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.