Inga Swenson
Encyclopedia
Inga Swenson is 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 Ben Cartwright
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 is a trained lyric
soprano
and starred on Broadway
in New Faces (circa 1956), 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 is 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 speaks with an American
accent.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress.
Inga Swenson was a graduate of Central High School in Omaha, Nebraska, Class of 1950. Swenson was a member of Alpha Phi
Alpha Phi
Alpha Phi International Women's Fraternity was founded at Syracuse University on September 18, 1872. Alpha Phi currently has 152 active chapters and over 200,000 initiated members. Its celebrated Founders' Day is October 10. It was the third Greek-letter organization founded for women. In Alpha...
sorority at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
where she studied in their famed Drama Department.
Swenson is best known to American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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
Supporting actor
A supporting actor is an actor who performs roles in a play or film other than that of the leads.These roles range from bit parts to secondary leads. They are sometimes but not necessarily character roles. A supporting actor must also use restraint not to upstage the main actor/actress in the...
as "Ingrid Svenson", birth mother of Corinne Tate (Diana Canova), on the TV sitcom Soap
Soap (TV series)
Soap is an American sitcom that originally ran on ABC from 1977 to 1981.The show was created as a parody of daytime soap operas, presented as a weekly half-hour prime time comedy. Similar to a soap opera, the show's story was presented in a serial format and included melodramatic plot elements such...
. Both series were created by Susan Harris
Susan Harris
Susan Harris is an American television comedy writer and producer.Harris created numerous TV series: Soap, Benson, The Golden Girls, Empty Nest, Nurses, and The Golden Palace....
and produced by Witt-Thomas-Harris Productions (who later created The Golden Girls
The Golden Girls
The Golden Girls is an American sitcom created by Susan Harris, which originally aired on NBC from September 14, 1985, to May 9, 1992. Starring Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty, the show centers on four older women sharing a home in Miami, Florida...
and Empty Nest
Empty Nest
Empty Nest is an American sitcom that originally aired on NBC from 1988 to 1995. The series was created as a spin-off of The Golden Girls by creator and producer Susan Harris. For its first three seasons, Empty Nest was one of the year's top 10 most-watched programs...
. She also appeared as northern matriarch Maude Hazard in the acclaimed mini-series North and South
North and South
North and South may refer to:Literature*North and South , novel by Elizabeth Gaskell*North and South , series of novels by John Jakes**North and South , first novel in the series...
in 1985 and again in 1986.
Earlier in her career, Swenson had a notable turn on the TV western series Bonanza
Bonanza
Bonanza is an American western television series that both ran on and was a production of NBC from September 12, 1959 to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 430 episodes, it ranks as the second longest running western series and still continues to air in syndication. It centers on the...
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
110 in the Shade
110 in the Shade is a musical with a book by N. Richard Nash, lyrics by Tom Jones, and music by Harvey Schmidt.Based on Nash's 1954 play The Rainmaker, it focuses on Lizzie Curry, a spinster living on a ranch in the American southwest, and her relationships with local sheriff File, a cautious...
on Broadway to appear in "Journey Remembered." The appearances were significant in that she played Lorne Greene
Lorne Greene
Lorne Greene , was the stage name of Lyon Himan Green, OC, a Canadian actor.His television roles include Ben Cartwright on the western Bonanza, and Commander Adama in the science fiction movie and subsequent TV Series Battlestar Galactica...
's Ben Cartwright
Ben Cartwright
Ben Cartwright may refer to:* Ben Cartwright , British actor* Ben Cartwright , a cattle rancher in the television show Bonanza...
character's second wife, the mother of Hoss Cartwright, played by Dan Blocker
Dan Blocker
Dan Blocker was an American actor best remembered for his role as Eric "Hoss" Cartwright in the NBC western television series Bonanza.-Early life:...
, 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
Griff (TV series)
Griff is a 13-episode ABC crime drama starring Lorne Greene and Ben Murphy, which aired from September 29, 1973, to January 4, 1974. Nine months after the expiration of his nearly 14-year role as Ponderosa Ranch patriarch Ben Cartwright on NBC's Bonanza western series, the Canadian native Greene...
.
Also early in her career Swenson had supporting roles in the films Advise and Consent
Advise and Consent
Advise and Consent is a 1959 political novel by Allen Drury that explores the United States Senate confirmation of controversial Secretary of State nominee Robert Leffingwell who is a former member of the Communist Party...
(1962) and The Miracle Worker
The Miracle Worker
The Miracle Worker is a cycle of 20th century dramatic works derived from Helen Keller's autobiography The Story of My Life. Each of the various dramas describes the relationship between Keller—a deafblind and initially almost feral child—and Anne Sullivan, the teacher who introduced her to...
(1962) in which she played Helen Keller's mother.
She is a trained lyric
Voice type
A voice type is a particular kind of human singing voice perceived as having certain identifying qualities or characteristics. Voice classification is the process by which human voices are evaluated and are thereby designated into voice types...
soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
and starred on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
in New Faces (circa 1956), The First Gentleman (1959) and received Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
nominations for Best Actress in a Musical for her performances in 110 in the Shade (1964) and Baker Street
Baker Street (musical)
Baker Street is a musical with a book by Jerome Coopersmith and music and lyrics by Marian Grudeff and Raymond Jessel.Loosely based on the Sherlock Holmes story A Scandal in Bohemia by Arthur Conan Doyle, it is set in and around London in 1897, the year in which England celebrated the Diamond...
(1965).
Swenson is 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
Benson (TV series)
Benson is an American television sitcom which aired from September 13, 1979, to April 19, 1986, on ABC. The series was a spin-off from the soap opera parody Soap ; however, Benson discarded the...
suggest otherwise, she was born and raised in the U.S., and normally speaks with an American
General American
General American , also known as Standard American English , is a major accent of American English. The accent is not restricted to the United States...
accent.