The two-time Emmy winner was known for playing Major Margaret \u00ab\u00a0Hot Lips\u00a0\u00bb Houlihan on the beloved CBS series.<\/b>
\nLoretta Swit, two-time Emmy award-winner and \u201cM*A*S*H\u201d actress has died at age 87, TheWrap has learned.
Per reports, Swit died on Friday in her Manhattan home. No cause of death has been confirmed.
\u201cLoretta Swit\u2019s portrayal of Margaret \u2018Hot Lips\u2019 Houlihan was groundbreaking \u2013 bringing heart, humor, and strength to one of television comedy\u2019s most enduring roles,\u201d the National Comedy Center\u2019s executive director, Journey Gunderson, said in a statement, which TheWrap has obtained. \u201cHer talent extended well beyond that iconic character, with acclaimed work on both stage and screen that showcased her intelligence, versatility, and passion. That legacy endures through the cultural impact of \u201cMASH,\u201d which is proudly represented in the National Comedy Center.\u201d
Swit was born on Nov. 4, 1937 in Passaic, New Jersey where she attended and graduated from Pope Pius XII High School. Staying on the east coast, Swit went on to study drama with actor and theater director Gene Frankel in Manhattan. She also trained as a singer at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
She began her career on stage when she appeared in Actor\u2019s Playhouse\u2019s off-Broadway show \u201cAn Enemy of the People.\u201d And by 1960s, Swit nabbed a role in \u201cThe Balcony\u201d and toured with the national company of \u201cAny Wednesday.\u201d She went on to make her breakthrough into Broadway productions, including \u201cSame Time, Next Year,\u201d \u201cThe Mystery of Edwin Drood\u201d and \u201cMame.\u201d
In the midst of her theatrical career, she\u2019s also taken on TV work, starring in several hit series like \u201cGunsmoke\u201d and \u201cMission: Impossible.\u201d She earned her first TV credit when guest starred as Wanda Russell in \u201cHawaii Five-O.\u201d
However, she may be best known for portraying character Major Margaret \u201cHot Lips\u201d Houlihan in \u201cM*A*S*H.\u201d She starred in 240 of the 250 episodes of the comedy-drama\u2019s 11 seasons. The role earned her two Emmys for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.<\/p>\n