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Inga Swenson


Trivia:

Is perhaps best-known to a later generation in the atypical role of tart-tongued, German-accented executive housekeeper Gretchen Kraus on the popular 1980s TV series Benson (ABC: 1979-1986). The thick accent required of the character led many fans at the time to mistakenly believe Swenson was actually German, when in real life she speaks perfect English. See more trivia »
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Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 3 nominations See more awards »

Known For


Filmography

Hide HideActress (43 titles)
1997-1998 Life with Louie (TV series)
Project: Mother's Day (1998) (voice)
Family Portrait (1997) (voice)
 
1989 Doctor Doctor (TV series)
Connie Stratford
Pediatricks (1989) … Connie Stratford
Patients Are a Virtue (1989) … Connie Stratford
The Search for Armand Peltzer (1989) … Connie Stratford (credit only)
 
1989 The Golden Girls (TV series)
Holly
Little Sister (1989) … Holly
 
1989 Newhart (TV series)
Madelaine Stone
George and the Old Maid (1989) … Madelaine Stone
 
1988 Hotel (TV series)
Sonya Green
Till Death Do Us Part (1988) … Sonya Green
 
1987 Bay Coven (TV movie)
Matty Kline
 
1987 Nutcracker: Money, Madness & Murder (TV mini-series)
Marilyn
 
1986 North and South, Book II (TV mini-series)
Maude Hazard
Episode #1.6 (1986) … Maude Hazard
Episode #1.5 (1986) … Maude Hazard
Episode #1.4 (1986) … Maude Hazard
Episode #1.3 (1986) … Maude Hazard
Episode #1.2 (1986) … Maude Hazard
 
1979-1986 Benson (TV series)
Miss Gretchen Wilomena Kraus / Gretchen Kraus
 
1985 North and South (TV mini-series)
Maude Hazard
Episode #1.6 (1985) … Maude Hazard
Episode #1.5 (1985) … Maude Hazard
Episode #1.4 (1985) … Maude Hazard
Episode #1.3 (1985) … Maude Hazard
Episode #1.2 (1985) … Maude Hazard (credit only)
 
1980 The Mountain Men
White SInger at the Mountain Men Gathering. (uncredited)
 
1979 ABC Afterschool Specials (TV series)
Mrs. Marston
The Terrible Secret (1979) … Mrs. Marston
 
1978-1979 Soap (TV series)
Ingrid Swenson / Ingrid Swenson (in credits Svenson) / Ingrid Svenson
Episode #2.18 (1979) … Ingrid Svenson
Episode #1.24 (1978) … Ingrid Swenson (in credits Svenson)
Episode #1.23 (1978) … Ingrid Swenson (in credits Svenson)
Episode #1.19 (1978) … Ingrid Swenson
Episode #1.18 (1978) … Ingrid Swenson
 
1979 Highcliffe Manor (TV series)
Sex & Violence (1979)
 
1978 Vega$ (TV series)
The Producer
The Pageant (1978) … The Producer
 
1976-1978 Barnaby Jones (TV series)
Ann Hobson / Marie Barrett
Hitch-Hike to Terror (1978) … Marie Barrett
The Lonely Victims (1976) … Ann Hobson
 
1978 Ziegfeld: The Man and His Women (TV movie)
Nora Bayes
 
1978 The Betsy
Mrs. Craddock
 
1977 Testimony of Two Men (TV mini-series)
Amelia Foster
 
1977 ABC Weekend Specials (TV series)
Esther Trimble
My Dear Uncle Sherlock (1977) … Esther Trimble
 
1976 Lipstick
Sister Monica
 
1976 Sara (TV series)
Sod House Woman (1976)
 
1975 The Rookies (TV series)
Barbara Paige
Eye for an Eye (1975) … Barbara Paige
 
1973 Griff (TV series)
Katherine McAfee
Isolate and Destroy (1973) … Katherine McAfee
 
1973 Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law (TV series)
Kirsten
Sweet Harvest (1973) … Kirsten
 
