M*A*S*H Star Loretta Swit, Known for Major 'Hot Lips' Houlihan, Dies at 87 in New York

The Last Goodbye to a Television Icon

You can count on one hand the TV roles that still echo decades later, and Loretta Swit as Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan on M*A*S*H tops that list. Swit, aged 87, passed away peacefully at her New York home on May 30, 2025, according to her longtime publicist Harlan Boll. She’s best remembered for her uncanny ability to make a tough-as-nails military nurse as vulnerable and real as anyone you’ve ever met, a rarity in an era where women characters too often got stuck in the background.

Her run on M*A*S*H wasn’t just about racking up Emmy wins—though she walked away with two, thanks to her fearless work. It was about embodying a character who changed in front of viewers’ eyes. Swit started as a no-nonsense, rule-following officer and, over eleven seasons, unveiled Margaret’s ambitions, heartaches, and dry wit. That transformation carried plenty of weight at a time when few TV shows dared to let female leads grow past their first impressions, let alone in a military setting plagued by war.

Groundbreaking Television That Changed the Game

M*A*S*H itself was a television unicorn: a blend of comedy and hard-hitting social commentary at the height of American TV. Adapted from Robert Altman’s satirical movie and Richard Hooker's original novel, the show landed on CBS in 1972 and quickly flipped the usual war-story playbook on its head. Instead of glorifying battle, it used dark humor to point out the absurdity of war—and Swit’s Houlihan was at the heart of it.

Fans still talk about the impact M*A*S*H had. When the finale aired in 1983, over 100 million people tuned in—still the record-holder for the most-watched scripted TV episode in U.S. history. That’s a level of cultural significance you don’t see often, and Swit was one of only two actors, along with Alan Alda, to appear from start to finish. Together, they led viewers through unforgettable stories that tackled bureaucracy, gender equality, and the often-blurred lines of military life.

The critical world gave M*A*S*H plenty of love, too. It landed a Peabody Award in 1975, Rolling Stone called it one of history’s best TV shows, and Time Out listed it in its top 34. But what stayed with people was that blend of laughter and heartache, all delivered by a cast that felt like real people caught in the mess of war.

Loretta Swit never took that legacy lightly. In interviews, she spoke often about wanting Houlihan to break free from one-note jokes and shallow stereotypes. By the end of the series, Margaret wasn’t just a punchline—she was a hero in her own right, and that was due to Swit’s drive both on and off camera.

Swit’s passing marks the end of a remarkable era. For millions who grew up with M*A*S*H reruns or watched the original episodes as they aired, her talent and compassion made the chaos of the Korean War a little more human—and a lot more unforgettable.