– Legendary actress Inga Swenson passes away at age 89
– Swenson was best known for her role as Gretchen Kraus on the sitcom “Benson”
– Her acting career spanned theater, television, and film, including a Tony-nominated performance in Broadway’s “110 in the Shade”
Inga Swenson, a veteran Broadway and television actress, passed away on December 9 at the age of 89. Her cause of death has not yet been made public. Swenson is best known for her role as Gretchen Kraus, a feisty German housekeeper, on the hit sitcom “Benson,” which aired from 1979 to 1986.
Swenson was born on December 29, 1931, in Omaha, Nebraska. She started her professional acting career on stage, starring in various Broadway shows. In 1963, she received a Tony nomination for her performance as Lizzie Curry in “110 in the Shade.” Some notable roles in her extensive theater career included appearances in “The First Gentleman,” “The Sound of Music,” “The Miracle Worker,” and “Desire Under the Elms.”
Her television and film career was equally impressive. Before “Benson,” Swenson starred in the TV series “The Nurses” and appeared in the movies “Advise and Consent” and “The Miracle Worker.” After “Benson,” she made guest appearances on hit shows like “Murder, She Wrote” and “Newhart.”
Although Swenson did not win any Emmy Awards for her role on “Benson,” she received two nominations in 1982 and 1983. The series featured Swenson and actor Robert Guillaume as Benson DuBois, a former butler who becomes the state budget director, in a spin-off from the popular sitcom “Soap.”
Inga Swenson is survived by her husband, actor and singer Lowell Harris, as well as their two sons, Mark and Eric. Swenson leaves behind a rich legacy of talent and a slew of fans who will fondly remember her contributions to the world of theater, television, and film.