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Inga Swenson‌

Gender

Female

Birthday

calendar1932-12-29

Popularity

star7.6

Inga Swenson

Omaha, Nebraska, USA

Inga Swenson

Omaha, Nebraska, USA

Gender

Female

Birthday

calendar1932-12-29

Popularity

star7.6

Biography

​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.

Movie Credits

The Miracle Worker

The Miracle Worker‌
star7.8
calendar 1962

Advise & Consent

Advise & Consent‌
star7.2
calendar 1962

Earth II

Earth II‌
star5.3
calendar 1971

Bay Coven

Bay Coven‌
star4.2
calendar 1987

The Betsy

The Betsy‌
star4.6
calendar 1978

Ziegfeld: The Man and His Women

Ziegfeld: The Man and His Women‌
star5.0
calendar 1978

Night of 100 Stars II

Night of 100 Stars II‌
star8.0
calendar 1985

The Mountain Men

The Mountain Men‌
star5.8
calendar 1980

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

Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards‌
star7.2
calendar 2005

Androcles and the Lion

Androcles and the Lion‌
star0.0
calendar 1967

Heart of Darkness

Heart of Darkness‌
star0.0
calendar 1958

Lipstick

Lipstick‌
star5.3
calendar 1976

Tv Credits

The Rookies

The Rookies‌
star6.9
calendar 1972

Benson

Benson‌
star7.2
calendar 1979

The Golden Girls

The Golden Girls‌
star7.6
calendar 1985

Soap

Soap‌
star7.3
calendar 1977

Doctor Doctor

Doctor Doctor‌
star7.8
calendar 1989

Newhart

Newhart‌
star7.1
calendar 1982

Soap

Soap‌
star7.3
calendar 1977

Hallmark Hall of Fame

Hallmark Hall of Fame‌
star8.7
calendar 1951

Weekend Special

Weekend Special‌
star7.6
calendar 1977

Vega$

Vega$‌
star7.0
calendar 1978

CBS Playhouse

CBS Playhouse‌
star7.0
calendar 1966

Dr. Kildare

Dr. Kildare‌
star5.4
calendar 1961

ABC Afterschool Special

ABC Afterschool Special‌
star6.4
calendar 1972

North and South

North and South‌
star7.4
calendar 1985

Nutcracker: Money, Madness & Murder

Nutcracker: Money, Madness & Murder‌
star6.5
calendar 1987

Griff

Griff‌
star5.0
calendar 1973