The Loretta Swit house represents more than just a celebrity home – it’s a piece of television history. When the beloved M*A*S*H actress passed away on May 30, 2025, at age 87, fans began looking back at her life and the beautiful properties she called home. Her former Hollywood Hills West residence, known as “Hue De Olive,” stands as a testament to her success and sophisticated taste. This French-influenced mansion, which she owned during her peak television years, showcases the kind of elegant lifestyle that came with being one of TV’s most recognizable stars.
Who is Loretta Swit?
Loretta Swit was an American actress who built her fortune through decades of television, stage, and film work. She had a net worth of $4 million at the time of her death. While she didn’t own multiple luxury cars, yachts, or private jets like some celebrities, she invested wisely in real estate. Her most famous property was the Hollywood Hills West home she purchased during her M*A*S*H years. Born Loretta Jane Szwed on November 4, 1937, in Passaic, New Jersey, she became a household name playing Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan on the iconic CBS series M*A*S*H from 1972 to 1983.
Throughout her career, she earned two Emmy Awards and received ten Emmy nominations for her outstanding work. Beyond television, she was also a accomplished stage actress who performed in Broadway productions like “Same Time, Next Year” and “The Mystery of Edwin Drood”. Her Polish immigrant parents weren’t initially supportive of her show business dreams, but she proved them wrong by becoming one of television’s most beloved characters.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Loretta Jane Swit (born Szwed) |
| Birth Date | November 4, 1937 |
| Death Date | May 30, 2025 |
| Age at Death | 87 years old |
| Birthplace | Passaic, New Jersey |
| Net Worth | $4 million |
| Famous Role | Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan on MAS*H |
| Emmy Awards | 2 wins, 10 nominations |
| Marriage | Dennis Holahan (1983-1995) |
| Children | None |
| Primary Residence | New York City (at time of death) |
| Former Home | Hollywood Hills West, California |
| Education | American Academy of Dramatic Arts |
Where Does Loretta Swit Live Now?
Since Loretta Swit passed away in May 2025, she no longer lives anywhere. However, at the time of her death, she was living in her New York City home. She died peacefully at her residence just after midnight on Friday, May 30, 2025, from natural causes according to police reports. Her publicist Harlan Boll confirmed that she spent her final years in New York, far from the Hollywood spotlight where she’d made her name.
During her later years, she chose to live a more private life in New York rather than staying in California where she’d filmed M*A*S*H. This move reflected her desire for privacy and a quieter lifestyle away from the entertainment industry’s hustle and bustle. She never remarried after her divorce from actor Dennis Holahan in 1995, and she didn’t have any children.
Loretta Swit House
The Loretta Swit house that captures most people’s attention is her former Hollywood Hills West property called “Hue De Olive.” This stunning French-influenced mansion became her sanctuary during the height of her M*A*S*H fame. Built in 1941, the house sits behind an ivy-covered brick wall that provides complete privacy from the busy Los Angeles streets. The property represents the kind of sophisticated taste that Swit developed throughout her successful career.
What makes this Loretta Swit house special isn’t just its celebrity connection – it’s the careful attention to architectural detail and the peaceful atmosphere it creates. The name “Hue De Olive” suggests a connection to French culture, which fits perfectly with the home’s European-inspired design elements. During her ownership, the house served as a retreat where she could escape from the pressures of being on one of television’s most popular shows.
The property changed hands several times after Swit sold it in 1987. She sold the house to film director Alan Parker for $840,000, which was a significant sum at the time. Parker, known for directing movies like “Evita” and “Mississippi Burning,” owned the home until 2016 when he sold it for $2.497 million. By 2019, the restored property was listed for sale at $4.895 million, showing how much the value had increased over the years.
1. Where Is Loretta Swit House?
The Loretta Swit house is located in Hollywood Hills West, one of Los Angeles’s most desirable neighborhoods. This area sits high above the city, offering stunning views and complete privacy for celebrities and other wealthy residents. Hollywood Hills West has long been a favorite location for entertainment industry professionals because it provides easy access to studios while maintaining a peaceful, residential atmosphere.
The specific address puts the Loretta Swit house in an exclusive enclave where many famous people have chosen to live. The neighborhood features winding roads, mature trees, and homes that are often hidden behind gates and walls. This privacy was especially important for Swit during the 1970s and 1980s when M*A*S*H made her one of the most recognizable faces on television.
Getting to the Loretta Swit house requires navigating the curving streets that are typical of Hollywood Hills properties. The elevation provides natural security and privacy while also offering some of the best views in Los Angeles. The location perfectly suited someone like Swit who valued both convenience and privacy during her peak career years.
2. Features of Loretta Swit House
The Loretta Swit house spans nearly 4,000 square feet of carefully designed interior space. The French-influenced architecture creates a charming, European atmosphere that sets it apart from typical California homes. Visitors enter through a double-door gate that opens to scallop-shaped brick steps leading down to the main entrance. This dramatic approach immediately signals that this isn’t an ordinary house.
Inside the Loretta Swit house, the living room features exposed beamed ceilings and a fireplace that creates a cozy gathering space. The dining room includes elegant wainscoting that adds to the home’s sophisticated character. Additional rooms include a library, den, study, and gym, showing how the house was designed for both relaxation and productivity. The three bedrooms and four bathrooms provide plenty of space for family and guests.
