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Inga Swenson

Inga Swenson

Actor · 1932 – 2023 · Omaha, Nebraska, USA

​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.

Series17

  • TV6.8

    The Merv Griffin Show

    1962 · 12 votes

  • TV5.7

    Dr. Kildare

    1961 · 19 votes

  • TV7.2

    Newhart

    1982 · 65 votes

  • TV7.6

    The Golden Girls

    1985 · 412 votes

  • TV6.9

    The Rookies

    1972 · 22 votes

  • TV6.5

    ABC Afterschool Special

    1972 · 15 votes

  • TV7.3

    Soap

    1977 · 69 votes

  • TV7.1

    Benson

    1979 · 44 votes

  • TV6.9

    Vega$

    1978 · 25 votes

  • TV7.5

    North and South

    1985 · 185 votes

  • TV7.0

    CBS Playhouse

    1966 · 2 votes

  • TV7.7

    Doctor Doctor

    1989 · 6 votes

  • TV8.8

    Hallmark Hall of Fame

    1951 · 8 votes

  • TV7.5

    ABC Weekend Specials

    1977 · 8 votes

  • TV7.7
  • TV6.0

    Testimony of Two Men

    1977 · 2 votes

  • TV6.5

    Griff

    1973 · 2 votes

Movies13

  • Movie7.9

    The Miracle Worker

    1962 · 354 votes

  • Movie5.9

    The Mountain Men

    1980 · 66 votes

  • Movie7.2

    Advise & Consent

    1962 · 127 votes

  • Movie6.8

    Night of 100 Stars II

    1985 · 5 votes

  • Movie5.4

    Lipstick

    1976 · 62 votes

  • Movie4.8

    The Betsy

    1978 · 34 votes

  • Movie7.2
  • Movie9.0

    Androcles and the Lion

    1967 · 1 votes

  • Movie7.0
  • Movie5.6

    Earth II

    1971 · 16 votes

  • Movie8.0

    Victoria Regina

    1961 · 1 votes

  • Movie4.3

    Bay Coven

    1987 · 21 votes

  • Movie