Loretta Swit is best known for her role as Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan on the classic TV series MAS*H, but her acting career includes a variety of roles across television, film, and stage. Here are some highlights:
Television Roles: Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan in MASH* (1972–1983): Her most iconic role, earning her two Emmy Awards.
Guest appearances on shows like The Love Boat, The Virginian, Ironside, The Mod Squad, and Switch.
Recurring roles or guest roles in series such as Benson, Murder, She Wrote, and Diagnosis: Murder.
Film Roles: Appeared in movies such as Rooster Cogburn (1975) alongside John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn.
Various TV movies including The Man Who Came to Dinner (1972) and The Girl Called Hatter Fox (1977).
Stage: Loretta Swit has also had a strong presence on stage, appearing in numerous theatrical productions including classics like Harvey, Hello, Dolly!, and The Women.
She’s known for her one-woman show, Loretta Swit: In My Own Little Corner, which showcases her storytelling and singing.
Other Work: Swit is also an animal rights activist and has been involved in work related to animal welfare, which she’s passionate about outside her acting career.
Loretta Swit is best known for her iconic role as Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan on the long-running TV series MAS*H (1972–1983), a performance that earned her two Emmy Awards. However, her acting career spans a wide range of television, film, and stage roles. Here's a breakdown of some of her notable portrayals:
🎭 Television Roles MAS*H (1972–1983) – Major Margaret Houlihan Her most famous role: a head nurse in a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War. Initially portrayed as rigid and militaristic, her character evolved into a strong, compassionate leader.
Gunsmoke, Hawaii Five-O, Mission: Impossible, and Mannix In the early '70s, Swit guest-starred in many TV series, often playing tough or cunning women.
The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Murder, She Wrote Popular guest-starring roles in the 1980s and 1990s.
Cagney & Lacey (pilot, 1981) – Detective Christine Cagney Swit played Cagney in the original made-for-TV movie but couldn’t continue due to her MAS*H commitment. Sharon Gless later took over the role.
🎬 Film Roles Freebie and the Bean (1974) – Mimi A dark action-comedy film where she played the wife of Alan Arkin's character.
Race with the Devil (1975) – Alice Stewart A horror-thriller in which Swit and her co-stars are chased by a Satanic cult.
Whoops Apocalypse (1986) – US President Barbara Adams A political satire where she portrayed the fictional President of the United States.
🎟️ Stage Performances Loretta Swit has also been active in theater, performing in:
The Odd Couple (female version) – Florence Unger
Mame
Shirley Valentine – a notable one-woman play
Love, Loss, and What I Wore Swit has consistently returned to live theater, showing her versatility beyond the screen.
🐾 Other Work Animal activism Swit is a passionate animal rights advocate and authored the book “SwitHeart: The Watercolour Artistry & Animal Activism of Loretta Swit”.
In summary: While Major Houlihan remains her defining role, Loretta Swit's career reflects a dynamic range—from action thrillers to sitcoms and stage dramas. Her blend of toughness, charm, and warmth made her a standout in every medium.
Loretta Swit is best known for her role as Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan on the classic TV series MAS*H, but her acting career includes a variety of roles across television, film, and stage. Here are some highlights:
ReplyDeleteTelevision Roles:
Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan in MASH* (1972–1983): Her most iconic role, earning her two Emmy Awards.
Guest appearances on shows like The Love Boat, The Virginian, Ironside, The Mod Squad, and Switch.
Recurring roles or guest roles in series such as Benson, Murder, She Wrote, and Diagnosis: Murder.
Film Roles:
Appeared in movies such as Rooster Cogburn (1975) alongside John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn.
Various TV movies including The Man Who Came to Dinner (1972) and The Girl Called Hatter Fox (1977).
Stage:
Loretta Swit has also had a strong presence on stage, appearing in numerous theatrical productions including classics like Harvey, Hello, Dolly!, and The Women.
She’s known for her one-woman show, Loretta Swit: In My Own Little Corner, which showcases her storytelling and singing.
Other Work:
Swit is also an animal rights activist and has been involved in work related to animal welfare, which she’s passionate about outside her acting career.
Loretta Swit is best known for her iconic role as Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan on the long-running TV series MAS*H (1972–1983), a performance that earned her two Emmy Awards. However, her acting career spans a wide range of television, film, and stage roles. Here's a breakdown of some of her notable portrayals:
ReplyDelete🎭 Television Roles
MAS*H (1972–1983) – Major Margaret Houlihan
Her most famous role: a head nurse in a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War. Initially portrayed as rigid and militaristic, her character evolved into a strong, compassionate leader.
Gunsmoke, Hawaii Five-O, Mission: Impossible, and Mannix
In the early '70s, Swit guest-starred in many TV series, often playing tough or cunning women.
The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Murder, She Wrote
Popular guest-starring roles in the 1980s and 1990s.
Cagney & Lacey (pilot, 1981) – Detective Christine Cagney
Swit played Cagney in the original made-for-TV movie but couldn’t continue due to her MAS*H commitment. Sharon Gless later took over the role.
🎬 Film Roles
Freebie and the Bean (1974) – Mimi
A dark action-comedy film where she played the wife of Alan Arkin's character.
Race with the Devil (1975) – Alice Stewart
A horror-thriller in which Swit and her co-stars are chased by a Satanic cult.
Whoops Apocalypse (1986) – US President Barbara Adams
A political satire where she portrayed the fictional President of the United States.
🎟️ Stage Performances
Loretta Swit has also been active in theater, performing in:
The Odd Couple (female version) – Florence Unger
Mame
Shirley Valentine – a notable one-woman play
Love, Loss, and What I Wore
Swit has consistently returned to live theater, showing her versatility beyond the screen.
🐾 Other Work
Animal activism
Swit is a passionate animal rights advocate and authored the book “SwitHeart: The Watercolour Artistry & Animal Activism of Loretta Swit”.
In summary: While Major Houlihan remains her defining role, Loretta Swit's career reflects a dynamic range—from action thrillers to sitcoms and stage dramas. Her blend of toughness, charm, and warmth made her a standout in every medium.