Latest news with #AlanAlda
Irish Independent
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Sophie White: The Four Seasons may be bucking the trend, but it's hard not to be sucked into the vortex of anti-ageing
A few nights ago, I started watching the new Tina Fey show on Netflix. It's called the The Four Seasons and is a remake of the hit 1981 Alan Alda film of the same name. The story centres around three couples who've been taking holidays together for years. I immediately loved the concept and the cast is exceptional. The show is gently funny and the story is fun and relatable but what is genuinely groundbreaking is that the actors boast actual signs of ageing. Most of the ensemble are bang in their mid-50s, Steve Carell is the oldest at 62 and it feels plausible – like they're still actors, they look verrrry good for mid-50s but the fact that we're getting to see some signs of ageing is pathetically exciting in the vast uncanny valley of frozen people on film and television. Still, for every Four Seasons, there's a bajillion other shows populated with veritable armies of doll-like 40 and 50-year-olds striving to look 25. Most of the time, however, the youth bestowed by lasers, injections and scalpels doesn't really look like youth exactly but something slightly off. It's as though it's the supermarket own-brand of youth. Also, this exhausting preservation of hotness is just so drearily boring.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Alan Alda, Mike Farrell Among Those Paying Tribute to Loretta Swit: 'A Supremely Talented Actor'
Hollywood is paying tribute to Loretta Swit after news of her death was announced Friday. According to a police report, the M*A*S*H star died of suspected natural causes at her home in New York City, her publicist, Harlan Boll, announced. More from The Hollywood Reporter Valerie Mahaffey, Actress on 'Northern Exposure,' 'Desperate Housewives' and 'Young Sheldon,' Dies at 71 Alf Clausen, Emmy-Winning Composer for 'The Simpsons,' Dies at 84 Loretta Swit, Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan on 'M*A*S*H,' Dies at 87 Swit appeared in all but 11 episodes of M*A*S*H during its 11-season run, earning two Emmys for her portrayal of Maj. Margaret 'Hot Lips' Houlihan. Notably, she was nominated for 10 Emmys, one for every season she appeared in except season one. After her tenure in the medical war drama, she went on to star in several films, including Freebie and the Bean (1974), Race With the Devil (1975), S.O.B. (1981) and BoardHeads (1998). Alan Alda, Swit's longtime M*A*S*H co-star, paid tribute to her on X. '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 on Friday. '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.' Mike Farrell, who joined the series in season four, shared a photo of the late actress on Instagram, writing, 'Loretta… 1937-2025.' In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Journey Gunderson, the executive director of the National Comedy Center, said, 'Loretta Swit's portrayal of Margaret 'Hot Lips' Houlihan was groundbreaking – bringing heart, humor, and strength to one of television comedy's most enduring roles. Her talent extended well beyond that iconic character, with acclaimed work on both stage and screen that showcased her intelligence, versatility, and passion. That legacy endures through the cultural impact of MASH, which is proudly represented in the National Comedy Center.' Best of The Hollywood Reporter 'The Studio': 30 Famous Faces Who Play (a Version of) Themselves in the Hollywood-Based Series 22 of the Most Shocking Character Deaths in Television History A 'Star Wars' Timeline: All the Movies and TV Shows in the Franchise
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Loretta Swit, M*A*S*H Star, Dies at 87
