Inga Swenson

Her Broadway credits included New Faces and The First Gentleman, but she is perhaps best remembered for her performances in 110 in the Shade and Baker Street, both of which brought her Tony nominations. Swenson also appeared in the films Advise & Consent (1962) and The Miracle Worker (1962), where she played Helen Keller's mother. On television, she was a familiar face in guest roles, including two episodes of Bonanza as Hoss's mother. From 1979 to 1986, she portrayed Gretchen Kraus, the acerbic Austrian cook and later head housekeeper, on the sitcom Benson. Her character's catchphrase "I hear you!" and her childhood stories beginning with "When I was a little girl in Bavaria..." made her a memorable presence. Before Benson, she had a multi-episode arc on the sitcom Soap as Ingrid Svenson, the Swedish birth mother of Corinne Tate. She also played Maude Hazard in the mini-series North and South in 1985 and 1986.

Swenson was a life member of The Actors Studio and a trained lyric soprano. She said her favorite role was Lizzie Curry in 110 in the Shade. She married actor and singer Lowell Harris in 1953, and they had two sons, Mark and James. James died in a motorcycle accident in 1987 at age 26. Mark later retired from film editing and financial services. Swenson passed away in Los Angeles on July 23, 2023, at the age of 90. She was 5'9" tall with blonde hair and blue eyes.