Overview

• Swit starred as Maj. Margaret ‘Hot Lips’ Houlihan in 240 of M*A*S*H’s 251 episodes over 11 seasons, earning Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 1980 and 1982.
• Her publicist said she died at 12:01 p.m. Friday in her New York City home of suspected natural causes, with a final coroner’s report pending.
• She worked closely with writers to deepen Houlihan’s arc, transforming the role from a one-dimensional stereotype into a layered, socially conscious character.
• After departing M*A*S*H, Swit returned to theater, expanded into television and film roles, later focusing on animal welfare through the 2016 establishment of the SwitHeart Animal Alliance.
• The two-and-a-half-hour M*A*S*H finale in 1983 attracted over 100 million viewers, making it the most-watched scripted television episode on record.