Loretta Swit, beloved for her groundbreaking role as Major Margaret 'Hot Lips' Houlihan on M*A*S*H, died on May 30, 2025. She was 87. Swit's portrayal of Major Houlihan helped transform the character from a punchline to a powerful presence—one of the first truly complex female figures in primetime comedy. Over the show's 11-season run, Swit was nominated for an Emmy every season, winning twice, in 1980 and 1982. Her passing drew heartfelt tributes from fans and longtime co-stars Alan Alda, Mike Farrell, and Jamie Farr, as well as from PETA, where she was a passionate advocate for animal rights. Jamie Farr said in a statement released to USA Today: 'I dearly loved Loretta! As close as family can get… I can't begin to express how much she will be missed.' According to PETA's website, Swit 'worked with many animal charities and had her own called 'SwitHeart Animal Alliance.' This charity works to bring back dogs from Afghanistan to reunite them with their human companions and matches veterans with homeless animals.' They also ask that those who can would adopt a new friend from a shelter in her memory. Behind the scenes, Swit was a vocal advocate for gender equity, pushing for deeper storylines for women both in the writers' room and onscreen. Standing up to a male-dominated industry can be lonely. In one memorable scene, Major Houlihan finally expresses her loneliness and need for someone on her side, but Swit is clearly speaking from her own heart. ☕️ #ClassicMASH #MASH #mash4077 #war #majormargarethoulihan #margarethoulihan #hotlips #lorettaswit #coffee " class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="7251202849466535211"> Though set during the Korean War, M*A*S*H spoke to a generation grappling with Vietnam, Watergate, and shifting social norms. The show's mix of humor and heartbreak helped audiences process the real costs of war and still does. It continues to air in reruns, especially around Memorial Day and Veterans Day, reminding viewers that behind every uniform is a human story. Swit's legacy lives on in those stories and in the countless lives she touched, both on and off screen.
Daily Mirror
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
M*A*S*H stars pay heartfelt tribute to Loretta Swit after TV star's death
Stars of the iconic TV show M*A*S*H including Alan Alda paid tribute to Loretta Swit after news confirmed the TV star had died at the age of 87 Following news of Loretta Swit's death, tributes have poured in from her co-stars of the iconic TV show M*A*S*H. Leading the tributes was Alan Alda, who played her love interest Hawkeye Pierce. Loretta became a fan favourite for playing Margaret 'Hot Lips' Houlihan. Taking to X to pay his heartfelt respects, Alan, who is now 89 years of age wrote: "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 added: "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. Alan continued: "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." In 1983, their 35 second on-screen kiss became one of the most legendary scenes in TV history as it was viewed by nearly 106 million people. Loretta's housekeeper reportedly found her dead at the star's New York apartment, according to US news outlet TMZ. And her publicist reportedly told the publication that she died from natural causes. However, an official cause of death is yet to be released. Next to share their grief with fans was Jamie Farr, who played Corporal Maxwell Q. Klinger. He once referred to the actress as his "adopted sister." In a statement released to USA Today, Jamie said: "I dearly loved Loretta! As close as family can get." The star added: "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. That became a lifetime friendship. I can't begin to express how much she will be missed." Meanwhile, Mike Farrell, who joined the cast in season four of eleven as B.J Hunnicutt, posted a black and white picture of Loretta on social media. He captioned the post simply saying: "Loretta … 1937-2025." In response to Alan Alda's post on X, fans rushed to comment. One person wrote: "It's because of you guys I became a nurse and learned that showing your human to your patients isn't a bad thing." They added: "Thanks, to both of you. My most sincere condolences." Another person said: "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."
