Loretta Swit

Loretta Swit Biography

Loretta Swit (born November 4, 1937) is a stage and television actress known for her character roles. Swit is best-known for her portrayal of Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan on hit CBS-TV series M*A*S*H.

Loretta Swit Early life and career

Equally versatile at comedy and drama, Loretta Swit's parents, Polish immigrants who settled in Passaic, New Jersey, were not in favor of her making a stab at a show business career. Performing on stage from age 7, however, nothing and nobody could deter her. A natural singer who trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts before finding work in repertory companies, her features were deemed a bit too plain and hard for ingénue roles so she attempted musicals and light comedy, imbuing her characters with a snappy, comic edge.

Loretta Swit Comebic stage roles

Comedic stage roles started coming fast with both the 1967 national touring company of Any Wednesday starring actor Gardner McKay, as well as a part as a Pigeon sister opposite comebian Don Rickles and veteran actor Ernest Borgnine in an L.A. run of The Odd Couple, and from there Loretta earned even more laughs as the hopelessly awkward Agnes Gooch in the Las Vegas production of Mame starring Susan Hayward and (later) Celeste Holm.

Loretta Swit M*A*S*H* and other Hollywood roles

Arriving in Hollywood in 1970, Loretta merited some attention by lightening up a number of dramas with her humorous, off-centered performances on such TV fare as "Gunsmoke," "Mission: Impossible," "Hawaii Five-0" and "Mannix." Her star-making role, however came within two years of moving to the West Coast when she inherited the role of] vitriolic "Hot Lips" Houlihan movie character from actress Sally Kellerman (the two later became fast friends) for the TV series version of "M*A*S*H" (1972). She stayed with the show the entire 11 seasons and was Emmy nominated every season the show was on the air (except the first).

Roles after M*A*S*H*

Although Loretta's post-M*A*S*H career may appear less noteworthy (it would be hard to imagine anything that could top her bookend Emmy wins on the M*A*S*H series), she has nonetheless remained quite active and provided colorful support in a handful of films including S.O.B. (1981), Beer (1985), Whoops Apocalypse (1988), Forest Warrior (1996) and Beach Movie (1998). She also kept up her TV visibility with episodic appearances and occasional mini-movies, including originating the role of Chris Cagney in the TV pilot of "Cagney & Lacey: Pilot (#1.0)" opposite actress Tyne Daly(1981). Contractural obligations to 20th Century Fox prevented her from jumping ship from the M*A*S*H* to join the cast of the Cagney & Lacey series, so she was replaced by actress Meg Foster, who was then replaced byactress Sharon Gless. Returning to singing on occasion, she also inherited the Linda Lavin role in the TV version of the stage musical Superman (1975).

Loretta Swit Personal

Loretta was once married to actor Dennis Holahan, whom she met on the set of M*A*S*H, in on December 21, 1983 , after the M*A*S*H* series ended; They had appeared in an episode together in its final season in 1983, titled The U.N., The Night, and The Music, Episode #11.10.. They had no children and divorced in 1995, but today still remain close friends.

Loretta Swit Trivia

• Loretta is a strict vegan.
• Loretta, who is avid artist, has displayed and offers still life paintings on her official website, swithearts.com . Former M*A*S*H* castmates Gary Burghoff, who paints landscapes, and Harry Morgan, who has been credited as having painted the portaits hanging in Col. Potter's office on the series, are

also avid painters.

• Also an avid at needlepoint, Loretta has written book on the art.
• Loretta has also been an equestrian aficianado since 1983, and has owned several thoroughbred horses; over the years she has competed in several local competitions in Southern California. Former M*A*S*H* castmate Harry Morgan, whose Col. Potter character often rode the camp mascot horse Sophie on the show, is also an avid horseback rider who owns a ranch in Rancho Cucamonga, Calofornia.