Emmy award-winning M*A*S*H star Loretta Swit dead at 87

M*A*S*H star Loretta Swit was found dead inside her apartment by her maid on Friday, according to her publicist.

Beloved Emmy award-winning actress and star of M*A*S*H, Loretta Swit, has died at the age of 87.

Swit played Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan on the long-running sitcom in over 240 episodes, reports The Sun.

Swit found fame on M*A*S*H. Picture: CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images

Swit was found dead inside her apartment in New York City at around 10am on Friday morning by her maid, according to the actress’ publicist, Harlan Boll.

Her cause of death is yet to be confirmed, but Boll says cops believe she died from natural causes.

Swit passed away at the age of 87. Picture: AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File

Swit was a 10-time Emmy nominee who ended up winning the prestigious TV award twice.

Both wins came during her 11-year stint on M*A*S*H where she featured in 241 episodes.

Born in New Jersey to Polish parents, Swit first performed on stage at the age of seven.

She played Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan on the long-running sitcom.

Her breakthrough year in the acting world came in 1970 when she landed three roles in popular shows Gunsmoke, Mission: Impossible and Mannix.

Swit also appeared in four episodes of Hawaii Five-O in numerous roles.

During the early ‘70s, Swit also started to act in films such as Race with the Devil and Deadhead Miles.

In 1972, Swit shot to fame as she started her career on M*A*S*H.

She featured in almost every episode of the show which went on to win 64 awards during its time on air.

Just before the new millennium, Swit took a break from acting.

But in 2019 – after a 21-year absence – she returned to the movie screen to star in the religious film Play the Flute.

She was also a trained singer at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Swit was once married to actor and M*A*S*H co-star Dennis Holahan but the pair divorced after 12 years together.

After retiring from the screen for a second time, Swit went on to become a key animal activist, author, painter and ran her own line of jewellery.

Just last month, fellow M*A*S*H star Patrick Adiarte also died after a 70-year career.

ppeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as Emmy award-winning M*A*S*H star Loretta Swit dead at 87