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Inga Swenson
Swenson as Ophelia in the American Shakespeare Festival production of Hamlet, 1958
Born	(1932-12-29)December 29, 1932 Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Died	July 23, 2023(2023-07-23) (aged 90) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Education	Northwestern University
Occupations	Actress singer
Years active	1949–1998
Television	Benson
Spouse	Lowell Harris (m. 1953)
Children	2

Inga Swenson (December 29, 1932 – July 23, 2023) was an American actress and singer. She appeared in multiple Broadway productions and was nominated twice for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performances as Lizzie Curry in 110 in the Shade and Irene Adler in Baker Street. She also spent seven years portraying Gretchen Kraus in the ABC comedy series Benson.

Early years

Inga Swenson was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on December 29, 1932, the youngest of three children of Geneva Pauline (née Seeger) and Axel Carl Richard "A.C.R." Swenson. Her father died in a car accident when she was 15.

Swenson graduated from Omaha Central High School in 1950. While attending OCHS, as a junior, Swenson won the state title in the National Forensic League's speech contest and later, she won the NFL's national contest. As a high school senior she was considered the school's best vocalist and she was also the president of the Central High Players. She studied drama at Northwestern University under Alvina Krause, among others.

Career

Early in her career, Swenson had supporting roles in the films Advise & Consent (1962) and The Miracle Worker (1962) in which she played Helen Keller's mother. Swenson was a trained lyric soprano and starred on Broadway in New Faces (c. 1956), and The First Gentleman (1959), receiving Tony Award nominations for Best Actress in a Musical for her performances in 110 in the Shade (1964) and Baker Street (1965). A life member of The Actors Studio, she said that her favorite role was Lizzie Currie in the musical 110 in the Shade.

Swenson appeared in two episodes of Bonanza: "Inger, My Love" (1962) and "Journey Remembered" (1963) as Hoss's mother. She portrayed Gretchen Kraus, the autocratic and acerbic German cook (later head housekeeper and budget director) in the TV sitcom Benson. Gretchen's catchphrase was, "I hear you!" and known for childhood stories, starting with, "When I was a little girl in Bavaria..." Her portrayal garnered three Emmy nominations. She was cast after having appeared in a multi-episode stint as the conniving revenge-seeking Ingrid Svenson, the Swedish birth mother of Corinne Tate (Diana Canova), on the TV sitcom Soap. (Benson was a spinoff of Soap and shared the same producers.) She also appeared as Northern matriarch Maude Hazard in the mini-series North and South in 1985 and again in 1986.

Swenson retired from acting in 1998.

Personal life and death

Swenson married actor/singer Lowell Harris in 1953, and the couple had two sons: Mark and James. James died in a motorcycle accident in 1987, at the age of 26. Mark is retired from the motion picture and television film editing field and the financial services industry.

Swenson died in Los Angeles on July 23, 2023, at the age of 90.

Stage credits

• Stage debut – Maid, Peg O' My Heart, Berkshire Playhouse, Stockbridge, MA, 1949.
• Broadway debut – Singer, New Faces of '56 (revue), Ethel Barrymore Theatre, 1956.
• London debut – Lizzie Currie, 110 in the Shade, Palace Theatre, 1967.

