Legendary M*A*S*H star Loretta Swit has died at the age of 87. 

Swit was known for playing the iconic character Major Margaret ‘H๏τ Lips’ Houlihan on the hit series. 

The actress died Friday at her home in New York City, her publicist Harlan Boll confirmed. 

A police report states that Swit pᴀssed of suspected natural causes soon after midnight on Friday, her publicist shared with The Hollywood Reporter.

The actress received acclaim for her role on the series, and received two Emmys for her portrayal. 

In total, she earned 10 Emmy nominations for M*A*S*H and appeared in the majority of the show’s 11 seasons, gracing screens for 240 of the program’s 251 episodes.  

Loretta Swit pictured above surrounded by her  M*A*S*H* cast members, from left: Mike Farrell, William Christopher, Harry Morgan, Alan Alda, Jamie Farr, and David Ogden Stiers

Swit was known for playing the iconic character Major Margaret ‘H๏τ Lips’ Houlihan on the hit series

M*A*S*H was an adaptation of the Robert Altman’s 1970 film and was set during the Korean war. It followed a team of US doctors and nurses at a fictional army hospital. 

Read More Loretta Swit reminisces about her hit TV series M*A*S*H and reveals the secret to the show’s mᴀssive success while praising her co-stars

It’s series finale – of which Swit appeared in – was watched by 105 million viewers, making it one of the most-watched narrative TV episodes of all time. 

The original Robert Altman film was a dark comedy that starred Donald Sutherland as Hawkeye Pierce, Elliot Gould as Trapper John McIntyre and Sally Kellerman as H๏τ Lips Houlihan, based on the 1968 novel MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors.

For the TV series, Alan Alda stepped into the Hawkeye role, with Wayne Rogers playing Trapper John and Gary Burghoff (Radar O’Reilly) becoming the only cast member from the movie to reprise that role for the TV series.

The half-hour comedy series was known for its ability to blend both comedy and drama, though Swit previously said she believes it was the humor that made the show stand out.

‘Initially when we started out, everyone wondered how we were going to be able to pull off a comedy about the war, but we did. The secret behind M*A*S*H’s success,’ she told First for Women last year.

Swit added, ‘Laughter and humor were our defense against standing in blood and working on bodies that were young enough to be in school.’

She admitted there was nothing inherently funny about war, but added, ‘you needed the funniest people in the world to make this believable and this cast exceeded that and more.’

Swit won two Emmys for playing H๏τ Lips, and had nothing but praise for the lauded series finale.

Swit pictured in 2019 visiting Hallmark’s Home & Family in Universal City, California

Swit won two Emmys for playing H๏τ Lips

‘The last program, тιтled Goodbye, was the jewel of the crown, and M*A*S*H was a very important piece of Americana, so it was an honor to be a part of that magic,’ she said.

M*A*S*H won 14 Emmy Awards, earned 109 nominations, plus the series took home a Peabody Award in 1975. 

Swit was born on November 4, 1937 in Pᴀssaic, New Jersey and attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York

Born in Pᴀssaic, New Jersey, Swit honed her craft as a student at New York’s American Academy of Dramatic Arts, according to THR. She performed in repertory.

For her work, she twice earned the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy or Variety or Music Series – once in 1980 and then again in 1982

Following a move to Los Angeles in 1970, she built up her acting resume with roles in on Gunsmoke, Hawaii Five-O, Mission: Impossible, and eventually M*A*S*H.

Over the show’s 11 seasons, she appeared in a majority of the episodes that included the widely-watched season finale.

For her work, she twice earned the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy or Variety or Music Series – once in 1980 and then again in 1982. 

While she may be best known for her role of H๏τ Lips, she wasn’t fond of her character’s nickname.  

‘I understand nicknames come with great love and admiration for a character,’ she told Fox News in 2023. ‘But it was an insult as far as I was concerned. She wasn’t just a piece of anatomy. She was a major in the United States Army, and she should not be disrespected.’

‘This was a woman who had rank, who worked hard and wanted to be good at her job,’ she said. ‘She was an inspiration. I was proud of her. I was proud to represent all the servicewomen out there. I wanted to make a change.’

M*A*S*H wasn’t the only iconic show Swit appeared in. Her resume also boasts appearances in Murder, She Wrote and The Love Boat.

She had an appearance on The Muppet Show

The actress also had roles in a number of movies, including ‘Freebie and the Bean’ in 1974, ‘Race With the Devil’ in 1975, 1981’s ‘S.O.B’ and ‘BoardHeads’ in 1998.

She co-starred alongside Tyne Daly in the 1981 pilot for ‘Cagney & Lacey’, but could not continue in the role when It was picked up, due to contractual obligations to ‘MASH’.

According to her IMDb, she does have one more film coming out – a role in the upcoming drama Second Chances. 

As far as her theatrical credits, THR reports that Swit was also an active member of the theater community in Chicago and in 1991 she was honored with the Sarah Siddons Award for her contributions to the theater. 

She starred in Shirley Valentine, a one-woman play, over 1,000 times and also became part of The Vagina Monologue’s touring cast in 2003. 

Loretta’s senior high school yearbook pH๏τo in 1955

Loretta was a cheerleader in high school; pictured as a senior in 1955

Loretta pictured center with her fellow cheerleaders as a junior in high school

Swit was born Loretta Jane Szwed on November 4, 1937, in Pᴀssaic, New Jersey.

She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1989.

A pᴀssionate animal rights activist, she was a vegetarian for many years before becoming a vegan in 1981. 

Loretta was a long-time supporter of the ASPA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and often fostered dogs.

She encouraged the adoption of animals and when traveling alone she visited rescue centres.

Another cause that was close to Loretta’s heart was Actors and Others for Animals, a charity set up by actor Richard Basehart to encourage celebrities to use their star power to help animals.

Swit was married to actor Dennis Holahan, from 1983 until their divorce in 1995.