Inga Swenson (born December 29, 1932) is an American actress and singer. She appeared in multiple Broadway productions and received two Tony nominations. She also spent seven years portraying Gretchen Kraus in the ABC comedy series '' Benson''.

Early years

Inga Swenson was born in

Omaha Omaha ( ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Douglas County. Omaha is in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's 39th-largest c ...

Nebraska Nebraska () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the sout ...

, the only child of Geneva Pauline ( Seeger) and Axel Carl Richard "A.C.R." Swenson. She 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 Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world. Charte ...

under

Alvina Krause Alvina Krause (January 28, 1893 – December 31, 1981) was an American drama teacher at Northwestern University, theatrical entrepreneur, "maker of stars", and director. Her students called her AK. Her first name is pronounced Al-vine-na P ...

, among others, and was a member of the Alpha Phi sorority.

Family

She married sound engineer Lowell Harris in 1953. The couple had two sons, one of whom predeceased his parents.

Career

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. Swenson is a trained lyric

soprano A soprano () is a type of classical female singing voice and has the highest vocal range of all voice types. The soprano's vocal range (using scientific pitch notation) is from approximately middle C (C4) = 261 Hz to "high A" (A5) = 880& ...

and starred on Broadway in ''New Faces'' (c. 1956), and '' The First Gentleman'' (1959), receiving

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual c ...

nominations for Best Actress in a Musical for her performances in '' 110 in the Shade'' (1964) and ''

Baker Street Baker Street is a street in the Marylebone district of the City of Westminster in London. It is named after builder William Baker, who laid out the street in the 18th century. The street is most famous for its connection to the fictional detec ...

'' (1965). A life member of

The Actors Studio The Actors Studio is a membership organization for professional actors, theatre directors and playwrights at 432 West 44th Street between Ninth and Tenth avenues in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. It was founde ...

, she said her favorite role was Lizzie Currie in the musical '' 110 in the Shade''. Swenson appeared in two episodes of ''

Bonanza ''Bonanza'' is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 13, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 432 episodes, ''Bonanza'' is NBC's longest-running western, the second-longest-running western series on ...

'': "Inger, My Love" (1962) and "Journey Remembered" (1963). She portrayed Gretchen Kraus, the autocratic and acerbic German cook (later head housekeeper and budget director) in the TV sitcom '' Benson''. Her portrayal garnered three Emmy nominations. She was cast after appearing in a multi-episode stint as the conniving revenge-seeking Ingrid Svenson, the Swedish birth mother of Corinne Tate (

Diana Canova Diana Canova (born June 1, 1953) is an American actress, director, and professor. She is best known for her role as Corinne Tate on ''Soap'' (1977-1980). Early life Canova was born Diane Canova Rivero in West Palm Beach, Florida, to actress an ...

), on the TV sitcom ''

Soap Soap is a salt of a fatty acid used in a variety of cleansing and lubricating products. In a domestic setting, soaps are surfactants usually used for washing, bathing, and other types of housekeeping. In industrial settings, soaps are us ...

''. (''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 North and South may refer to: Literature * ''North and South'' (Gaskell novel), an 1854 novel by Elizabeth Gaskell * ''North and South'' (trilogy), a series of novels by John Jakes (1982–1987) ** ''North and South'' (Jakes novel), first novel ...

'' in 1985 and again in 1986. Swenson retired in 1998.

Stage credits

*Stage debut – Maid, ''

Peg O' My Heart "Peg o' My Heart" is a popular song written by Alfred Bryan (words) and Fred Fisher (music). It was published on March 15, 1913 and it featured in the 1913 musical ''Ziegfeld Follies''. The song was first performed publicly by Irving Kaufman ...

'', Berkshire Playhouse,

Stockbridge, MA Stockbridge is a town in Berkshire County in Western Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,018 at the 2020 census. A year-round resort area, Stockbridge is h ...

, 1949. *Broadway debut – Singer, ''New Faces of '56 (revue)'', Ethel Barrymore Theatre, 1956. *London debut – Lizzie Currie, ''110 in the Shade'',

Palace Theatre Palace Theatre, or Palace Theater, is the name of many theatres in different countries, including: Australia * Palace Theatre, Melbourne, Victoria *Palace Theatre, Sydney, New South Wales Canada *Palace Theatre, housed in the Robillard Block, M ...

