Alan Alda Remembers Loretta Swit in Heartbreaking Tribute
Alan Alda and Loretta Swit will always be intertwined in many fans' minds because of the connection their characters shared on the hit television series M*A*S*H.
Their characters, Hawkeye Pierce and Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan, shared an iconic on-screen kiss during the show's 1983 finale.
A massive audience of nearly 106 million people viewed that 35-second kiss, which "has been called the most expensive in television history," The Hollywood Reporter noted.
Now that Swit has died at the age of 87, many fans were wondering what Alda would say. And he delivered, sharing a lengthy statement on his X page on the evening of May 30, 2025. Alda himself is 89 years old.
"Loretta was a supremely talented actor. She deserved all her 10 EMMY nominations and her 2 wins. But more than acting her part, she created it," he wrote.
"She worked hard in showing the writing staff how they could turn the character from a one-joke sexist stereotype into a real person -- with real feelings and ambitions. We celebrated the day the script came out listing her character not as Hot Lips, but as Margaret. Loretta made the most of her time here."
Loretta was a supremely talented actor. She deserved all her 10 EMMY nominations and her 2 wins. But more than acting her part, she created it. She worked hard In showing the writing staff how they could turn the character from a one joke sexist stereotype into a real person --…
— Alan Alda (@alanalda) May 30, 2025
Swit's maid found her deceased inside her New York apartment, according to TMZ. Her publicist told TMZ that she died of natural causes, but her official cause of death has not been released yet. She was pronounced dead around noon, the site reported.
Fans weighed in on Alda's comment thread. "It's because of you guys I became a nurse and learned that showing your human to your patients isn't a bad thing. Thanks, to both of you. My most sincere condolences," wrote one.
"She held her own with you guys in a time where that was not always easy. Helped create on of the greatest shows of all time. Rest in peace," another fan wrote.