Loretta Jane Swit (born November , ) is an American stage and
television actress known for her character roles. Swit is best known
for her portrayal of Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan on M*A*S*H,
for which she won two Emmy Awards.Born in Passaic, New Jersey, of
Polish descent, Swit's parents were Lester and Nellie Åšwit. She
graduated from Pope Pius XII High School in Passaic in . In , she
graduated from Katharine Gibbs School in Montclair in June, then was
employed as a stenographer in Bloomfield. She studied drama with Gene
Frankel in Manhattan in New York City and considered him her acting
coach. She regularly returned to his studio to speak with aspiring
actors throughout her career. Swit is also a singer, having trained at
the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.In , Swit toured with the
national company of Any Wednesday, starring Gardner McKay. She
continued as one of the Pigeon sisters opposite Don Rickles and Ernest
Borgnine in a Los Angeles run of The Odd Couple.In , Swit played in
Same Time, Next Year on Broadway opposite Ted Bessell. She also
performed on Broadway in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. From there, she
played Agnes Gooch in the Las Vegas version of Mame, starring Susan
Hayward and later, Celeste Holm. Most recently, Swit has toured with
The Vagina Monologues.
television actress known for her character roles. Swit is best known
for her portrayal of Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan on M*A*S*H,
for which she won two Emmy Awards.Born in Passaic, New Jersey, of
Polish descent, Swit's parents were Lester and Nellie Åšwit. She
graduated from Pope Pius XII High School in Passaic in . In , she
graduated from Katharine Gibbs School in Montclair in June, then was
employed as a stenographer in Bloomfield. She studied drama with Gene
Frankel in Manhattan in New York City and considered him her acting
coach. She regularly returned to his studio to speak with aspiring
actors throughout her career. Swit is also a singer, having trained at
the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.In , Swit toured with the
national company of Any Wednesday, starring Gardner McKay. She
continued as one of the Pigeon sisters opposite Don Rickles and Ernest
Borgnine in a Los Angeles run of The Odd Couple.In , Swit played in
Same Time, Next Year on Broadway opposite Ted Bessell. She also
performed on Broadway in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. From there, she
played Agnes Gooch in the Las Vegas version of Mame, starring Susan
Hayward and later, Celeste Holm. Most recently, Swit has toured with
The Vagina Monologues.
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