Loretta Swit Turned "Hot Lips" Houlihan into a Well-Rounded Character

 

Actress Loretta Swit, best known for her portrayal of Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan on M*A*S*H, passed away on Friday at the age of 87. 

While long retired from acting, Swit was fairly active on social media. Last month, she paid tribute to one time M*A*S*H co-star Patrick Adiarte following his death. Adiarte appeared as Ho-Jon during the show's first season. Only last week, she wished Gary Burghoff (who played Radar O'Reilly) a happy birthday. With Swit's passing, Burghoff, Alan Alda, Mike Farrell and Jamie Farr are the last surviving cast members of M*A*S*H. 

In her early years as Major Houlihan, Swit's portrayal of her was that of a manipulative, unsympathetic antagonistic figure. But as the show evolved, her portrayal became gradually more compassionate, nuanced and well-rounded while retaining some of her antagonistic disposition. This became apparent with her interactions when Colonel Potter (Harry Morgan) replaced Lt. Colonel Blake (McLean Stevenson). While Major Houlihan tried to undermine Blake at every possible turn, Potter became something of a father figure

However Swit presented Major Houlihan, she was the female center of arguably the most important American TV show of the 20th Century and more than held her own with the boys. R.I.P.