Like all of us in the M*A*S*H community, I was shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Loretta Swit today. She is best known for playing Major Margaret Houlihan for all eleven seasons of M*A*S*H, but her love for M*A*S*H and its fans never wavered. Whether she was being interviewed, appearing on M*A*S*H Matters (episodes 29, 30, 59, and 60), meeting fans at conventions, or posting on social media, she spoke lovingly about M*A*S*H and how much the fans mean to her. She was active in the M*A*S*H community across social media where she would like, share, and comment on posts, and fans loved her for it. When I first started The M*A*S*H Historian in 2021, I never expected the site to grow into what it is today, but Loretta Swit helped the site by liking my posts and, occasionally, sharing them. When I’d see a notification from Instagram or Twitter that she liked my most resent post, it made me smile, and I appreciate that she took the time to acknowledge a crazy M*A*S*H collector. It breaks my heart to know that I will never see one of those notifications again. She was dedicated to her acting, activism, artwork, her fans, and her friends. She leaves behind a body of work that will be loved by countless millions for decades to come. Thank you, Ms. Swit. Thank you for what you personally did for me and this site, but more importantly, thank you for your activism and your dedication to your decades of work. You will be greatly missed and fondly remembered.
Tributes
On Twitter, M*A*S*H costar Alan Alda posted:
“Loretta was a supremely talented actor. She deserved all her 10 EMMY nominations and her 2 wins. But more than acting her part, she created it. She worked hard In showing the writing staff how they could turn the character from a one joke sexist stereotype into a real person — with real feelings and ambitions. We celebrated the day the script came out listing her character not as Hot Lips, but as Margaret. Loretta made the most of her time here.” -Alan Alda
Jamie Farr released the following statement via USA Today:
“I dearly loved Loretta! As close as family can get. From the first time I met her, on what was supposed to be a one-day appearance on “M*A*S*H,” we embraced each other. That became a lifetime friendship. I can’t begin to express how much she will be missed.” – Jamie Farr
Mike Farrell shared a remembrance on Instagram:
UPDATE (June 4, 2025): Mike Farrell shared his thoughts on Loretta Swit in an interview with TMZ.
The M*A*S*H Historian 
No! I’m a Brit feeling beyond mortified! On the one-hand, Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan was a military devotee who was hell bent on career progression and self-advancement. On the other hand, she was a Humanitarian and above all, a devoted nurse. In all episodes, she was confronted by her sub-conscious and conscious biases, and having recognised these, she reflected and responded to them in a meaningful and positive way. I wonder how many viewers she inspired to pursue a career with the intention of helping others? I reckon it must have been tens of thousands. What a legacy … world statesman, please take note! LS RIP and thank you for the many special moments we spent together. x
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Goodbye Margaret.
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I’m sorry to read this. I’m watching her on a MASH rerun right now. I met her (and Jamie Farr) and got their autographs at a local celebrity show last summer. RIP, Loretta!
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goodbye, farewell and amen.
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