New York, May 31 -- Actor Loretta Swit, best known for playing Maj. Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan on the hit TV show MASH, has died at the age of 87, reported The Hollywood Reporter.

Her publicist, Harlan Boll, shared the news, saying Swit passed away just after midnight on Friday at her home in New York City. The cause is believed to be natural, according to a police report.

Swit was a key part of MASH* from the beginning to the end, appearing in 240 out of 251 episodes. For her role, she was nominated for an Emmy 10 times and won twice. Only Alan Alda, who played Hawkeye Pierce, shared the honor of appearing in both the pilot and the final episode of the series.

The finale of MASH* aired on February 28, 1983, and remains one of the mo...