Loretta Swit
Actor
Loretta Swit began her career in live theater and then began making TV guest appearances in 1969. In 1972 she landed the full-time role of Major Margaret 'Hot Lips' Houlihan on the TV series M*A*S*H. The show became such a smash hit that (like fellow actors Gary 'Radar' Burghoff and Larry 'Major Burns' Linville) Swit remains permanently identified with her character, the uptight-yet-sexy nurse Houlihan. Swit later hosted the show Those Incredible Animals on TV's The Discovery Channel.Extra credit: Swit was the original Cagney in the 1981 movie pilot for the TV series Cagney and Lacey... Other M*A*S*H stars included Alan Alda and McLean Stevenson.
Others who have played nurses on TV include Dana Delany (on China Beach) and Julianna Margulies and Linda Cardellini (both on E.R.).
Four Good Links
Loretta Swit Filmography
From the Internet Movie Database
Margaret Houlihan
Details on Swit and her character from a fine M*A*S*H fan page
Loretta Swit Interview
A nursing magazine talks to Swit about M*A*S*H
Finest Kind
Another M*A*S*H fan site, with various historical tidbits