, 1967.

Principal stage appearances

* Princess Alexandria, ''The Swan'', Minnie Fay, '' The Merchant of Yonkers'', singer, ''Sing Out, Sweet Land'', and extra, ''

Othello ''Othello'' (full title: ''The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice'') is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, probably in 1603, set in the contemporary Ottoman–Venetian War (1570–1573) fought for the control of the Island of Cyp ...

'', 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 The Belasco Theatre is a Broadway theater at 111 West 44th Street, between Seventh Avenue and Sixth Avenue, in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Originally known as the Stuyvesant Theatre, it was built in 1907 a ...

, 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 The American Shakespeare Theatre was a theater company based in Stratford, Connecticut, United States. It was formed in the early 1950s by Lawrence Langner, Lincoln Kirstein, John Percy Burrell, and philanthropist Joseph Verner Reed. The Amer ...

Stratford, CT Stratford is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is situated on Long Island Sound at the mouth of the Housatonic River. Stratford is in the Bridgeport–Stamford–Norwalk Metropolitan Statistical Area. It was settled by ...

, 1958. * Amy Kittridge, ''A Swim in the Sea'',

Walnut Street Theatre The Walnut Street Theatre, founded in 1809 at 825 Walnut Street, on the corner of S. 9th Street in the Washington Square West neighborhood of Philadelphia, is the oldest operating theatre in the United States. The venue is operated by the Walnu ...

Philadelphia, PA Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Since ...

, 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 Kiamesha Lake is a hamlet (and census-designated place) in the town of Thompson, in east-central Sullivan County, New York, United States. The zip code for Kiamesha Lake is 12751. Kiamesha Lake is located on Route 42, between Monticello and F ...

, 1962. * Desdemona, ''Othello'',

Arena Stage Arena Stage is a not-for-profit regional theater based in Southwest, Washington, D.C. Established in 1950, it was the first racially integrated theater in Washington, D.C. and its founders helped start the U.S. regional theater movement. It is ...

, Washington, DC, 1963. * Magnolia, ''Show Boat'', Kenley Players, Warren, OH, then

Columbus, OH Columbus () is the state capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the 14th-most populous city in the U.S., the second-most populous city in the Midwest, after Chicago, and ...

, both 1963. * Lizzie Currie, ''110 in the Shade'', Broadhurst Theatre, New York City, 1963. * Irene Adler, ''Baker Street'',

Broadway Theatre Broadway theatre,Although ''theater'' is generally the spelling for this common noun in the United States (see American and British English spelling differences), 130 of the 144 extant and extinct Broadway venues use (used) the spelling ''T ...

, 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 The Ahmanson Theatre is one of the four main venues that compose the Los Angeles Music Center. History The theatre was built as a result of a donation from Howard F. Ahmanson Sr, the founder of H.F. Ahmanson & Co., an insurance and savings and ...

, Los Angeles, 1979. *

The Crucible ''The Crucible'' is a 1953 play by American playwright Arthur Miller. It is a dramatized and partially fictionalized story of the Salem witch trials that took place in the Massachusetts Bay Colony during 1692–93. Miller wrote the play as ...

, 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 A carousel or carrousel (mainly North American English), merry-go-round (international), roundabout (British English), or hurdy-gurdy (an old term in Australian English, in SA) is a type of amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular pl ...

'', U.S. cities, 1960. * Lizzie Currie, '' 110 in the Shade'', U.S. cities, 1963

Movie credits

* Ellen Anderson, '' Advise and Consent'',

Columbia Columbia may refer to: * Columbia (personification), the historical female national personification of the United States, and a poetic name for America Places North America Natural features * Columbia Plateau, a geologic and geographic region i ...

, 1962 * Kate Keller, '' The Miracle Worker'',

United Artists United Artists Corporation (UA), currently doing business as United Artists Digital Studios, is an American digital production company. Founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks, the stu ...

, 1962 * Sister Monica, ''

Lipstick Lipstick is a cosmetic product used to apply coloration and texture to lips, often made of wax and oil. Different pigments are used to produce color, and minerals such as silica may be used to provide texture. The use of lipstick dates bac ...

