Biography and Wiki
Loretta Swit was born on November 4, 1937, in Passaic, New Jersey, and passed away on May 30, 2025, at the age of 87. She is remembered for her long-standing career in the entertainment industry, including her breakout role in MASH* and various theater performances.
| Occupation | Stage Actress |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 4 November 1937 |
| Age | 87 Years |
| Birth Place | Passaic, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Scorpio |
| Country | Jersey |
| Date of death | 30 May, 2025 |
| Died Place | New York City, U.S. |
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific details about her height and weight are not widely documented, Swit's presence on stage and screen was always notable, thanks to her commanding persona and acting prowess.
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Dating & Relationship Status
Swit was married to actor Dennis Holahan from 1983 to 1995, whom she met while filming an episode of MASH*. After their divorce, she remained unmarried, focusing on her career and personal interests. She did not have any children and had expressed her contentment with her choices regarding marriage and family.
Her father was a salesman and upholsterer. Swit's brother, Robert, was six years and one day her senior. As a child, Swit was a member of a Girl Scout troop sponsored by the Holy Rosary R.C. Church of Passaic, known as the Holy Rosary Scouts.
She also had a close relationship with Harry Morgan, who played Colonel Sherman T. Potter. They became neighbors after the series ended until his death on December 7, 2011. Swit remained close to Alda, along with his wife, three daughters and seven grandchildren.
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| Husband | Dennis Holahan (m. 1983-1995) |
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Net Worth and Salary
At the time of her death, Loretta Swit's net worth was estimated to be approximately $4 million. This figure includes earnings from her extensive work on MASH*, other television appearances, theater performances, product endorsements, and residual payments from syndicated reruns of her shows.
Career, Business and Investments
Swit's career spanned decades and multiple mediums:
- MAS*H: Her most iconic role was as Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan, a character she portrayed for 11 seasons.
- Theater: She performed in productions like "The Balcony," "Any Wednesday," "Same Time, Next Year," and "Mame."
- Guest Appearances: Regular guest on game shows such as "Pyramid" and "Match Game" in the 1970s.
- Endorsements: She appeared in various product endorsements, contributing to her net worth.
She graduated from Pope Pius XII High School in Passaic in 1955, where she had been a cheerleader, had taken part in theatrical productions, and was co-captain of the women's basketball team. She graduated from Katharine Gibbs School in Montclair, New Jersey, in June 1957, then was employed at a variety of clerical jobs, including as a stenographer in Bloomfield, New Jersey; personal secretary to Elsa Maxwell; secretary to the ambassador from Ghana to the United Nations; and at the American Rocket Society in New York City while being trained to dance by a classmate, Elizabeth Parent-Barber, a Rockette and student at the New York School of Ballet. During this time, she began developing her acting career.
She studied drama with Gene Frankel in Manhattan in New York City and considered him her acting coach. She regularly returned to his studio to speak with aspiring actors throughout her career. Swit was also a singer, having trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
In 1967, Swit toured with the national company of Any Wednesday, starring Gardner McKay. She continued as one of the Pigeon sisters opposite Don Rickles and Ernest Borgnine in a Los Angeles run of The Odd Couple.
Social Network
Although Swit was less active on contemporary social media platforms due to her generation and personal preferences, her legacy continues to be celebrated across various social media channels by fans and fellow actors.
Swit also guest-starred in television shows such as Bonanza; The Love Boat; Win, Lose or Draw; Password; Gunsmoke; Match Game; Pyramid; The Muppet Show; and Hollywood Squares. She also starred in Christmas programs such as the television version of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and 1987's PBS special A Christmas Calendar. In 1988, she hosted Korean War—The Untold Story, a documentary on the true events of the war, and went to South Korea to film it, becoming the first M*A*S*H cast member to actually visit the country, outside of Jamie Farr who served there in the mid-1950s while a member of the U.S. Army. In 1992, she hosted the 26-part series Those Incredible Animals on the Discovery Channel. Swit's last appearance was on GSN Live on October 10, 2008.
Education
Details about Swit's educational background are not widely documented, but her early interests in acting led her to pursue a career in the performing arts.
Overall, Loretta Swit's life and career serve as a testament to her enduring impact on the entertainment industry.
