Loretta Swit, the actress best known for playing head nurse Major “Hot Lips” Houlihan in the superlatively successful TV war comedy drama M*A*S*H has died. It ran between 1972 and 1983, and its finale drew one of the largest TV audiences of all time: 125 million people. She won two Emmys and numerous nominations in her 11 years in the series about army doctors in the Korean War, though it was regarded as an anti-establishment critique of the Vietnam War. It was a pioneering show that explored issues such as PTSD, sexism and racism.
Alan Alda also came to fame playing Captain “Hawkeye” Pierce in the drama.
She was born 4 November 1937 7.50 am Passaic, New Jersey to Polish immigrant parents, and had a 12th house Scorpio Sun and Mercury opposition Uranus; with her Scorpio Moon conjunct her Ascendant making her intense and charismatic. She had filmic Neptune in her 10th in a creative opposition to Saturn in Pisces. And an enthusiastic, high-vitality Jupiter Mars conjunction in Capricorn square Venus in Libra – not a personality to miss making an impression.
She would have a not-always-easy relationship with Aquarian Alan Alda – 28 January 1936 5.07 am New York – since his Pluto opposed her Mars but their relationship chart had a composite Sun exactly conjunct the North Node opposition Chiron square Neptune opposition Saturn – which brilliantly describes a medical drama that caught the spirit of the age and became a cultural landmark.
Launched on 17 September 1972, M*A*S*H had a health-oriented Virgo Sun Mars conjunct Pluto trine North Node and square a successful Jupiter helping it stay a family favourite for a decade plus.
I always liked Loretta Swit and she did far more than MASH. And I appreciate the photo you have accompanying your article. Loretta was an attractive woman, but you wouldn’t know that from the majority of photos I have seen over the years. As for Alan Alda, well she wouldn’t have been the only one he didn’t get along with.
I wouldnt like Loretta Swit’s death to pass by without comment
As I read the obituary above,it took me back to a much simpler time with no Netflix or ITVx etc
I remember fondly some of Margaret Houlihan’s comrades such as Colonel Potter , Hawkeye Pierce ,Trapper John , BJ Hunnicutt, Radar and many more .
RIP Loretta