|
 
BORN: Loretta Jane Szwed on Nov 4th, 1937 in
Passaic, New Jersey
DECEASED: Police report claims time death as 12:01pm (EST), May 30th, 2025, at
home in New York City, NY at the age of 87 with suspected cause of death
to be natural causes (awaiting coroners final results)
We are so saddened to hear about the unexpected passing of our friend and
long-time Board member of Actors and Others for Animals. She attended this
month's meeting and was enthusiastically particitating. We will all
miss her joyous presence. Loretta dedicated her life to improving the
lives of all animals.
—JoAnne Worley (Laugh-In/President of Actors and Others
for animals)
I dearly loved Loretta! She was my adopted sister. As close as family
can get. From the first time I met her, on what was supposed to be a one day
appearance on M.A.S.H., we embraced each other and that became a lifetime
friendship. I cant begin to expresss how much she will be missed.
—Jamie Farr (Corp Klinger/M.A.S.H)
Loretta and I first met when we worked on the film, STAND
UP AND BE COUNTED. She kind, helpful and welcoming, beautiful and talented. In
the following years, she always kept those same traits, as is proven by her
devotion to animals, and by being a true friend to those of us who were very
fortunate to know her. Loretta had a big heart and she will be terribly missed.
—Lee Purcell (2x Emmy Nominee)
Few actresses captured the imagination of generations of television viewers
with the certainty and charm of Loretta Swit. As the
quick-witted, impassioned Major Margaret Houlihan of television's
most honored series, M*A*S*H, Ms. Swit became an American
icon. And with its popularity now in worldwide
syndication, new fans continue to enjoy her lavish portrayal of the
sensuous, sensitive, comedic Major Houlihan.
Ms. Swit has been honored with such recognition as the People's Choice
Award, The Genie Award, The Silver Satellite Award, The Jean Golden
Halo Award, the Pacific Broadcasters Award, and two
Emmy Awards. With ten Emmy nominations and four
nominations for the Golden Globe, she most recently has received her
third Career Achievement Award.
She has been teamed with some of the most memorable names in the world of
entertainment. She made her Broadway debut in Same
Time, Next Year opposite Ted Bessell and toured with two
illustrious “Mames,” Susan Hayward and Celeste Holm, playing the
title role of Mame herself years later in New York and Pennsylvania.
She has appeared in over 1,200 performances of Shirley
Valentine - a role for which she won Chicago's most prestigious
theatrical honor, the Sarah Siddons Award.
In 2010 she revisited Shirley Valentine in Canada for a highly
successful 3-month engagement. Ms. Swit toured in the musical
spoof, Song of Singapore, while continuing to perform select
dates of Love Letters with Anthony Franciosa. She appeared
in The Vagina Monologues in New York, Chicago, and the
West End in London. Her television career boasts over 25
movies, including the original Cagney and Lacey, in which she
created the role of Chris Cagney (obligations to M*A
*S*H prevented her from shooting the series).
A few other films include Games Mother Never Taught You with Sam
Waterston, Hell Hath No Fury with Barbara Eden, The
Execution with Rip Torn, Dreams of Gold with
Cliff Robertson, and A Killer Among Friends with Patty
Duke. Ms. Swit has sung and danced her way through most of television's musical
specials, including alongside Bob Hope and perhaps most
notably The Muppet Show with Kermit and Miss Piggy, and the
Broadway musical It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman.
Every year she could be seen in the annual specials, The Best
Christmas Pageant Ever, Miracle at Moreaux, and A Christmas
Calendar, aired worldwide during the holidays. Her dynamic acting
range has placed her in some heady company on the big screen as well.
Ms. Swit has starred in such films as Stand Up and Be Counted with
Jacqueline Bisset, Freebie and the Bean with James Caan and
Alan Arkin, Race With the Devil with Peter
Fonda, Beer opposite Rip Torn, S.O.B. with Julie Andrews
and William Holden, Whoops Apocalypse with Peter Cook and
Herbert Lom, Forrest Warrior with Chuck Norris,
and BoardHeads with Bronson Pinchot.
Regionally she has appeared in The Apple
Tree, Doubt, Equus, Murder Among Friends, Barefoot in
the Park, Driving Miss Daisy, Mame, and The Best Little
Whorehouse in Texas. Ms. Swit's wildlife series, Those Incredible
Animals, was shown twice weekly on the Discovery Channel for an
amazing five-year run, as well as being aired in over 30 countries.
Most recently, Ms. Swit appeared across the country in two separate
productions: the contemporary comedy Six Dance Lessons
in Six Weeks, and Me & Jezebel, a comedy about Bette
Davis.
Loretta was as impassioned about animals as she is about the
Arts. Loretta Swit set up the SwitHeart Animal Alliance to
prevent cruelty and end animal suffering, to promote and cooperate with
numerous nonprofit organizations and programs that protect, rescue,
train, and care for animals and preserve their habitat, while raising
public awareness about issues that concern domestic, farm, exotic, wild,
and native animals and their well being. Among her numerous
efforts to raise money for animal causes, Loretta created her critically
acclaimed art book, SwitHeart, which included 65 full-color paintings
and drawings by Loretta herself, which has raised money for numerous
animal causes. In addition, Loretta Swit was thrilled and proud of
the response to her new fragrance, called SwitHeart (https://youtu.be/Bb5-2DJSqoQ), in
its trademark heart-shaped bottle, with her very own blend of orange
flower, jasmine, sandalwood, musk, patchouli and vanilla.
Exclusively for SwitHeart Animal Alliance donors, SwitHeart perfume
is not available in stores and all proceeds go to the nonprofit SwitHeart
Animal Alliance nonprofit! Ms Swit was currenty touring the
country at accessory shows, unveiling her latest creation, a necklace
- Swinging and a sparkle from a GOLD chain is a loving heart featuring a
selected birthstone of Topaz, Emeralds, Rubies, Diamonds (https://youtu.be/vK16btl6us4) and more.
As with the perfume and book, again, with all proceeds go to SwitHeart.org.
For her ceaseless humanitarian
efforts, Ms. Swit had earned the respect of both the general public
and the philanthropic world including such awards as: Woman of the
Year by both the Animal Protection Institute and the International Fund
For Animal Welfare (IFAW); The Advocate for Farm Animals Award, 2007
(The Farm Sanctuary); Compassion in Action Award (Ayla’s Acres);
Westminster Animal Welfare & Leadership Award; International Red
Cross Humanitarian Award, 2016; Global Wildlife Conservation Champion
Award, 2016 (GES Africa Conservation Fund); and The Betty White
Award, 2016 (Actors and Others for Animals). Her
book, ‘SwitHeart: The Watercolour Artistry & Animal Activism
of Loretta Swit’, a chronicle of her work as an artist and activist,
was be published on January 1, 2017 by Ultimate Symbol, NY, with a
second version currently set for release. Ms Swit’s Uniform and dog-tags
as Major Margaret Houlihan from M*A*S*H, was donated to and is currently
on display at the Hollywood Museum.
Ms. Swit's website (www.SwitHeart.com)
will bring you into her world of Art, Animals, and Activism.
  
|
