Loretta Swit death: M.A.S.H star who played Houlihan dies at age 87
Emmy-winning actress who transformed M.A.S.H role dies aged 87
- Loretta Swit, best known for her role as Major Margaret Houlihan on the TV series M.A.S.H., has died at the age of 87.
- Swit died at her home in Manhattan on Friday, with her publicist stating that the cause of death was likely natural causes.
- Her portrayal of head Army nurse Houlihan earned her 10 consecutive Emmy nominations for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, winning twice in 1980 and 1982.
- Swit's influence on scriptwriters helped transform Houlihan from a one-dimensional character into a more complex and realistic person, reflecting the growing awareness of feminism in the 1970s.
- M.A.S.H star Alan Alda praised Swit as a “supremely talented actor” and how she transformed the character previously known as ‘Hot Lips’ to being known as ‘Margaret’.