Loretta Swit was born November 4, 1937 in Passaic, New Jersey. In 1967, she started touring with Any Wednesday and has been involved with theater throughout her life.

Swit arrived in Hollywood in 1970 and appeared in various television programs including Gunsmoke and Mannix. In 1972, she was offered the role of Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan. She and Alan Alda were the only two characters who were in the pilot and the finale. She stayed for all 11 seasons. She won two Emmy awards for her work.

In 1981, Swit was cast as Cagney in the movie pilot for the television series Cagney & Lacey, but she was still under contract to M*A*S*H and could not continue the role. She has also been guest on many television series and game shows. In 1989, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Swit continues to be busy with her jewelry and art work and is an animal rights activist. She must be taking her nutritional supplements because she still looks great! She was married once to Dennis Holahan (1983-1995). He played a love interest of Hot Lips on M*A*S*H for one episode. She has no children.