Actress Loretta Swit, best known for her iconic role as Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan on the legendary TV series *M*A*S*H\*, has died at the age of 87.
Her publicist, Harlan Boll, confirmed that Swit passed away on Friday, May 30, at her apartment in New York City. Boll told *TMZ* that he had spoken to her just the night before and that she appeared to be in good health. Her maid discovered her body at 10 a.m., and she was pronounced dead by noon. While the official cause of death has yet to be confirmed, it is believed she died of natural causes.
Swit’s portrayal of Major Houlihan—the tough, sharp-tongued head nurse in a U.S. Army medical unit during the Korean War—earned her widespread acclaim, including 10 Emmy nominations and two wins. *M*A*S*H*, which aired from 1972 to 1983, became one of television’s most influential series. Its finale drew over 100 million viewers, making it the most-watched scripted episode in U.S. TV history.
Beyond *M*A*S*H,Swit enjoyed a prolific television career, with roles in series such as *Hawaii Five-0*, *Murder, She Wrote*, and others, along with appearances in film. Her legacy as a trailblazing figure in American television endures, marked by talent, strength, and a character that became a cultural icon.
