Loretta "Hot Lips Hollihan" Swit

[The Last Standing Knight]

Left us at 87 of natural causes.
While her role on MASH is one she is remembered for most, I remember that she went from being a villain to a hero during the run of the series.

 

[grover99]

well darn I always liked her. RIP

 

[mckenney99]

While I wasn't an avid fan, she did make the role her own. May She Rest In Peace.

 

[DWalt]

She may have appeared in other roles than hotlips in the TV series, but I don’t remember her in any. Sally Kellerman was the movie hotlips. I don’t remember ever seeing her in any other role either.

 

[lihpster]

She may have appeared in other roles than hotlips in the TV series, but I don’t remember her in any.

This. It always puzzled me. In the series, they wrote her character as either a strident female canine or a cartoonish cheating wife with that buffoon, Frank Burns. But when she was allowed to show emotion and actually care for her patients, I thought she was quite good.
R.I.P. Hotlips, and thanks for the memories.

 

[James K]

Article I read said she also appeared on Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Hawaii 5-0, Mannix and Mission Impossible. Also did a lot of theater and stage.

 

[tlawler]

R.I.P. Hot Lips!

 

[timjake]

Variety (dot) com obit:

Loretta Swit, ‘Hot Lips’ Houlihan on ‘MASH,’ Dies at 87

Loretta Swit, who played Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan on seminal TV comedy "MASH," died Friday at her home in New York City. She was 87.

variety.com

 

[mike4sigs]

may she R.I.P.

 

[Rudi]

She had an extensive career in film and TV. I loved her in M*A*S*H. A tough and yet tender character in a man's army. RIP Margeret.

 

[pharmer]

Her mom lived downstairs from my girlfriend at the time (early 70's) back in NJ. Every once in awhile a stretch limo would pull up to pick up mom for a night on the town. No, we weren't invited. Over 50 years ago, man time passes. RIP.

 

[Jim PHL]

Sally Kellerman was the movie hotlips. I don’t remember ever seeing her in any other role either.

She was good in “Back to School” too with Rodney. One of my wife’s favorite movies.


Most of the tv cast were pretty good reflections of the characters portrayed by the movie cast, with the exception of Frank Burns. Robert Duvall’s version was very different from Larry Linville’s. Both were great, I think, and their portrayals seem to come from the same backstory, they just presented very differently. (As necessary in a weekly series vs a movie.)

I agree with previous posters who mention LS’s Margaret progressing as a character. Most of the other characters were the same character for their character’s run. (Alan Alda was pretty much the same “Hawkeye” for the whole run.)
If MASH is what she’s only/mostly remembered for, she could do worse.
R.I.P. Hot Lips

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

I met her once at a jewelry show…she was selling her own line of jewelry. She was actually a very tiny woman…hard to tell that on the tv screen.

May she rest in piece.

 

[toddimusnimski]

In Season 5, Episode 5 (The Nurses) this scene always makes me tear up:

• Margaret: [chastising the nurses, as she holds back tears] Did you ever show me any kind of friendship? Ask my help with a personal problem? Include me in one of your little bull sessions? Can you imagine what it feels like to walk by this tent and hear you laughing and know... I'm not welcome? Did you ever once ever offer me a lousy cup of coffee?
• Nurse: [Stunned at this show of emotion] We didn't think you'd accept.
• Margaret: Well, you were wrong

A great actress. She will be missed.

Todd

 

[ordnanceguy]

 

[Golddollar]

Sally Kellerman was the movie hotlips. I don’t remember ever seeing her in any other role either.

I remembered Sally Kellerman in the original series of Star Trek. She was in the 3rd episode of the first season "Where No Man Has Gone Before."

 

[pasound]

R.I.P. Loretta Swit. She expanded her character so well over her years on M.A.S.H.

 

[oldbrownhat]

Variety (dot) com obit:

Loretta Swit, ‘Hot Lips’ Houlihan on ‘MASH,’ Dies at 87

Loretta Swit, who played Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan on seminal TV comedy "MASH," died Friday at her home in New York City. She was 87.

variety.com

Interesting name coincidence from that Variety obit: (Hot Lips Houlihan)_..."was married to actor Dennis Holahan from 1983 until their divorce in 1995."

 

[Golddollar]

How did Klinger get three stripes? I thought he was a Corporal.

 

[toddimusnimski]

How did Klinger get three stripes? I thought he was a Corporal.

He got his E5 in Season 10, Episode 17 (Promotion Commotion). That one also had John Matuszak, former NFL player who also played Sloth on "The Goonies", plus other roles.

Todd