Inga Swenson (born December , ) is an American actress.Inga Swenson
graduated from Omaha Central High School in Omaha, Nebraska, in . She
studied drama at Northwestern University under Alvina Krause, among
others, and was a member of the Alpha Phi sorority. Early in her
career, Swenson had supporting roles in the films Advise and Consent
() and The Miracle Worker () in which she played Helen Keller's
mother. Swenson is a trained lyric soprano and starred on Broadway in
New Faces (c. ), and The First Gentleman (), receiving Tony Award
nominations for Best Actress in a Musical for her performances in in
the Shade () and Baker Street ().Swenson had a role in the TV western
series Bonanza in two episodes: "Inger, My Love" () and "Journey
Remembered" (). Swenson is best known for her portrayal of Gretchen
Kraus, the autocratic and acerbic German cook (later head housekeeper
and budget director) in the TV sitcom Benson. She received the part by
appearing in a multi-episode stint as Ingrid Svenson, the Swedish
birth mother of Corinne Tate (Diana Canova), on the TV sitcom Soap,
which had the same producers. She also appeared as northern matriarch
Maude Hazard in the mini-series North and South in and again in .
graduated from Omaha Central High School in Omaha, Nebraska, in . She
studied drama at Northwestern University under Alvina Krause, among
others, and was a member of the Alpha Phi sorority. Early in her
career, Swenson had supporting roles in the films Advise and Consent
() and The Miracle Worker () in which she played Helen Keller's
mother. Swenson is a trained lyric soprano and starred on Broadway in
New Faces (c. ), and The First Gentleman (), receiving Tony Award
nominations for Best Actress in a Musical for her performances in in
the Shade () and Baker Street ().Swenson had a role in the TV western
series Bonanza in two episodes: "Inger, My Love" () and "Journey
Remembered" (). Swenson is best known for her portrayal of Gretchen
Kraus, the autocratic and acerbic German cook (later head housekeeper
and budget director) in the TV sitcom Benson. She received the part by
appearing in a multi-episode stint as Ingrid Svenson, the Swedish
birth mother of Corinne Tate (Diana Canova), on the TV sitcom Soap,
which had the same producers. She also appeared as northern matriarch
Maude Hazard in the mini-series North and South in and again in .
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