Inga Swenson, 'Benson' Star, Dead at 90
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Inga Swenson, known for her role on the '80s sitcom Benson, has died. She was 90 years old.
She died Sunday night, July 23, of natural causes, her son Mark told TMZ. Her husband, Lowell Harris, was with her when she passed at an inpatient care facility.
Mark shared that the actress' health had been declining over the last six months, though the publication did not offer specifics.
Swenson started acting on screen in 1957, but is perhaps most famous for her role as German cook Gretchen Kraus on Benson, a spin-off of the series Soap, on which she also notably appeared on several episodes as Ingrid Svenson, impressing the crew so much she netted a brand new role.
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She was seen in 159 episodes across seven seasons and garnered three Emmy nominations for her work.
A trained soprano, she also racked up two Tony nominations for Best Actress in a Musical for her Broadway roles as Lizzie Curry in 110 in the Shade and Irene Adler in Baker Street.
You may also recognize her as Helen Keller's mother in 1962's The Miracle Worker. Her final role was to voice Grandma Helga in the animated Life with Louie in 1998, after which she retired from Hollywood.
Swenson is survived by her husband, a sound engineer whom she married in February of 1953, and son. She was preceded in death by son James, who was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1987.
She will be cremated and buried with her son, James.
