Loretta Swit was born on November 4, 1937, in Passaic, New Jersey, to Polish immigrant parents who were initially opposed to her pursuing a career in show business. However, she began performing on stage at the age of 7 and never looked back.
A natural singer, Swit trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and initially struggled to find work due to her features being deemed too plain for ingénue roles. She turned to musicals and light comedy, bringing a snappy, comic edge to her characters.
Swit's breakthrough role came as the scene-stealing "Pigeon sister" in the Los Angeles production of "The Odd Couple" opposite Don Rickles and Ernest Borgnine. She later earned laughs as the awkward "Agnes Gooch" in the Las Vegas version of "Mame" starring Susan Hayward and Celeste Holm.
In 1970, Swit arrived in Hollywood and began to make a name for herself with her humorous performances on TV shows such as "Gunsmoke," "Mission: Impossible," "Hawaii Five-O," and "Mannix." Her star-making role came when she inherited Sally Kellerman's character "Hot Lips" Houlihan in the TV series version of "M*A*S*H" in 1972.
Swit stayed with "M*A*S*H" for its entire 11-season run, earning Emmy nominations every year except the first. Although her post-"M*A*S*H" career may not be as notable, she has remained active in the entertainment industry, providing colorful support in a handful of films and TV shows.
On stage, Swit made her Broadway debut in "Same Time, Next Year" opposite Ted Bessell in 1975 and later replaced Cleo Laine in the Broadway production of "The Mystery of Edwin Drood." She has also toured in productions of "The Vagina Monologues" and played the title role in "Mame" in 2003.
In addition to her acting career, Swit is a passionate animal activist and has served as a spokesperson for the Humane Society of the United States. She is also the author of a book on needlepoint, runs her own line of jewelry, and exhibits watercolor paintings.
Swit was married to actor Dennis Holahan from 1983 to 1995 and has no children. She is a strict vegetarian and has been honored for her dedication to animal welfare. Little has been seen of Swit on film and TV in recent years, as she has focused on her artistic pursuits and animal activism.