1971 Earth II (TV movie)
Ilyana Kovalefskii
 
1970-1971 Medical Center (TV series)
Mrs. Amons / Nina Hoagley
Secret Heritage (1971) … Mrs. Amons
The Deceived (1970) … Nina Hoagley
 
1970 NET Playhouse (TV series)
Secretary (segment "The Tape Recorder")
The Sand Castle/The Tape Recorder (1970) … Secretary (segment "The Tape Recorder")
 
1970 New York Television Theatre (TV series)
Secretary
The Tape Recorder (1970) … Secretary
 
1968 CBS Playhouse (TV series)
Kate
My Father and My Mother (1968) … Kate
 
1967 Androcles and the Lion (TV movie)
Lavinia
 
1962-1963 Bonanza (TV series)
Inger Borgstrom / Inger Borgstrom Cartwright
Inger, My Love (1962) … Inger Borgstrom
 
1963 The Doctors and the Nurses (TV series)
Sandra Leonard
Party Girl (1963) … Sandra Leonard
 
1962 Dr. Kildare (TV series)
Paula Waller
Breakdown (1962) … Paula Waller
 
1962 Advise & Consent
Ellen Anderson
 
1962 The Defenders (TV series)
Claire Stafford
The Locked Room (1962) … Claire Stafford
 
1961 Victoria Regina (TV movie)
Lady Jane
 
1960 Play of the Week (TV series)
 
1959 The DuPont Show of the Month (TV series)
Rose
Oliver Twist (1959) … Rose
 
1958-1959 Playhouse 90 (TV series)
Maria / Milly Theale
Heart of Darkness (1958) … Maria
 
1954-1958 The United States Steel Hour (TV series)
Vera Steuben
Goodbye... But It Doesn't Go Away (1958) … Vera Steuben
 
1957 Goodyear Playhouse (TV series)
The Best Wine (1957)
 
Show ShowSelf (7 titles)
2013 Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age (documentary) (post-production)
Herself
 
1985 The 37th Annual Emmy Awards (TV special)
Herself - Nominee: Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series & Presenter: Creative Arts Awards
 
1985 Night of 100 Stars II (TV movie)
Herself
 
1982 The 34th Annual Emmy Awards (TV special)
Herself - Nominee: Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Variety or Music Series & Presenter: Best Directing/Writing in a Comedy Series
 
1979-1982 Family Feud (TV series)
Herself
Heroes vs. Villains 2 (1982) … Herself
Heroes vs. Villains 3 (1982) … Herself
One Day at a Time vs. Benson (1979) … Herself
 
1965 Password All-Stars (TV series)
Herself - Celebrity Contestant
Episode dated 18 March 1965 (1965) … Herself - Celebrity Contestant
 
1964 The Jack Paar Program (TV series)
Herself
Episode #3.12 (1964) … Herself
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (2 titles)
2005 Great Performances (TV series)
 
1976 America at the Movies (documentary)
Kate Keller (uncredited)
 
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Personal Details

Other Works:

(1956). Stage Play: New Faces of 1956. Musical comedy/revue. "Stars in the Rough," "Steady Edna," "Darts" sketches by Paul Lynde. "The Broken Kimona" sketch by Richard Maury. "A Canful of Trash" sketch by Louis Botto. "Madame Interpreter" sketch... See more »

Publicity Listings:

1 Article  | See more »

Height:

5' 9½" (1.77 m)
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Did You Know?

Trivia:

Is perhaps best-known to a later generation in the atypical role of tart-tongued, German-accented executive housekeeper Gretchen Kraus on the popular 1980s TV series Benson (ABC: 1979-1986). The thick accent required of the character led many fans at the time to mistakenly believe Swenson was actually German, when in real life she speaks perfect English. See more »

Star Sign:

Capricorn