![Inga Swenson](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w185/c09amkuxllrFkiX8mXwrIdcn0H7.jpg)
Inga Swenson
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.
Known For | Acting |
---|---|
Most Rating | 7.168 |
Birthday | 1932-12-29 |
Place of Birth | Omaha, Nebraska, USA |
Also Known As |
![The Miracle Worker](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/3dI6UVM5W1sz3MU9gNK5nVDcAyQ.jpg)
1962
![The Miracle Worker](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/3dI6UVM5W1sz3MU9gNK5nVDcAyQ.jpg)
The Miracle Worker
7.839/289
The true story of the frightening, lonely world of silence and darkness of 7-year-old Helen Keller who, since infancy, has never seen the sky, heard h...
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The Miracle Worker
![Advise & Consent](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/hdLQlarvUmZVtrbME6y4t6Km9ZC.jpg)
1962
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Advise & Consent
7.197/104
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Advise & Consent
![Earth II](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/lkA3HVFQTqwESA04f3TkFQL6f2y.jpg)
1971
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Earth II
5.3/11
In the near future, a space station dubbed Earth II is built for the purpose of scientific research and world peace. However, that peace is shattered...
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1987
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Bay Coven
4.2/18
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![The Betsy](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/j7ZCuU020tWPef5MhfmngO345UD.jpg)
1978
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The Betsy
4.524/21
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1978
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Ziegfeld: The Man and His Women
5/1
The life and times of the flamboyant showman who built his legendary Follies around beautiful women -- as told by the women in his life.
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Ziegfeld: The Man and His Women
![Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/wqYyriRHdJkRamKscooeuadfKZY.jpg)
2005
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Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards
7.2/4
Broadway royalty and Tony-winners Tommy Tune, Carol Channing, Robert Goulet, and Harvey Fierstein are your hosts for this third compilation of great m...
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![Androcles and the Lion](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/muDNBmpK9J1kVTeiMKA91si1j6T.jpg)
1967
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Androcles and the Lion
0/0
The story of Androcles, the simple-hearted Christian tailor whose friendship with a lion saves himself and his friends from martyrdom in the Roman Col...
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Androcles and the Lion
![Heart of Darkness](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/cgC1u6iwqmmWj3JoQ3xvhzRpPMv.jpg)
1958
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Heart of Darkness
0/0
A trading company manager travels up an African river to find a missing outpost head and discovers the depth of evil in humanity's soul.
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![Lipstick](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/kJadg3azo3gHNhrVkJppFqJO62j.jpg)
1976
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Lipstick
5.179/42
An aspiring avant-garde composer rapes a fashion model. When she takes him to court, she's slut-shamed by the defense and the man is exonerated. But j...
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1985
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Night of 100 Stars II
8/2
This special is the second "Night of 100 Stars" to benefit The Actors Fund of America. Edited from a seven-hour live entertainment marathon that was t...
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