Loretta Swit, Emmy-Winning M*A*S*H Actress Known for Playing ‘Hot Lips’, Dies at 87

The actress was best known for playing Major Margaret J “Hot Lips” Houlihan on ‘M*A*S*H’ from 1972 to 1983

Loretta Swit, in costume as Major Margaret Houlihan, in the television series ‘MASH,’ California, 1975.Credit : CBS Photo Archive/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

Emmy-winning actress Loretta Swit died on Friday, May 30, at age 87
Swit died of natural causes at her New York City home, her publicist Harlan Boll confirmed
The actress was best known for playing Major Margaret J “Hot Lips” Houlihan, a head nurse in the Korean War, on the CBS series M*A*S*H from 1972 to 1983

Loretta Swit has died. She was 87.

The actress’ publicist Harlan Boll confirmed the news to PEOPLE on Friday, May 30. Swit died in the early morning hours on Friday of natural causes at her New York City home.

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The Hollywood Reporter was the first to report the news.

The actress was best known for playing Major Margaret J “Hot Lips” Houlihan, a head nurse in the Korean War, on the CBS series M*A*S*Hfrom 1972 to 1983. The role earned her two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, four Golden Globe nominations and a TV Land Impact Award.

Loretta Swit in 1990.Harry Langdon/Getty

Besides M*A*S*H, Swit guest starred on various TV shows such as Hawaii Five-O, Gunsmoke, Mission: Impossible, The Love Boat, Mannix, Bonanza and Batman: The Animated Series.

Additionally, she appeared in several films and TV movies, including The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, S.O.B., Race With the Devil, Beer, Whoops Apocalypse and Forest Warrior.

Her final acting credit came in 2019 in a movie titled Play the Flute. Swit was also expected to appear in an upcoming project titled Second Chances, according to her IMDb page. The film is currently in pre-production, per the site.

In a 1979 PEOPLE cover story, Swit said she “always wanted to be an actress” as she reflected on her early love of film.

“Luckily, my mother loved movies and we would go to double features and sit through both films twice,” she recalled.

Describing her younger self as a “fat little kid with braces who was very, very shy,” Swit was candid about her vision for her life.

“I’m not interested in being married,” she said at the time. “I have a career and friends and things I care about doing. I don’t want a lot of other demands. And, thanks to Alan [Alda], who has deep insight about women, I don’t feel guilty anymore about not wanting a family. My parents and friends are my family.”

Actress Loretta Swit arrives at the 7th Annual TV Land Awards held at Gibson Amphitheatre on April 19, 2009 in Universal City, California.Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

“I love my work and I love my friends. I can’t imagine having a happier life,” Swit said.

She went on to marry actor Dennis Holahan —who she met when he guest starred on M*A*S*H as Per Johannsen, a Swedish diplomat whom Swit’s character became romantically involved with — in 1983. They divorced in 1995, and Swit never had children.

Loretta Swit, in costume as Major Margaret Houlihan in MASH.

Swit also had an active theater career. She made her Broadway debut in 1975’s Same Time, Next Year and went on to replace Cleo Laine in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Other credits include her starring roles in Shirley Valentine and Mame. She received the Sarah Siddons Award in 1991.

The Emmy Award-winning actress was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1989.

Outside of acting, Swit was a painter and a vocal animal rights activist. In 2017, she released a book, Switheart: The Watercolour Artistry & Animal Activism of Loretta Swit, proceeds of which are donated to charities and organizations against animal cruelty.