The Guardian
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Loretta Swit obituary
The American actor Loretta Swit, who has died aged 87, achieved worldwide fame as Margaret 'Hot Lips' Houlihan, head nurse with a mobile army hospital during the Korean war, in the TV sitcom M*A*S*H. She appeared in all 11 series, from 1972 to 1983 – longer than the conflict that inspired it – taking over the role played by Sally Kellerman in the 1970 film. Misogyny ran throughout the big-screen version of M*A*S*H in a way that was not present in the 1968 novel by Richard Hooker on which it was the TV version, too, Major Houlihan, a strict disciplinarian, was the butt of sexist jokes from the surgeons and other men in the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital unit, particularly 'Hawkeye' Pierce (played by Alan Alda). Swit – who had the only leading female role in the show – took a stand before the fifth series began. She was then allowed to contribute to her character's development, making Houlihan more three-dimensional, warm and brave. 'I am a feminist, from the top of my head to the bottom of my toenail, and I favour playing strong women,' she told the American magazine Closer Weekly in 2022. From then on, Swit's character was referred to mainly by her real name rather than as 'Hot Lips' and a more human side emerged when Houlihan broke down in front of her nurses, confessing she was hurt by the disdain they held for her because of her stern manner. The character's long-running relationship with Major Frank Burns (Larry Linville) ended and she married Lieutenant Colonel Donald Penobscott (first played by Beeson Carroll and then Mike Henry), whom she later divorced when he cheated on her. Swit's performance won her two Emmy awards as outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series, in 1980 and 1982. She might have had global recognition for a second TV role, in a programme that was groundbreaking for its portrayal of women, if the M*A*S*H producers had not refused to let her out of her contract. Swit played the police detective Christine Cagney, alongside Tyne Daly as Mary Beth Lacey, in the feature-length 1981 pilot of Cagney & Lacey. It was the first American police drama to feature women in the two lead roles. In Cagney & Lacey, there was gritty realism and the authenticity of women balancing their work and home lives but, as Swit was unavailable, Meg Foster took over as Cagney when the series began, replaced after six episodes by Sharon Gless. Swit never had another starring vehicle. 'Actors are always identified with certain parts,' she said. 'To some, Marlon Brando will always be the Godfather. That's just how it is.' Perhaps her best film role was as the first female American president – succeeding a former circus clown, a parody of Ronald Reagan – in Whoops Apocalypse (1986), the writers Andrew Marshall and David Renwick's variation on their British sitcom. Loretta was born in Passaic, New Jersey, to parents of Polish descent, Nellie (nee Kassack) and Lester Szwed, an upholsterer, who anglicised the family name to Swit. She attended Pope Pius XII high school, Passaic, where she appeared in school plays, and Gibbs College, Montclair, New Jersey, then had various secretarial jobs. Moving to New York, she trained in acting with Gene Frankel at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, graduating in 1959. Her break in New York theatre came off-Broadway, at the Circle in the Square in 1961 when she joined the cast of the long-running Actors' Playhouse production of The Balcony, by Jean Genet. She spent the rest of the decade exclusively on stage until travelling to Hollywood in 1969. Then, she began to get small roles on television, including three in Hawaii Five-O (between 1969 and 1972) and two in Gunsmoke (both in 1970). Later, she starred on Broadway as Doris in Bernard Slade's 'annual adultery' play Same Time, Next Year (Brooks Atkinson theatre, 1975-76), taking over the role originated by Ellen Burstyn. The New York Times observed that she gave a 'stylish impersonation' of Burstyn, who had won a Tony award for her performance. Swit was on Broadway again in Rupert Holmes's musical version of Charles Dickens's unfinished novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Imperial theatre, 1985-86), replacing Cleo Laine in the dual roles of the Princess Puffer and Miss Angela Prysock. One stage part that seemed made for Swit was the title character in the British playwright Willy Russell's one-woman show Shirley Valentine, which she took first in Chicago (Wellington and Wisdom Bridge theatres, 1990), then on an American tour (1995) and Canadian stages (1997 and 2010). The role of the bored Liverpool housewife escaping her humdrum life and uncaring husband had been played in the West End of London and the film version by Pauline Collins, who also took it to Broadway. Swit said of the character: 'A lot of her experiences are universal – her ambition and desire, her lust for life and feelings of frustration at not fulfilling certain aspects of her own potential. I had kinship with her the moment I read the script.' Eve Ensler's comic and at times seriously political play The Vagina Monologues had Swit as one of the three women taking multiple roles, first at the Westside theatre in New York (1999), then in the West End (Arts theatre, 2001-02) and on an American tour (2002-03). The actor was a passionate animal activist and supported many charities, as well as setting up her own, SwitHeart Animal Alliance. Her book SwitHeart: The Watercolour Artistry & Animal Activism of Loretta Swit was published in 2017. Swit's 1983 marriage to the actor and lawyer Dennis Holahan ended in divorce 12 years later. Loretta Jane Swit, actor, born 4 November 1937; died 30 May 2025
