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Inga Swenson

Inga Swenson

Actor

Born December 29, 1932 in Omaha, Nebraska, USA

Died July 23, 2023

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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.

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The Miracle Worker (1962) Original Trailer [FHD]

THE MIRACLE WORKER (Eureka Classics) New & Exclusive HD Trailer

Filmography

Actor

63

Type

Year

TCM Remembers 2023 Poster

TCM Remembers 2023 Feature Film2023Self - Actress

Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age Poster

Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age Documentary2021Self

Life with Louie Poster

Life with Louie TV Series1994Grandma Helga

Doctor Doctor Poster

Doctor Doctor TV Series1989Connie Stratford

Bay Cove Poster

Bay Cove TV Movie1987Matty Kline

Nutcracker: Money, Madness & Murder Poster

Nutcracker: Money, Madness & Murder Mini-Series1987Marilyn

North & South: Book 2, Love & War Poster

North & South: Book 2, Love & War Mini-Series1986Maude Hazard

Night of 100 Stars II Poster

Night of 100 Stars II TV Special1985Self

North & South: Book 1, North & South Poster

North & South: Book 1, North & South Mini-Series1985Maude Hazard

The 37th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Poster

The 37th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards TV Special1985Self - Nominee & Presenter

The Golden Girls Poster

The Golden Girls TV Series1985Holly

Breakaway TV Series1983Self

Hotel TV Series1983Sonya Green

Prime Times TV Movie1983

The Love Boat Fall Preview Special TV Special1983Self

Newhart TV Series1982Madelyn Stone

The 34th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards TV Special1982Self - Nominee & Presenter

The 36th Annual Tony Awards TV Special1982Self - Performer

The Mountain Men Poster

The Mountain Men Feature Film1980White Singer at the Mountain Men Gathering.

Benson TV Series1979Miss Gretchen Wilomena Kraus

Highcliffe Manor Poster

Highcliffe Manor TV Series19791 episode, 1979

All-Star Family Feud Special Poster

All-Star Family Feud Special TV Series1978Self - celebrity contestant

The Betsy Poster

The Betsy Feature Film1978Mrs. Craddock

Vega$ TV Series1978The Producer

Ziegfeld: The Man and His Women Poster

Ziegfeld: The Man and His Women TV Movie1978Nora Bayes

ABC Weekend Specials Poster

ABC Weekend Specials TV Series1977Esther Trimble

Soap TV Series1977Ingrid Swenson

Testimony of Two Men Poster

Testimony of Two Men Mini-Series1977Amelia Foster

America at the Movies Poster

America at the Movies Documentary1976Kate Keller

Lipstick Poster

Lipstick Feature Film1976Sister Monica

Sara TV Series1976Henrietta

Barnaby Jones Poster

Barnaby Jones TV Series1973Ann Hobson

Griff TV Series1973Katherine McAfee

ABC Afterschool Specials Poster

ABC Afterschool Specials TV Series1972Mrs. Marston

The Rookies Poster

The Rookies TV Series1972Barbara Paige

Earth II Poster

Earth II TV Movie1971Ilyana Kovalefskii

Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law Poster

Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law TV Series1971Kirsten

Medical Center Poster

Medical Center TV Series1969Mercedes Amons

Androcles and the Lion Poster

Androcles and the Lion TV Movie1967Lavínia

CBS Playhouse Poster

CBS Playhouse TV Series1967Kate

New York Television Theatre Poster

New York Television Theatre TV Series1965Secretary

NET Playhouse Poster

NET Playhouse TV Series1964Secretary

Advise & Consent Poster

Advise & Consent Feature Film1962Ellen Anderson

The Doctors and the Nurses Poster

The Doctors and the Nurses TV Series1962Sandra Leonard

The Jack Paar Program Poster

The Jack Paar Program TV Series1962Self

The Merv Griffin Show Poster

The Merv Griffin Show TV Series1962Self

The Miracle Worker Poster

The Miracle Worker Feature Film1962Kate Keller

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Poster

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson TV Series1962Self - Guest

Dr. Kildare Poster

Dr. Kildare TV Series1961Paula Waller

Password Poster

Password TV Series1961Self - celebrity contestant

The Defenders Poster

The Defenders TV Series1961Claire Stafford

Victoria Regina Poster

Victoria Regina TV Movie1961Lady Jane

Bonanza TV Series1959Inger Borgstrom

Play of the Week Poster

Play of the Week TV Series19591 episode, 1960

Scan TV Series1957Self

The DuPont Show of the Month Poster

The DuPont Show of the Month TV Series1957Rose Maylie

The Seven Lively Arts TV Series19571 episode, 1957

Playhouse 90 Poster

Playhouse 90 TV Series1956Maria

The Lee Phillip Show Poster

The Lee Phillip Show TV Series1956Self

Folio TV Series1955Kate Hardcastle

The United States Steel Hour Poster

The United States Steel Hour TV Series1953Vera Steuben

Today TV Series1952Self

Goodyear Playhouse Poster

Goodyear Playhouse TV Series19511 episode, 1957

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