Loretta Swit Remembered: How Maj. Houlihan Became More Than “Hot Lips”
Oh, fantastic—now I get to announce that Emmy-winner Loretta Swit has passed away at 87. I don’t relish the gloom, but here we are. According to AP News, Swit quietly died of likely natural causes at her New York City home, marking the end of an era that began back in 1972 when she strapped on her fatigues for CBS’s M*A*S*H.
Yes, that M*A*S*H—the one whose final episode in February 1983 drew a staggering 105 million viewers, still the most-watched scripted series finale ever (Rolling Stone, Time Out). Swit, alongside Alan Alda, was one of the two longest-serving cast members on the show, earning two Emmy Awards for her portrayal of Maj. Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan. And you thought TV nurses were all Band-Aids and tea parties.
In Robert Altman’s 1970 film adaptation, Houlihan was little more than a rules-obsessed, one-note figure. Swit took that caricature, rolled her eyes, and said, “Hold my stethoscope.” By year three, she was nudging writers into giving Houlihan depth, intelligence, even genuine vulnerability. “To oversimplify it,” Swit confessed to Suzy Kalter (The Complete Book of M*A*S*H), “I took each traumatic change that happened in her life and kept it.” No more resetting her character after every commercial break—Houlihan evolved, and so did Swit’s star power.
Critics took notice. In 1975, M*A*S*H won a Peabody Award “for the depth of its humor” and its poignant statement on war. The show later snagged the Impact Award at the 2009 TV Land Awards, cementing Swit’s contribution to TV history. Meanwhile, co-star Alda hailed her on X as “supremely talented,” praising her fight to strip away the sexist stereotype and refer to her character simply as Margaret. I told you so—female roles can be both strong and nuanced.
Off-screen, Swit championed animal rights and grumbled about Hollywood’s obsession with youth. She left M*A*S*H after nearly 250 episodes—about four times longer than the actual Korean War—and moved on to stage, screen, and philanthropy. Journey Gunderson of the National Comedy Center lauded her “heart, humor, and strength,” acknowledging that few actors leave such an indelible mark on popular culture.
So there you have it: a lifetime of defying typecasts and racking up accolades. Did anyone expect a different outcome? No? Thought so. And that, dear reader, is why we can’t have nice things—because legends always check out right when you’re just getting comfortable.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and AP News, Rolling Stone, Time Out, Suzy Kalter’s The Complete Book of M*A*S*H, TV Land Awards announcement, National Comedy Center statement
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
