Loretta Swit, best known for her Emmy-winning role as Maj. Margaret Houlihan on the iconic TV series M.A.S.H., has died at the age of 87. According to her publicist, Harlan Boll, Swit passed away Friday at her home in New York City, likely of natural causes.
Swit was a key figure on M.A.S.H., one of television’s most beloved shows, and along with Alan Alda, was one of its longest-serving cast members. The series, based on a film and novel, ran from 1972 to 1983 and depicted life at a mobile army surgical hospital during the Korean War.
The show’s record-breaking finale in 1983 was watched by over 100 million viewers, making it the most-watched episode of any scripted series in TV history. Swit’s performance as the strong, complex head nurse earned her two Emmy Awards and a lasting legacy in television history.