'', Paramount, 1976 * Mrs. Craddock, '' The Betsy'', Allied Artists, 1978 * Singer, '' The Mountain Men'',

, 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, ''

'', 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 ''Goodyear Television Playhouse'' is an American anthology series that was telecast live on NBC from 1951 to 1957 during the first Golden Age of Television. Sponsored by Goodyear, Goodyear alternated sponsorship with Philco, and the '' Philco ...

'', NBC, 1957 * Marjorie, "The World of Nick Adams", '' The Seven Lively Arts'', CBS, 1957 * Maria, "Heart of Darkness", ''

Playhouse 90 ''Playhouse 90'' was an American television anthology drama series that aired on CBS from 1956 to 1960 for a total of 133 episodes. The show was produced at CBS Television City in Los Angeles, California. Since live anthology drama series of th ...

'', CBS, 1958 * Milly Theale, "Wings of the Dove", ''Playhouse 90'', CBS, 1958 * Vera, "Goodbye, But It Doesn't Go Away", '' U.S. Steel Hour'', CBS, 1958 * Rose Maylie, "Oliver Twist", '' DuPont Show of the Month'', CBS, 1959 * Lady Jane, "Victoria Regina", ''

Hallmark Hall of Fame ''Hallmark Hall of Fame'', originally called ''Hallmark Television Playhouse'', is an anthology program on American television, sponsored by Hallmark Cards, a Kansas City-based greeting card company. The longest-running prime-time series in ...

'', NBC, 1961 * Inger Borgstrom Cartwright, "Inger, My Love" and "Journey Remembered", ''

'', NBC, 1962 * Henrietta Higgins, "The Sod House Woman", ''

Sara Sara may refer to: Arts, media and entertainment Film and television * ''Sara'' (1992 film), 1992 Iranian film by Dariush Merhjui * ''Sara'' (1997 film), 1997 Polish film starring Bogusław Linda * ''Sara'' (2010 film), 2010 Sri Lankan Sinhal ...

'', CBS, 1976 * Marie Barrett, "Hitchhike To Terror", ''

Barnaby Jones ''Barnaby Jones'' is an American detective television series starring Buddy Ebsen as a formerly retired investigator and Lee Meriwether as his widowed daughter-in-law, who run a private detective firm in Los Angeles, California. The show was o ...

'', CBS, 1978 * Ingrid Swenson, ''

'', 1978, 1979 * Helen's mother, "Sex & Violence" (unaired), '' Highcliffe Manor'', NBC, 1979 * Sonya Green, ''Hotel'', ABC, 1988 * Holly Lindstrom, ''

The Golden Girls ''The Golden Girls'' is an American sitcom created by Susan Harris that aired on NBC from September 14, 1985, to May 9, 1992, with a total of 180 half-hour episodes, spanning seven seasons. With an ensemble cast starring Bea Arthur, Betty Wh ...

'', NBC, 1989 * Madelyn Stone, '' Newhart'', CBS, 1989.

Other television

* '' The Defenders'', CBS, 1961 and 1962 * '' Dr. Kildare'', NBC, 1962 * ''Bonanza'', NBC, 1963 * '' The Nurses'', CBS, 1963 * '' American Musical Theatre'', CBS, 1964 * ''

The Tonight Show ''The Tonight Show'' is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. The show has been hosted by six comedians: Steve Allen (1954–1957), Jack Paar (1957–1962), Johnny Carson (1962–1992), Jay Leno (1992–2009 and 201 ...

'', NBC, 1964 * ''My Father and My Mother'', CBS Playhouse, CBS, 1968 * '' Medical Center'', CBS, 1970 and 1971 * ''The Tape Recorder'',

NET Playhouse ''NET Playhouse'' was an American dramatic television anthology series produced by National Educational Television. NET subsequently merged with WNDT Newark to form WNET, and was superseded by the Public Broadcasting Service, though the NET tit ...

, 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

* 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 Afterschool Special'' is an American television anthology series that aired on ABC from October 4, 1972, to January 23, 1997, usually in the late afternoon on weekdays. Most episodes were dramatically presented situations, often controve ...

, ABC, 1979. * Kate, ''The Gay Deceivers'', CBC, 1956.

Notes

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Swenson, Inga 1932 births Living people 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