The kitchen area showcases blue cabinetry that adds a pop of color while maintaining the French country theme. A sunny breakfast nook creates a perfect spot for morning coffee while enjoying views of the surrounding landscape. These design choices reflect the kind of attention to detail that made the Loretta Swit house feel both elegant and comfortable.
Outside, the Loretta Swit house features multiple patios and a cabana that extend the living space into the California sunshine. The swimming pool and spa are surrounded by a waterfall, mature plants, and trees that create a resort-like atmosphere. These outdoor features were perfect for entertaining during Swit’s Hollywood years and continue to make the property special today.
Loretta Swit Real Estate Portfolio
Throughout her life, Loretta Swit owned several properties, though she wasn’t known for collecting real estate like some celebrities. Her most famous home was the Hollywood Hills West property she purchased during her M*A*S*H years. This house served as her primary residence during the show’s run from 1972 to 1983, making it her home base during the most successful period of her career.
Before moving to California, Swit grew up in modest circumstances in Passaic, New Jersey. Her parents, Polish immigrants Lester and Nellie Szwed, weren’t wealthy, and she worked various clerical jobs before her acting career took off. These early experiences likely influenced her careful approach to money and real estate investments throughout her life.
After selling the Hollywood Hills West property in 1987, Swit eventually moved to New York City where she spent her final years. Her New York residence was where she died in May 2025, though specific details about this property haven’t been made public. The move from California to New York represented a shift away from the entertainment industry and toward a more private lifestyle.
Unlike some celebrities who own multiple homes around the world, Swit seemed to prefer having one primary residence at a time. This approach reflected her practical nature and focus on her craft rather than accumulating luxury properties. Her real estate choices always seemed to prioritize privacy and comfort over showing off wealth.
The value of the Loretta Swit house in Hollywood Hills West has continued to grow since she sold it. From her original purchase price through the $840,000 sale to Alan Parker, and eventually to the $4.895 million listing price in 2019, the property has proven to be a solid investment. This appreciation shows both the desirability of the location and the quality of the home itself.
Conclusion
The Loretta Swit house in Hollywood Hills West remains a beautiful example of celebrity real estate from television’s golden age. While Swit passed away in 2025 at age 87, her former home continues to represent the success she achieved through her iconic role on M*A*S*H. The French-influenced mansion, with its 4,000 square feet of elegant living space and resort-like outdoor areas, perfectly captured the sophisticated lifestyle that came with being one of TV’s biggest stars.
From its $840,000 sale price in 1987 to its $4.895 million listing in 2019, the property has proven to be as enduring as Swit’s television legacy. Today, the Loretta Swit house stands as a testament to both her success and her excellent taste in real estate.
For more celebrity home stories and real estate insights, visit thisolderhouse where we explore the fascinating world of famous properties and their histories.
FAQs
Did Alan Alda and Loretta Swit get along?
Yes, Alan Alda and Loretta Swit had an excellent relationship both on and off screen. They maintained a close friendship that lasted for decades after M*A*S*H ended. Alda and Swit were the only two actors who appeared in both the pilot episode and the series finale, and they try to meet at least once a year for dinner along with Mike Farrell.
Following Swit’s death, Alda posted a heartfelt tribute describing her as “an exceptionally gifted actress” who “earned every one of her 10 Emmy nominations and her 2 wins”. He praised how she worked with the writing staff to evolve her character from a “one-dimensional sexist trope into a fully realized individual with genuine emotions and aspirations”. Swit considered her M*A*S*H colleagues as “family” and kept in close touch with all of them, especially Alda.
What did Loretta Swit pass away from?
Loretta Swit died from natural causes on Friday, May 30, 2025, at her home in New York City. She was 87 years old. Her publicist Harlan Boll confirmed that she passed away just after midnight, though some reports indicate it was around noon. Her housekeeper found her around 10 a.m., and her doorman had seen her drop something in the mail at 4 a.m. that same morning. While natural causes are suspected based on the police report, the official coroner’s report was still pending at the time of the news reports.
What is Loretta Swit’s natural hair color?
Based on the search results, Loretta Swit was known for her “trademark blonde, curly mane”. However, the search results don’t specifically mention what her natural hair color was before she became famous. The results only reference her distinctive blonde hair that became part of her signature look throughout her career and later years when she appeared at animal activist fundraisers.
Why was Loretta Swit missing from M*A*S*H?
Loretta Swit was notably absent from one of M*A*S*H’s most acclaimed episodes, “The Interview” in season 4, because she was appearing in the Broadway play “Same Time, Next Year”. She starred in this romantic comedy play alongside Ted Bessell from December 1975 to June 1976, which conflicted with filming the episode. Despite being credited, her character Margaret was nowhere to be seen in “The Interview,” and the episode never addressed where she was.
This was a significant absence since “The Interview” is commonly considered M*A*S*H’s best episode. However, Swit never missed another episode after this one – she appeared in every single M*A*S*H episode from season 5 onward through the finale. The commitment to the play was an important career opportunity for her to break away from her M*A*S*H character and showcase her range as an actress.
