Even many decades after the program went off the air, “M*A*S*H” has continued to connect with fans – and pick up new ones – because to its outstanding writing, timeless relevance, and, most importantly, a compelling ensemble whose friendship and pranks almost make you wish you could be there with them. Loretta Swit was one of the stars of the successful drama comedy series. She portrayed the role of the vivacious and high-spirited US Army medic Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan on the show.
The highly acclaimed film of the same name directed by Robert Altman and premiered in 1970, the television series “M*A*S*H” aired for a total of 11 seasons between the years 1972 and 1983. All of the top cast members, including Alan Alda, who played the roguishly handsome, war-weary yet endearing prankster Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce, Wayne Rogers as Hawkeye’s loyal sidekick Captain “Trapper” John Francis Xavier McIntyre, and Gary Burghoff as the sweet and resourceful Walter Eugene “Radar” O’Reilly, among others, became household names as a result of their roles in the film
However, during the whole of the show’s run, Swit was the only female member of the ensemble to play a prominent part, and she did so by serving as an ongoing antagonist to Hawkeye and Trapper’s shenanigans. Houlihan made her first appearance early on in the program playing the comedy archetype of a humorless, lovesick nurse who is only focused on finding a partner. However, as the women’s liberation movement gained momentum in the 1970s, Swit became more outspoken to the show’s creators about the need of giving her character greater depth, and the producers listened to what she had to say. Swit said that Alda, who was also a member of their ensemble at the time, was largely responsible for her growing social consciousness.
In retrospect, she acknowledges that Alda was a significant factor in her ability to better handle the criticism she received for being a single woman in her 30s. Continue reading to learn more about how Swit resisted giving in to the social constraints that society places on families and how she made her way into the realm of activism.
Swit often refers to her fellow “M*A*S*H” cast members as if they were members of her own family. In an interview that she gave to People in 1979, she gushed about Alan Alda, saying things like, “I think of Alan as a teacher. Because he is so interested in women’s liberation, he has assisted me in developing my own sense of self-assurance. I owe a lot of my development into a more free person to him since he is such a lovely and kind guy.
The fact that she was still unmarried in her 30s fueled widespread conjecture that she might marry one of the guys she was seeing at the time.
She said, “Getting married is not something I’m interested in doing.” “In addition to my job and my friends, I keep busy with activities that are important to me. I do not want a large number of additional requests. And now that Alan, who has such profound understanding of women, has helped me, I no longer feel bad about the fact that I do not want a family. My pals and my parents together make up my family.
When she was 42 years old, she finally tied the wedding with actor Dennis Holahan. Prior to that, she had been single. However, 12 years later in 1995, they divorced each other. Swit has claimed that “I know some fantastic married couples, but it takes two very unique individuals to make it happen.” However, Swit has never remarried and has been quiet about the divorce.
Swit, who is now in her 80s, has found comfort in the company of her closest friends.
“To me, it seems like a true family. I was rendered helpless with the recent passing of Wayne Rogers (Trapper). It was a really unfortunate setback. “These folks are the gems in my life,” she went on to say.
Swit has also progressed to newer and more significant things in her life, which provide her with both contentment and delight. The most important of them has been her growing advocacy for causes that are near and dear to her heart, such as animal rights and concerns pertaining to army troops and veterans.
In order to pay tribute to the heritage of those who served as prisoners of war in the Pacific theater during World War II, Swit narrated the documentary “Never the Same,” which was about US POWs during that conflict. Swit felt driven to give her time to the troops who were there at Ground Zero after the horrific attacks of September 11, 2001. She later told Fox News that the experience left her “faith intact and invulnerable.” She went on to elaborate:
“I’ll never forget those folks — ever. I saw how our differences were set aside to form a robust and unified family unit. I’ll never forget seeing a newspaper in Paris with the headline “Today We Are All Americans.” This day, we are all members of the same family.
When the pandemic broke out, Swit was there as well, ready to provide any assistance she could. “I have been networking. She told Fox News, “I have been making public service announcements on my iPhone for New York City, the city I love.” She also said, “The volunteers, carers, and first responders who are on the front lines – they are our heartbeat.” Our lifeblood.”
The vegan actress is not just compassionate toward animals but also a staunch supporter of animal rights. She is the founder of the SwitHeart Animal Alliance, which works with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to put a stop to cruelty against domestic, agricultural, exotic, wild, and native animals.
When asked by Express how she manages to find the motivation to keep up with all of her advocacy efforts, Swit said candidly, “Not having grandkids helps.” “People say I look fantastic, but I don’t worry about the passing of time; I simply think about what I’m doing with it,” she remarked, clearly indicating that she had no intention of slowing down. I try to live each day as if it were my last, and I take one day at a time as I go through life.
