Fans and co-stars alike have paid tribute to Loretta Swit, who redefined her iconic “M*A*S*H” role, received 10 Emmy nominations, and forged enduring relationships with her co-stars. Known for her role as Maj. Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan on the CBS sitcom “M*A*S*H,” actress and animal rights activist Loretta Swit died at the age of 87.
Swit died at her New York City home on Friday, May 30, 2025, shortly after midnight. According to a police investigation, her death is suspected to have been caused by natural causes. Harlan Boll, her long-time publicist, verified the information.
During the eleven seasons of “M*A*S*H,” from 1972 to 1983, Swit played the ground-breaking character of Maj. Houlihan, which made her a household name in the US and abroad. Sally Kellerman, who portrayed the character in the 1970 feature picture, passed the role on to her.
Initially viewed as a humorous cliché, “Hot Lips” developed into one of the most realistic and multifaceted characters on the show. Swit’s performance and contributions on set were significantly responsible for this change. Her performance of Houlihan earned her praise from critics for breaking gender norms in media during the 1970s and 1980s, and it went on to become a landmark role in television history.
Alan Alda recalled Swit as an exceptionally gifted actor who received 10 Emmy nominations and two wins in a May 31 memorial to X. She worked hard to turn the character from a one-note joke into a genuine person with ambition and depth, he said, and she didn’t simply act the part—she built it. He described how they celebrated the day the script stopped referring to her as “Hot Lips” and instead used her character’s name, Margaret. “Loretta made the most of her time here,” his post concluded.
On May 30, fellow co-star Mike Farrell, who played Captain B.J. Hunnicutt, also honoured him with a straightforward Instagram message. He posted an old black-and-white picture of Swit and wrote, “Loretta… 1937–2025.”
