MAS*H star Loretta Swit dies at 87

‘Hot Lips’ Houlihan actress passes away in New York

Loretta Swit, who played Major Margaret ‘Hot Lips’ Houlihan in almost 250 episodes of M*A*S*H has died at the age of 87.

Her death in New York – believed to be from natural causes – was announced by her representative Harlan Boll.

Born in New Jersey in 1937 she worked in New York Theatre before moving to Hollywood in 1969 where she was cast in the likes of Hawaii Five-O, Gunsmoke and Mission: Impossible.

But her big break came in 1972, when she was cast as the capable head nurse on M*A*S*H, inheriting the role from Sally Kellerman, who had portrayed Houlihan in the feature film.

With Alan Alda, Jamie Farr, and William Christopher, Swit was one of only four cast members to stay for all 11 seasons until the 1983 finale – which was seen by an estimated 125 million Americans. In total, she appeared in 239 of the total of 256 episodes and received two Emmy Awards.

In 1981, Swit played the role of Christine Cagney in the feature-length pilot for the television series Cagney & Lacey but couldn’t take the role permanently because of contractual issues.

Her film credits include Whoops Apocalypse with Peter Cook and Rik Mayall, while in her later career she returned to the stage, including playing Shirley Valentine in various US versions of Willy Russell’s one-woman play.