IS
Inga Swenson
Actor
Died July 23, 2023 (90 years)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Inga Swenson (December 29, 1932 - July 23, 2023) was an American actress.
Inga Swenson was a graduate of Central High School in Omaha, Nebraska, Class of 1950. Swenson was a member of Alpha Phi sorority at Northwestern University where she studied in their famed Drama Department. Swenson is best known to American audiences for her portrayal of Gretchen Kraus, the autocratic and acerbic German cook (later Head Housekeeper and Budget Director) on the TV sitcom "Benson." She got the part by appearing in a multi-episode stint as Ingrid Svenson, birth mother of Corinne Tate (Diana Canova), on the tv sitcom "Soap." Both series were created by Susan Harris and produced by Witt-Thomas-Harris Productions (who later created "The Golden Girls" and "Empty Nest.") She also appeared as northern matriarch Maude Hazard in the acclaimed mini-series "North and South" in 1985 and again in 1986.
Earlier in her career, Swenson had a notable turn on the TV western series "Bonanza" in two episodes: "Inger, My Love" (1962) and "Journey Remembered" (1963). Swenson took a brief leave of absence from her starring role in "110 in the Shade" on Broadway to appear in "Journey Remembered." The appearances were significant in that she played Lorne Greene's character's second wife, the mother of Hoss Cartwright, played by Dan Blocker. She was actually four years younger than Blocker. After "Bonanza" ended its 14-year run, Swenson guest starred in an episode of Lorne Greene's short-lived crime drama "Griff."
Also early in her career, Swenson had supporting roles in the films "Advise and Consent" (1962) and "The Miracle Worker" (1962) in which she played Helen Keller's mother.
She was a trained lyric soprano and starred on Broadway in "New Faces" (circa 1956) and "The First Gentleman" (1959), and received Tony Award nominations for Best Actress in a Musical for her performances in "110 in the Shade" (1964) and "Baker Street" (1965).
Swenson was married to actor-singer Lowell Harris, with whom she had two sons, James (deceased) and Mark.
Though her Swedish-sounding name and trademark accent on "Benson" suggest otherwise, she was born and raised in the U.S., and normally spoke with an American accent.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Inga Swenson, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Inga Swenson (December 29, 1932 - July 23, 2023) was an American actress.
Inga Swenson was a graduate of Central High School in Omaha, Nebraska, Class of 1950. Swenson was a member of Alpha Phi sorority at Northwestern University where she studied in their famed Drama Department. Swenson is best known to American audiences for her portrayal of Gretchen Kraus, the autocratic and acerbic German cook (later Head Housekeeper and Budget Director) on the TV sitcom "Benson." She got the part by appearing in a multi-episode stint as Ingrid Svenson, birth mother of Corinne Tate (Diana Canova), on the tv sitcom "Soap." Both series were created by Susan Harris and produced by Witt-Thomas-Harris Productions (who later created "The Golden Girls" and "Empty Nest.") She also appeared as northern matriarch Maude Hazard in the acclaimed mini-series "North and South" in 1985 and again in 1986.
Earlier in her career, Swenson had a notable turn on the TV western series "Bonanza" in two episodes: "Inger, My Love" (1962) and "Journey Remembered" (1963). Swenson took a brief leave of absence from her starring role in "110 in the Shade" on Broadway to appear in "Journey Remembered." The appearances were significant in that she played Lorne Greene's character's second wife, the mother of Hoss Cartwright, played by Dan Blocker. She was actually four years younger than Blocker. After "Bonanza" ended its 14-year run, Swenson guest starred in an episode of Lorne Greene's short-lived crime drama "Griff."
Also early in her career, Swenson had supporting roles in the films "Advise and Consent" (1962) and "The Miracle Worker" (1962) in which she played Helen Keller's mother.
She was a trained lyric soprano and starred on Broadway in "New Faces" (circa 1956) and "The First Gentleman" (1959), and received Tony Award nominations for Best Actress in a Musical for her performances in "110 in the Shade" (1964) and "Baker Street" (1965).
Swenson was married to actor-singer Lowell Harris, with whom she had two sons, James (deceased) and Mark.
Though her Swedish-sounding name and trademark accent on "Benson" suggest otherwise, she was born and raised in the U.S., and normally spoke with an American accent.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Inga Swenson, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Filmography
| 1994 | Life with Louie (TV Series) · as Grandma Helga |
| 1989 | Doctor Doctor (TV Series) |
| 1987 | Bay Cove · as Matty Kline |
| 1987 | Nutcracker: Money, Madness & Murder (TV Series) · as Marilyn |
| 1985 | North and South (TV Series) · as Maude Hazard |
| 1985 | The Golden Girls (TV Series) · as Holly |
| 1983 | Hotel (TV Series) · as Sonya Green |
| 1983 | Benson: The U.S. Goes to Market · as Miss Gretchen Wilomena Kraus |
| 1982 | Newhart (TV Series) |
| 1980 | The Mountain Men · as White Singer At The Mountain Men Gathering. (uncredited) |
| 1979 | Benson (TV Series) · as Gretchen Kraus |
| 1978 | Ziegfeld: The Man and His Women · as Nora Bayes |
| 1978 | Vega$ (TV Series) |
| 1978 | The Betsy · as Mrs. Craddock |
| 1977 | Soap (TV Series) · as Ingrid Svenson |
| 1977 | Testimony of Two Men (TV Series) · as Amelia Foster |
| 1977 | ABC Weekend Special (TV Series) |
| 1976 | America at the Movies · as Kate Keller |
| 1976 | Lipstick · as Sister Monica |
| 1973 | Griff (TV Series) · as Katherine Mcafee |
| 1973 | Barnaby Jones (TV Series) · as Ann Hobson |
| 1972 | The ABC Afterschool Special (TV Series) · as Mrs. Marston |
| 1972 | The Rookies (TV Series) |
| 1971 | Earth II · as Ilyana Kovalefskii |
| 1971 | Owen Marshall, Counselor At Law (TV Series) · as Kirsten |
| 1969 | Medical Center (TV Series) · as Mercedes Amons |
| 1967 | CBS Playhouse (TV Series) |
| 1964 | NET Playhouse (TV Series) · as Secretary (segment "the Tape Recorder") |
| 1962 | The Doctors and the Nurses (TV Series) · as Sandra Leonard |
| 1962 | The Miracle Worker · as Kate Keller |
| 1962 | Advise & Consent · as Ellen Anderson |
| 1961 | Dr. Kildare (TV Series) · as Paula Waller |
| 1961 | The Defenders (TV Series) · as Claire Stafford |
| 1959 | The Play of the Week (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1959 | |
| 1957 | The DuPont Show of the Month (TV Series) · as Rose Maylie |
| 1956 | Playhouse 90 (TV Series) · as Maria |
| 1953 | The United States Steel Hour (TV Series) · as Vera Steuben |
| 1951 | Hallmark Hall Of Fame (TV Series) · as Lady Jane |
| 1951 | Goodyear Television Playhouse (TV Series) · as Cast |