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 theTony Award forBest Actress in a Musical for her performances as Lizzie Curry in110 in the Shade andIrene Adler inBaker Street. She also spent seven years portraying Gretchen Kraus in the ABC comedy seriesBenson.
Inga Swenson was born inOmaha, Nebraska, on December 29, 1932,[1][a] the youngest of three children of Geneva Pauline (née Seeger) and Axel Carl Richard "A.C.R." Swenson.[6] Her father died in a car accident when she was 15.[7]
Swenson graduated fromOmaha Central High School in 1950.[8] While attending OCHS, as a junior, Swenson won the state title in theNational 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 atNorthwestern University underAlvina Krause, among others.[9][10]
Swenson appeared in two episodes ofBonanza: "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 sitcomBenson. 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 amulti-episode stint as the conniving revenge-seeking Ingrid Svenson, the Swedish birth mother of Corinne Tate (Diana Canova), on the TV sitcomSoap. (Benson was a spinoff ofSoap and shared the same producers.) She also appeared as Northern matriarch Maude Hazard in the mini-seriesNorth and South in 1985 and again in 1986.
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.[15][14][7]
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.
^Multiple sources report that Swenson was born on December 29, 1932.[2][3][4] 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.[5]
^Genzlinger, Neil (August 21, 2023). "Inga Swenson, 90, Whose Talents Drew Raves on Broadway and Roars on 'Benson'".The New York Times. p. B5.ProQuest2853736239.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.ProQuest2759168576.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.ProQuest2012037623.Actress Viveca Lindfors is 68. Actress Inga Swenson is 56. [...] Actor Jon Voight is 50.
^abcdefghijklHubbard, Linda S.; O'Donnell, Owen, eds. (1989)."Inga Swenson".Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television. Vol. 7. Detroit:Gale. p. 393. RetrievedMay 28, 2022.
"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..."
