Actress Loretta Swit shot to fame with her breakout performance as fiery nurse Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Holihan on the TV series “M*A*S*H,” where she also met her true love, “Diagnosis: Murder.”
Now happily divorced, she looks amazing for an 85-year-old man. She loves rescuing animals and is an amazing fur mom even though she has never had children.
Actress Loretta Swit (from “The First Affair”) was born on November 4, 1937, and began acting at the age of seven. Her parents, who were immigrants from Poland, strongly discouraged her dream of becoming a showbiz star and opposed her attempt to do so.
But Swit, a singer at heart, was determined to turn her passion into a career and nothing, not even her worried parents, could stand in her way.
The actress began her career in repertory ensembles after graduating from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Unfortunately, they thought that her features were too harsh and uninteresting for the roles of naive young women.
She then focused on light humor and musicals, showing her fans a sharp comedic touch that served as the cornerstone of her long career in comedy and film. In 1961, the actress was cast in the production “The Balcony”.
She moved to Hollywood in the early 1970s and brought humor and exceptional performances to series including “Mannix,” “Hawaii Five-O,” “Mission: Impossible” and “Gunsmoke.”
She finally got her breakthrough role as the aristocratic head nurse Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan in the TV series adaptation of “M*A*S*H.” For 10 of the eleven seasons the show ran, the character earned her an Emmy nomination.
The actress fondly remembers those days and says that the performance was nothing short of spectacular.
She had her pros and cons as she almost left after the fourth season due to the feeling that her character had stalled. Finding Dennis Holahan, her one true love, was her greatest lesson.
Holahan’s role as Margaret’s love interest, Swedish Ambassador Per Johannsen, brought him and Swit together on the show.
Swit felt she was done with the show before its tenth season aired and even considered leaving. But something told her to hold on. Unbeknownst to her at the time, the “Love, American Style” actress was about to meet her true love and the man she would spend the next twelve years with.
She was recording an episode of “U.N., the Night and the Music” when Dennis Holahan, a guest star, appeared. Swit admitted that she knew Holahan was her soul mate from the moment they came across their first scene together:
Sometimes I wanted to walk away from ‘M*A*S*H’ and pursue other interests. When I first met Dennis, I thought, “That’s why I’m still here.”
Swit remembers falling in love at first sight when Holahan walks into the room and acts like a child, unexpectedly bumping into the furniture. It was then that she realized she could happily spend the rest of her days with him.
She went into detail about her passionate feelings for the man, claiming that just as Margaret, her fictional character, had fallen madly in love with Holahan, the same was happening.
Swit, who had never considered marriage before, found the scenario very confusing. It was never her intention to find love. However, Margaret’s goal was to get married and start a family.
She was surprised to realize that she was in love with her character. “Maybe it’s the ideal approach to discovering someone special when love is the furthest thing from your thoughts,” she noted, fully aware of the realization at work.
Still, Holahan was equally surprised at how quickly he fell for Swit, and the feelings were mutual. He recalls the first morning they shot the romantic scene, noting that he had never experienced anything like it before:
It was so magical and organic. It was like real people falling in love, not just fictional characters.”
Both were very confused at first, and Holahan was initially worried that because of how well-behaved they were, others would immediately believe that they had fallen in love. But as the days passed, their feelings grew stronger and their original love persisted.
They became inseparable very quickly and both found it unbearable to be away for a while when life intervened. Even though Holahan was in the next room, Swit acknowledged that she would still miss him.
Their marriage was perfect for the first few years after they got married in 1983.
But in 1989, their romance collapsed and they decided to divorce. According to reports, the cause of their breakup was Holahan’s jealousy of Swit’s success.
Holahan demanded half of Swit’s earnings in the divorce papers. In addition, he demanded at least $8,000 a month to maintain the standard of living he was accustomed to as her husband.
They eventually separated in 1995 and Swit never married again. But she claims that after marrying Holahan, she finally understood why people got married.
Even though it didn’t work out in the end, she understood the idea of ​​marriage—the idea of ​​someone wanting to spend their whole life by someone else’s side.
“It was the concept of living very happily with your partner for the rest of your life in a relationship that would always be fresh and challenging and interesting and… amazing!”
Life after M*A*S*H and an inside look at her former hideout Swit’s time on “M*A*S*H” was incredible.
The cast formed lasting relationships and the sitcom was adored by fans and cast members alike, but Swit experienced a major shift in her life as a result of the show. First of all, it was her breakthrough performance that made her incredibly famous.
Second, she got married there and fell in love with her soul mate. All things come to an end, however, and the show’s 11-season run ended in 1983.
After the performance, Swit did not put on her actor’s coat; instead, she played several different characters. These included Cora Lynne in “The Big Battalions”, Jane Short in “A Matter of Principle”, Kathy Ross in the romantic comedy “The Love Boat” Connie Stewart in “Hell Hath No Fury” and many others.
Actress Loretta Swit attends the 23rd Annual International Emmy Awards on November 20, 1995 at the New York Hilton Hotel in New York City, New York. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Not long after the show ended, Swit was eager to talk about everything in her life. But as she did more interviews, she became less talkative, sending out a list of questions she wanted to ask whenever she was scheduled for an interview.
In 1995, she stopped doing interviews and refused to talk about any aspect of her personal life, saying she was being mistreated by the media. Because of this, much of her personal life remained under wraps in the years following her election.
