Loretta Swit, the actress best remembered for her role as Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan on the CBS war drama comedy series M*A*S*H, recently passed away. News about her death broke on Friday, May 30, with Variety reporting that her representative’s statement, which states the actress died of natural causes in her home in New York City at the age of 87.
However, in the days preceding her passing, Swit had taken to social media to share some ominous posts, all of which her fans have now tried to make meaning of. The posts, which contained nostalgic throwbacks of her time on MAS*H as well as reflective captions, have now been considered a subtle farewell.
Loretta Swit shared several strange posts on Instagram before her death
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In the months before her death, Swit, who was very active on Instagram, shared heartfelt tributes and cherished memories from her time on M*A*S*H and beyond. In April, she celebrated the birthday of her former co-star Jeff Maxwell, who played Private Igor on the iconic series, with a heartwarming post. The following month, she honored her close friend Kim Fields with a warm birthday message, accompanied by photos of both of them having a good time. Swit also marked Gary Burghoff’s 82nd birthday with a nostalgic collection of images, including a touching tribute from their days on M*A*S*H, expressing her deep affection for her co-star.
Her last Instagram post, shared on Memorial Day, May 26, was a powerful salute to fallen servicemen and women, which she posted alongside a still photo from a MASH episode. While honoring the people who gave up their lives for the country, she also urged others to remember and cherish the bravery of the fallen heroes.
Fans and colleagues mourn Loretta Swit on her passing
As news of Swit’s demise broke, fans and colleagues alike have taken to social media to mourn her. Many fans offered their condolences, eulogizing her for bringing beauty and humor to the world, while others spoke about the impact she had both on and off the screen.
Her M*A*S*H co-star, Alan Alda, also took to X to share touching anecdotes about the late actress, highlighting her outstanding talent and dedication to her craft. He praised her for transforming the character of Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan, originally intended to be one-dimensional, into a fully realized one due to her versatility as an actress.