They later divorced in 1995. Interestingly, Dennis Holahan had a small role in an episode of M*A*S*H, playing a diplomat who briefly interacted with Swit's character.

Loretta Swit was a strong supporter of animal rights. She was a vegetarian for many years and became a vegan in 1981. She also wrote a book about needlepoint called A Needlepoint Scrapbook.

Death

Loretta Swit passed away on May 30, 2025, at her home in New York City. She was 87 years old.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Awards and Honors

• In 1991, Loretta Swit won the Sarah Siddons Award for her work in Chicago theatre.
• She received a star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1989.

See also

In Spanish: Loretta Swit para niños