Principal stage appearances

• Princess Alexandria, The Swan, Minnie Fay, The Merchant of Yonkers, singer, Sing Out, Sweet Land, and extra, Othello, all Playhouse Theatre, Eagles Mere, Pennsylvania, 1952.
• Aunt Anna Rose, Treasure Hunt, Monica, The Medium, Lucy, The Telephone, Dunyasha, The Cherry Orchard, Alizon Elliot, The Lady's Not for Burning, and Isabelle, Ring 'round the Moon, all Playhouse Theatre, Eagles Mere, Pennsylvania, 1953.
• Georgie Elgin, The Country Girl, Celia Copplestone, The Cocktail Party, Mrs. Larue, Mrs. McThing, Countess Aurelia, The Madwoman of Chaillot, and Angelique, The Imaginary Invalid, all Playhouse Theatre, Eagles Mere, Pennsylvania, 1954.
• Olivia, Twelfth Night, Jan Hus Playhouse, New York City, 1954.
• Princess Charlotte, The First Gentleman, Belasco Theatre, New York City, 1957.
• Madge, Picnic, and Amy Kittridge, A Swim in the Sea, both Royal Poinciana Playhouse, Palm Beach, FL, 1958.
• Ophelia, Hamlet, Helena, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Perdita, The Winter's Tale, all American Shakespeare Festival, Stratford, CT, 1958.
• Amy Kittridge, A Swim in the Sea, Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia, PA, 1958.
• Juliet, Romeo and Juliet, American Shakespeare Festival, 1959.
• Solveig, Peer Gynt, Phoenix Theatre, New York City, 1960.
• Julie Jordan, Carousel, Melody Top Theatre, Hillside, IL, 1962.
• Gillian, Bell, Book, and Candle, Kiamesha Playhouse, Kiamesha Lake, New York, 1962.
• Desdemona, Othello, Arena Stage, Washington, DC, 1963.
• Magnolia, Show Boat, Kenley Players, Warren, OH, then Columbus, OH, both 1963.
• Lizzie Currie, 110 in the Shade, Broadhurst Theatre, New York City, 1963.
• Irene Adler, Baker Street, Broadway Theatre, New York City, 1965.
• title role, Mary Stuart, Parker Playhouse, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 1967.
• Eliza Doolittle, My Fair Lady, City Center Light Opera Company, City center theater, New York City, 1968.
• Lady Alice More, A Man for All Seasons, Center Theatre Group, Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles, 1979.
• The Crucible, Center Theatre Group, Ahmanson Theatre, 1972
• The Four Poster, New Stage Theatre, Jackson, MS, 1979.

Major theatrical tours

• Marie Louise, My Three Angels, U.S. cities, 1957.
• Julie Jordan, Carousel, U.S. cities, 1960.
• Lizzie Currie, 110 in the Shade, U.S. cities, 1963

Movie credits

• Ellen Anderson, Advise & Consent, Columbia, 1962
• Kate Keller, The Miracle Worker, United Artists, 1962
• Sister Monica, Lipstick, Paramount, 1976
• Mrs. Craddock, The Betsy, Allied Artists, 1978
• Singer, The Mountain Men, Columbia, 1980

Television credits

Television debut – Singer, Chrysler Special, CBC (Canadian television), 1957.

Television series

• Gretchen Kraus, Benson, ABC, 1979–86.

Television mini-series

• Amelia Foster, Testimony of Two Men, syndicated, 1977.
• Maude Hazard, North and South, ABC, 1985.
• Maude Hazard, North and South, Book II, ABC, 1986.
• Marilyn Bradshaw Reagan, Nutcracker: Money, Madness, and Murder, NBC, 1987.

Television episodes

• Liza, "The Best Wine", Goodyear Playhouse, NBC, 1957
• Marjorie, "The World of Nick Adams", The Seven Lively Arts, CBS, 1957
• Maria, "Heart of Darkness", Playhouse 90, CBS, 1958
• Milly Theale, "Wings of the Dove", Playhouse 90, CBS, 1958
• Vera, "Goodbye, But It Doesn't Go Away", The United States Steel Hour, CBS, 1958
• Rose Maylie, "Oliver Twist", DuPont Show of the Month, CBS, 1959
• Lady Jane, "Victoria Regina", Hallmark Hall of Fame, NBC, 1961
• Inger Borgstrom Cartwright, "Inger, My Love" and "Journey Remembered", Bonanza, NBC, 1962
• Henrietta Higgins, "The Sod House Woman", Sara, CBS, 1976
• Marie Barrett, "Hitchhike To Terror", Barnaby Jones, CBS, 1978
• Ingrid Svenson, Soap, ABC, 1978–79
• Helen's mother, "Sex & Violence" (unaired), Highcliffe Manor, NBC, 1979
• Sonya Green, "Till Death Do Us Part", Hotel, ABC, 1988
• Holly Lindstrom, "Little Sister", The Golden Girls, NBC, 1989
• Madelyn Stone, "George and the Old Maid", Newhart, CBS, 1989.

Other television

• The Defenders, CBS, 1961 and 1962
• Dr. Kildare, NBC, 1962
• The Nurses, CBS, 1963
• American Musical Theatre, CBS, 1964
• The Tonight Show, NBC, 1964
• My Father and My Mother, CBS Playhouse, CBS, 1968
• Medical Center, CBS, 1970 and 1971
• The Tape Recorder, NET Playhouse, PBS, 1970

Television movies

• Ilyana Kovalefskii, Earth II, ABC, 1971.
• Nora Bayes, Ziegfeld: The Man and His Women, NBC, 1978.
• Matty Kline, Bay Cove, NBC, 1987.

