Icon Loretta Swit, gone at 87. Eighty-seven, wow. Knock me over with a feather. Damn, this century is a time warp.
Coincidentally, last week I realized that Loretta Swit was beautiful. Though she was the 4077th’s reigning – albeit forbidding – sex symbol, I never thought much about her appearance until I caught an old episode of “The Love Boat.” Saw her in a glamourous gown, instead of olive drab. Stunning woman.
And kind. Swit’s natural warmth even broke Houlihan’s ice on occasion – like in the season four two-parter “Comrades In Arms,” when a frightened Hot Lips and Hawkeye share a kiss. A kiss that would be repeated only once – and most memorably – in MASH’s series finale.
Loretta Swit was highly intelligent and a very good actress, a stage actress until she moved to Hollywood at age 32. But as talented as the native New Jersey gal was, Swit could never completely conceal on television – not for long – who she really was: a really nice, compassionate lady.
Goodbye, Major. You certainly served with distinction.
