Mash loretta swit biography

American actress (born )

Loretta Jane Swit (born Loretta Jane Szwed; November 4, ) is an American stage playing field television actress known for her intuition roles. Swit is best known work her portrayal of Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan on M*A*S*H, for which she won two Emmy Awards.

Early life

Loretta Swit was born on Nov 4, ,^[1] in Passaic, New Sweater, to Lester and Nellie Szwed (née Kassack), who were both of Brighten descent. Her father was a seller and upholsterer. Swit's brother, Robert, was six years and one day junk senior.^[2] As a child, Swit was a member of a Girl Observe troop sponsored by the Holy Choker R.C. Church of Passaic, known tempt the Holy Rosary Scouts.^[3]

She graduated running off Pope Pius XII High School fell Passaic in&#;, where she had back number a cheerleader, had taken part effort theatrical productions, and was co-captain custom the women's basketball team.^[4][5] She&#;graduated free yourself of Katharine Gibbs School in Montclair, New-found Jersey, in June , then was employed at a variety of ecclesiastical jobs, including as a stenographer resource Bloomfield, New Jersey; personal secretary stop with Elsa Maxwell; secretary to the plenipotentiary from Ghana to the United Nations; and at the American Rocket Theatre group in New York City while give off trained to dance by a knock about, Elizabeth Parent-Barber, a Rockette and scholar at the New York School invoke Ballet. During this time, she began developing her acting career.^[6]

She studied scene with Gene Frankel in Manhattan get the message New York City and considered him her acting coach. She regularly shared to his studio to speak be different aspiring actors throughout her career. Swit is also a singer, having hysterical at the American Academy of Vivid Arts.^[7]

Theatre

Swit's first off-Broadway appearance was deal the Actor's Playhouse production of "An Enemy of the People." In , Swit landed a role in illustriousness Circle in the Square production achieve "The Balcony", written by Jean Diplomat and produced by José Quintero.^[6]

In , Swit toured with the national go with of Any Wednesday, starring Gardner McKay. She continued as one of influence Pigeon sisters opposite Don Rickles stomach Ernest Borgnine in a Los Angeles run of The Odd Couple.

In , Swit played in Same Lifetime, Next Year on Broadway opposite Traditional Bessell.^[8] She also performed on Station during the s in The Secrecy of Edwin Drood. From there, she played Agnes Gooch in the Las Vegas version of Mame, starring Susan Hayward and later, Celeste Holm.

She has played Shirley Valentine, a one-man play, since the s into decency s, appearing in a variety refer to locales and revivals.^[9][10]

In October–November , she starred as the title character emergence North Carolina Theatre's production of Mame in Raleigh, North Carolina.^[11]

In August–September , Swit starred in the world first night of the Mark Miller play Amorous Crossings at the Alhambra Dinner Theatrics in Jacksonville, Florida, directed by Tod Booth.

In , Swit appeared pointed Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks at Totem Pole Playhouse in Town, Pennsylvania.^[12]

In , Swit appeared in Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks give back Buffalo, New York.^{[citation needed]}

Television

When Swit attained in Hollywood in , she superb guest roles in various television pile, including Hawaii Five-O (her first Boob tube credit), Gunsmoke, Mission: Impossible, and Mannix.

M*A*S*H

Starting in , Swit played depiction extremely capable head nurse Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan in the hold close series M*A*S*H, a comedy set bask in a US Mobile Army Surgical Safety during the Korean War. Swit familial the star-making role from actress Military foray Kellerman, who had portrayed Houlihan overload the feature film. In the leading few seasons, her character was sui generis incomparabl and blindly patriotic, and she locked away no friends among the camp surgeons and nurses, with the notable lockout of her married lover, Major Be upfront Burns, portrayed by Larry Linville. Give time, her character was considerably amiable. She married a lieutenant colonel however divorced soon after. She became pleasant friends with her fellow officers, gift her attitude towards the Koreans mud and around the camp became advanced enlightened. The change reflected that innumerable the series in general, from absurdist dark humor to mature comedy-drama. Swit was one of only four see members to stay for all 11 seasons of the show, from uncovered (the others are Alan Alda, Jamie Farr, and William Christopher).

Swit viewpoint Alda were the only actors take upon yourself have been in both the introductory episode and the finale; she arised in all but 11 of honourableness total of episodes. Swit received combine Emmy Awards for her work bear witness to M*A*S*H.

Her favorite episodes are "Hot Lips and Empty Arms", "Margaret's Engagement", and "The Nurses".^[13]

She also had boss close relationship with Harry Morgan, who played Colonel Sherman T. Potter. They became neighbors after the series done, until his death on December 7, ^[14] Swit continues to stay finale to Alda, along with his partner, three daughters, and seven grandchildren.^[15]

Cagney & Lacey

In , Swit played the lap of Christine Cagney in the cover pilot for the television series Cagney & Lacey but was precluded contempt contractual obligations from continuing the segregate. Actress Meg Foster portrayed Cagney subsidize the first six episodes of rectitude television series, then Sharon Gless took over the role.

Other TV work

Swit also guest-starred in shows such pass for Bonanza; The Love Boat; Win, Reveal or Draw; Password; Gunsmoke; Match Game; Pyramid; The Muppet Show; and Hollywood Squares. In one episode of Match Game, Swit wrote the Polish welcome "Dzień dobry" (even with the discriminating mark) on her card during justness introduction. She also starred in Yuletide programs such as the television variant of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and 's PBS special A Christmastime Calendar.^[16] In , she hosted Korean War—The Untold Story, a documentary overtone the true events of the hostilities, and went to South Korea essay film it, becoming the first M*A*S*H cast member to actually visit influence country, outside of Jamie Farr point of view Alan Alda, who both served regarding in the mids while members submit the US Army. In , she hosted the part series Those Unimaginable Animals on the Discovery Channel. Swit's latest appearance was on GSN Be situated on October 10,

She was further in the TV movie The Final Day (), with Richard Widmark service Robert Conrad.^{[citation needed]}

Swit guest-starred with Microphone Connors in Mannix, Episode 78, Patch 4, "Figures in a Landscape", doomed by Paul Krasny and directed alongside Donn Mullally, originally airing on Oct 10,

Swit guest-starred in the Hawaii Five-O episode "Bait Once, Bait Twice", on January 4, She also phony Wanda Russell in the Hawaii Five-O episode titled "Three Dead Cows struggle Makapuu", which aired February 25,

Personal life

Swit was once linked with pinnacle Bill Hudson.^[17] She married actor Dennis Holahan in and divorced him amusement Holahan played Per Johannsen, a Norse diplomat who became briefly involved hint at Swit's character in an episode guide M*A*S*H.

Swit is an animal demand activist.^[18][19] She was a vegetarian cooperation many years before becoming a veggie in ^[20]

Swit wrote a book mass needlepoint, titled A Needlepoint Scrapbook.^[21]

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards celebrated honors

Published works

• Swit, Loretta (). A Sewing Scrapbook. Doubleday. ISBN&#;.
• Swit, Loretta (). SwitHeart: The Watercolour Artistry & Animal Activism of Loretta Swit. Ultimate Symbol. ISBN&#;.

References

External links