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Inga Swenson

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.

Personal information

Birthday

1932-12-29

Birth Place

Omaha, Nebraska, USA

Movies and TV shows :

poster

ABC Afterschool Special

1972

6.4

TV
Advise & Consent

Advise & Consent

1962

7.2

Movie
Androcles and the Lion

Androcles and the Lion

1967

0.0

Movie
Bay Coven

Bay Coven

1987

4.2

Movie
poster

Benson

1979

7.2

TV
Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards

Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards

2005

7.2

Movie
poster

CBS Playhouse

1966

7.0

TV
poster

Doctor Doctor

1989

8.2

TV
poster

Dr. Kildare

1961

5.4

TV
Earth II

Earth II

1971

5.3

Movie
poster

Hallmark Hall of Fame

1951

8.7

TV
Heart of Darkness

Heart of Darkness

1958

0.0

Movie
Lipstick

Lipstick

1976

5.3

Movie
poster

Newhart

1982

7.2

TV
Night of 100 Stars II

Night of 100 Stars II

1985

8.0

Movie
poster

North and South

1985

7.4

TV
poster

Nutcracker: Money, Madness & Murder

1987

6.5

TV
poster

Soap

1977

7.3

TV
The Betsy

The Betsy

1978

4.6

Movie
poster

The Golden Girls

1985

7.5

TV
The Miracle Worker

The Miracle Worker

1962

7.8

Movie
The Mountain Men

The Mountain Men

1980

5.8

Movie
poster

The Rookies

1972

6.9

TV
poster

Vega$

1978

7.0

TV
poster

Weekend Special

1977

7.6

TV
Ziegfeld: The Man and His Women

Ziegfeld: The Man and His Women

1978

5.0

Movie