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)​
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Loretta Jane Swit (born Loretta Jane Szwed; November 4, 1937 – May 30, 2025) was an American actress. She was famous for her roles on stage and television. Many people know her best as Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan on the TV show M*A*S*H. She won two Emmy Awards for this role in 1980 and 1982.

Early Life and Education

Loretta Jane Szwed was born on November 4, 1937. Her hometown was Passaic, New Jersey. Her parents, Lester and Nellie Szwed, were from Poland. Loretta had an older brother named Robert.

As a child, Loretta was a Girl Scout. She went to Pope Pius XII High School in Passaic. There, she was a cheerleader and played on the girls' basketball team. She also loved being in school plays.

After high school, she went to Katharine Gibbs School. She graduated in 1957. Loretta then worked in different office jobs. She also trained to be an actress. She studied drama with Gene Frankel in New York City. Loretta also learned to sing at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Theatre Career

Loretta Swit started her acting career in theatre. Her first show was An Enemy of the People in New York. In 1961, she appeared in The Balcony.

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

Later, in 1975, she performed on Broadway in Same Time, Next Year. She also appeared in The Mystery of Edwin Drood in the 1980s. Loretta played Agnes Gooch in the Las Vegas show Mame.

From the 1990s, she often performed in Shirley Valentine. This was a special play where she was the only actor on stage. She continued to perform this play for many years.

Television Roles

Loretta Swit moved to Hollywood in 1969. She quickly started getting guest roles on TV shows. Her first TV appearance was on Hawaii Five-O. She also appeared on Gunsmoke, Mission: Impossible, and Mannix.

Starring in M*A*S*H

The cast of M*A*S*H (1974). From left: Larry Linville, Swit, Wayne Rogers, Gary Burghoff, McLean Stevenson, and Alan Alda.

The cast of M*A*S*H (1977). Back row, L-R: William Christopher, Gary Burghoff, David Ogden Stiers, and Jamie Farr. Front: Swit, Harry Morgan, Alan Alda, and Mike Farrell.

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

At first, her character, Major Houlihan, was very strict and patriotic. She didn't get along with many of the other characters. But over time, her character changed. She became friendlier and more understanding. This change was similar to how the show itself developed.

Loretta Swit was one of only four actors who stayed on M*A*S*H for all 11 seasons. The show ran from 1972 to 1983. She appeared in almost all of the 256 episodes. She won two Emmy Awards for her amazing work on M*A*S*H.

She had a close friendship with Harry Morgan, who played Colonel Sherman T. Potter on the show. They even became neighbors after M*A*S*H ended. Loretta also remained good friends with Alan Alda, who played Hawkeye Pierce.

Other Television Work

In 1981, Loretta Swit played Christine Cagney in the pilot movie for Cagney & Lacey. However, she could not continue the role because of her contract with M*A*S*H.

She also appeared as a guest on many other TV shows. These included The Muppet Show, Bonanza, and The Love Boat. Loretta was also a celebrity guest on popular game shows like Match Game and Pyramid.

In 1988, she hosted a documentary called Korean War—The Untold Story. She traveled to South Korea to film it. This made her the first M*A*S*H cast member to visit the country where the show was set. In 1992, she hosted Those Incredible Animals on the Discovery Channel.

Personal Life and Interests

Swit with her book, 2019

Loretta Swit married actor Dennis Holahan in 1983. They later divorced in 1995. Dennis Holahan had a small role on M*A*S*H as a Swedish diplomat.

Loretta was a strong supporter of animal rights. She was a vegetarian for many years. In 1981, she became a vegan. This means she did not eat any animal products.

Loretta Swit also wrote a book about needlepoint. It was called A Needlepoint Scrapbook.

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

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Awards and Recognition

• In 1991, Loretta Swit won the Sarah Siddons Award. This award recognized her great work in Chicago theatre.
• She received a star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1989. This is a special honor for entertainers.

Published Works

Loretta Swit wrote a book about needlepoint. It was called A Needlepoint Scrapbook.

See also

In Spanish: Loretta Swit para niños