M*A*S*H* ran for 11 seasons, with Swit appearing in all of them. As the series' only main female lead, she left a strong impression and is ed fondly.

According to BBC, Swit's representative confirmed her death, and a coroner's report is allegedly forthcoming. The Hollywood Reporter notes that Swit was found in her home in New York not long after midnight, and that she is suspected to have died of natural causes. Swit leaves behind a lasting legacy both on- and off-screen, with her involvement in 240 episodes of M*A*S*H* being among her most noteworthy accomplishments.

Loretta Swit Left A Lasting Legacy Both On- And Off-Screen

She Appeared In Other Shows & Films And Advocated For Animal Rights

M*A*S*H* was among the highlights of Swit's career, and it's the role she is most lauded for. The actress didn't just win two Emmys for her performance as Major Margaret Houlihan; she was also repeatedly nominated for the show and received four Golden Globes nominations, a clear sign of her talent. Margaret went through an impressive amount of growth over the course of M*A*S*H*'s run, and she proved an irable and resilient female character, especially for the show's time. Although there were questions about whether M*A*S*H* got Margaret's ending right, her journey was immensely satisfying.

Swit's M*A*S*H* co-star, Alan Alda, certainly agreed, attributing the character's popularity to her performance. Alda noted that she gained respect for Margaret over time, telling the Archive of American Television (via YouTube):

"Loretta's a wonderful person who has - she really was responsible for her character's growing. The character was known originally as 'Hot Lips' and I think in the scripts continued to be called 'Hot Lips,' but was called Margaret by the characters after the first couple of years because she wasn't a one-joke character anymore because Loretta insisted on people, on writers, finding out who this person was."

Of course, Swit boasted many other accolades on-screen, appearing in a number of films and series, both before and after M*A*S*H*. Among the highlights of her filmography are 1974's Freebie and the Bean, 1975's Race With the Devil, 1981's S.O.B., and 1998's BoardHeads. Swit also made an impact off-screen as an animal rights activist, founding the SwitHeart Animal Alliance.

Tributes For Loretta Swit Are Pouring In

How Her M*A*S*H* Co-Stars And Others Are Honoring Her

On the heels of Swit's death, tributes are coming in from her former M*A*S*H* co-stars, fans, and other celebrities, honoring her and her work. Captain B.J. Hunnicutt actor Mike Farrell took to Instagram to bid her farewell, writing simply, "Loretta… 1937-2025." His comments were flooded with fans expressing their own sadness over her ing, something many on X are doing as well. It's clear Swit's career resonated with people, and that she won't soon be forgotten.

Source: BBC, The Hollywood Reporter, YouTube