But what is still evident is that the actress was unmarried for the previous 28 years and never married again. When she wasn’t filming, she spent a lot of time at her former hideaway in Hollywood Hills West.
With its huge ivy-covered brick wall and double entrance leading to the grand house below, the French-inspired Hue De Olive mansion on the desirable St. Ives Drive in Los Angeles became Swit’s haven.
The property included more than 4,000 square feet of interior space with a gym, office, study, library, dining room, fireplace, and beamed ceilings, in addition to three bedrooms and four bathrooms.
The outdoor area, surrounded by trees and plants, had a spa, a pool, a waterfall, a gazebo, and numerous terraces. In 1987, she sold the secluded residence to producer and filmmaker Alan Parker for $840,000.
The “14 Going On 30” actress continues to inspire people with her glamor and even at 85, her admirers agree that she still looks youthful.
Fans flooded her comments section after she shared a picture of her wearing a gorgeous summer dress with flowers and dark sunglasses. She was praised for maintaining her beauty over the years and for having a very kind heart.
As user @pilebuck99 noted, Swit hasn’t changed in all these years and has gotten better over time.
As @Schoenbornrob said:
“You don’t look a day older. Oh no! Summer when everything is easier.”
Mr. Crossman 2 used a love heart emoji to emphasize his remarks about how amazing and gorgeous she was.
Originally described as a 5-foot-5, 117-pound ash blonde with green eyes, Swit has maintained her beauty and continues to captivate many with her 85-year-old looks.
Swit now rescues animals in need Even though Swit made a conscious decision not to have children, she is still very loving towards the animals she has rescued. She rode in a stroller as a toddler and her love for animals developed quite naturally.
The “Hollywood Squares” actress says her parents told them about how happy she used to be when she saw a dog and how she would always yell, “Dog, dog, dog.”
To say the least, she was concerned that her parents were adamant about not allowing any animals into their home. She was unable to understand their attitude, given the immense love animals showed for humanity.
While working on an episode of “M*A*S*H” where Sister Margaret feared she was pregnant, she fell in love with animals all over again. According to the script, the only way to find out if she was pregnant was to have the doctor do a pregnancy test on a rabbit’s ovaries.
Swit kept the small memento she had of the incident, a pewter rabbit, which inspired her to start collecting silver and pewter rabbits. She revealed:
“I got a tin rabbit from a woman whose idea was that Margaret thought she was pregnant, and the only rabbit available for the test was Radar’s pet.
She also showed her love for animals in the sixth season of the show, when she took care of a camp stray dog. Her passion for animals has not diminished even though it was a long time ago.
The “Burke’s Law” actor is now an avid animal activist and the creator of the Sweetheart Animal Alliance, an organization that works to protect the animal environment, provide care, protection, rescue, and training for animals, as well as raise public awareness of these issues. Related to cruelty and cruelty to animals.
She paints using her artistic talent and sells her creations to raise money for her non-profit organization. However, she went one step further and currently helps with the return of dogs from Afghanistan to their original handlers through her association. It also helps match them with veterans who need pets for companionship.
He works to speed up and simplify the process because he understands how stressful and traumatic it can be for veterans to wait months to be reunited with their battle dogs. She mentioned:
“We hope this is a situation we can change and our campaign is dedicated to making that happen.”
She feels it is her responsibility to educate people about animal care because she believes that ignorance and lack of understanding lead to animal cruelty.
She became a fur parent because of her love for animals. At home, she keeps several pets, such as Munchkin, a small Yorkie, and Sahara, a Siamese mix.
The “Play the Flute” actress is adored and admired by her dogs, who have a wonderful relationship with her. So what is the best? She believes she has created a snack. She revealed:
“They adore us. Let’s return the favor by giving them unwavering care.”
It’s horrible to learn that 80 animals have to die for each fur coat, as Swit revealed. As part of her efforts to save animals, she advises anyone willing to listen to switch to faux fur jackets, which are as fashionable and comfortable as they are to prevent needless deaths and animal cruelty.
In short, Loretta Swit’s journey from her breakout role on “M*A*S*H” to her current position as a prominent animal rights advocate is inspiring and multi-faceted. Her early career struggles and eventual success in television marked a significant shift in her life and revealed her resilience and passion for her craft. The end of her marriage to Dennis Holahan, despite the emotional impact, gave her a deeper understanding of the commitment and nature of marriage.
Post-“M*A*S*H,” Swit transitioned into various acting roles while maintaining her privacy, reflecting a desire for a low-key life away from the spotlight. Her former home in Hollywood Hills West symbolizes a chapter of peace and personal space, from which she has since moved.
Today, at the age of 85, Swit remains a living figure who continues to captivate audiences with her timeless beauty and spirit. Her commitment to animal welfare through Sweetheart Animal Alliance demonstrates her enduring compassion and determination to make a difference. By advocating for animal rights and working to reunite dogs with veterans, Swit is an example of how personal passions can lead to meaningful change.
Her continued work and love for animals demonstrate a lifelong dedication to kindness and advocacy, making her a respected figure in the entertainment industry and beyond. As she continues to age gracefully, Swit’s legacy is enriched by her contributions to art and animal welfare, leaving a lasting impact on those she touches.