Loretta Swit, who won Emmy Awards for her role on the comedy series M*A*S*H, has died aged 87.
Her publicist, Harlan Boll, said the actress passed away at her home in New York City just after midday on Friday, likely from natural causes.
She was best known for her star turn as Major Margaret Houlihan on CBS’ M*A*S*H, which aired for 11 years from 1972 to 1983.
Wayne Rogers, Loretta Swit, McLean Stevenson and Alan Alda on the set of M*A*S*H* in 1973. Pic: Rex Features
Based on Robert Altman’s 1970 film of the same name, M*A*S*H has been ranked as one of the greatest shows of all time by Rolling Stone and Time Out, with the finale watched by more than 100 million viewers – the most-watched episode of any scripted series ever.
In the film, Major Margaret Houlihan was a one-dimensional, promiscuous character nicknamed Hot Lips, but the character was developed and deepened in the show.
Swit told Suzy Kalter, author of “The Complete Book of M*A*S*H,” that as the show went on, “I decided to try to play her as a real person, in an intelligent fashion, even if it meant hurting the jokes”.
She won Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1980 and 1982 for her role in the show.
Loretta Swit holds her Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 1982. Pic: AP
Born Loretta Jane Szwed in Passaic, New Jersey, in 1937, she was the daughter of Polish immigrants.
She enrolled in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts before arriving in Hollywood in 1969.
Along with M*A*S*H, she made appearances in shows like Gunsmoke, Hawaii Five-O, Mission Impossible and Bonanza.
Swit also made regular appearances in theatre, starring on Broadway in 1975 in Same Time, Next Year, and The Mystery of Edwin Drood in 1986.
Loretta Swit poses in Los Angeles, California, 21 November 1983. File pic: AP
Loretta Swit arrives at the Annual Television Academy Honors in Beverly Hills, California in 2010. File pic: AP
Swit also appeared in a number of TV musical specials, including The Muppet Show and the Broadway musical It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Superman.