Television specials

• Kate, The Gay Deceivers, CBC, 1958.
• Lavinia, Androcles and the Lion, NBC, 1967.
• Mrs. Trimble, My Dear Uncle Sherlock, ABC Short Story Specials, ABC, 1977.
• Mrs. Marston, The Terrible Secret, ABC Afterschool Special, ABC, 1979.

Notes

1. Multiple sources report that Swenson was born on December 29, 1932. However, at least one other source says that she was born on December 19, 1934, although it acknowledges that other sources say that she was born in 1932.

References

1. Genzlinger, Neil (August 21, 2023). "Inga Swenson, 90, Whose Talents Drew Raves on Broadway and Roars on 'Benson'". The New York Times. p. B5. ProQuest 2853736239. Inga Swenson, whose acting talent, striking looks and versatile singing voice brought her success on the Broadway stage in the 1950s and '60s, and who years later rode a phony German accent to sitcom stardom as the cook on the long-running sitcom "Benson," died on July 23 at a care facility in Los Angeles. She was 90. Inga Swenson was born on Dec. 29, 1932, in Omaha to A.C.R. and Geneva Swenson. See also:
   • "Today's Birthdays". The Tennessean. December 29, 2022. p. 2A. ProQuest 2759168576. Inga Swenson ('Benson') is 90. Jon Voight is 84. Ted Danson is 75.
   • "Today in History: Today's Birthdays". Asbury Park Press. December 29, 1988. p. 19. ProQuest 2012037623. Actress Viveca Lindfors is 68. Actress Inga Swenson is 56. Actor Jon Voight is 50.
2. "Inga Swenson". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
3. "Inga Swenson". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
4. "Inga Swenson". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
5. ^ Hubbard, Linda S.; O'Donnell, Owen, eds. (1989). "Inga Swenson". Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television. Vol. 7. Detroit: Gale. p. 393. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
6. "The Star Performers of 'New Faces' Represent Seven Different Countries". The Boston Globe. p. 72. Retrieved August 25, 2023. See also:
   • "Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KLWN-R1M : 17 October 2017), Axel Carl Richard Swenson and Geneva Pauline Seeger Or Seager, 28 Dec 1918, , Mills, Iowa, United States; citing reference , county courthouses, Iowa; FHL microfilm 1,491,831.
   • "Deaths and Funerals". Omaha World-Herald. p. 12. "SWENSON—Dr. Edward W age 80, Benecia, CA, was born in Omaha, October 26. Preceded in death by parents, Axel and Geveva Swenson, of Omaha and brother, J. Richard Swenson, also of Omaha. Survived by sister, Inga Swenson Harris, and husband Lowell of Los Angeles, CA, and by children..."
7. ^ Barnes, Mike (July 28, 2023). "Inga Swenson, Actress on Broadway and Gretchen the Cook on 'Benson,' Dies at 90". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
8. Profile: OCHS, chsfomaha.org. Accessed December 29, 2022.
9. Goode, James (December 15, 2004). "Ms. Alvina Krause". Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved December 2, 2013. Please see also www.bte.org/alvina-krause/
10. "New Theater Honors Alvina Krause". Northwestern (magazine). Spring 2010. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
11. Gaver, Jack (March 21, 1964). "What Price Praise?". The Oxnard Press-Courier. p. 21.
12. Witbeck, Charles (January 19, 1983). "Gretchen is Thawing". The Hendersonville Times-News. p. 5.
13. Garfield, David (1980). "Appendix: Life Members of The Actors Studio as of January 1980". A Player's Place: The Story of The Actors Studio. New York: MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc. p. 280. ISBN 978-0-0254-2650-4.
14. ^ Webb Mitovich, Matt. "Benson's Inga Swenson Dead at 90". Retrieved July 28, 2023.
15. Furdyk, Brent. "'Benson' Star Inga Swenson Dead at 90". Archived from the original on July 28, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2023.

External links

• Inga Swenson at IMDb
• Inga Swenson at the Internet Broadway Database
• Inga Swenson discography at Discogs

• 1932 births
• 2023 deaths
• 20th-century American actresses
• Actresses from Omaha, Nebraska
• American stage actresses
• American film actresses
• American television actresses
• Northwestern University alumni
• Omaha Central High School alumni