Benson’s Inga Swenson Dies at 90 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

opus · 07-28-2023, 05:21 PM

Inga Swenson, who as Gretchen Kraus on the 1979-1986 sitcom Benson was an incredible comedic foil for Robert Guillaume’s titular butler, died on July 23 in Los Angeles.

Swenson died at a board-and-care facility as a result of natural causes, her son Mark told TMZ, with her husband of 70 years, Lowell Harris, at her side. Her health reportedly was on the decline for the past six months.

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/...4w9ndv13PteGgY

Zoneboy · 07-28-2023, 05:43 PM

I was going to post this, but it took nearly 20 minutes just to connect to the site.

JR1 · 07-29-2023, 11:15 PM

RIP, Inga. She lived to a pretty nice age (as did James Noble).

Inga and Robert G. had great chemistry. "I hear you..."

MikeLutton · 07-30-2023, 02:06 AM

i bet they are laughing Joking around at the Govenor Mansion In The Sky

Bonniegirl · 07-30-2023, 02:21 AM

Oh no !! Not Miss Kraus !! Very sad !

She was so funny !

May she rest in peace !!

MikeLutton · 07-30-2023, 03:05 AM

I think there only 4 people left now Katie Pete His Wife, Denise, and that Taylor guy from the 1st Season

Mr. Television · 07-30-2023, 09:32 AM

R.I.P. Inga.

icecream · 07-31-2023, 01:09 PM

A tribute to Inga Swenson is on today's blog, as well as tributes to Alan Arkin and Paxton Whitehead. Gretchen Kraus was never state budget director though, she became Benson's secretary after Denise left. What was her Newhart guest appearance?

TJ · 07-31-2023, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icecream

A tribute to Inga Swenson is on today's blog, as well as tributes to Alan Arkin and Paxton Whitehead. Gretchen Kraus was never state budget director though, she became Benson's secretary after Denise left. What was her Newhart guest appearance?

It was mentioned on her Wikipedia page. I edited the blog.

"She portrayed Gretchen Kraus, the autocratic and acerbic German cook (later head housekeeper and budget director) in the TV sitcom Benson."

She played Madelyn Stone in the season 7 episode titled "George and the Old Maid" on Newhart.

The Inn's old maid, Madelyn Stone (Inga Swenson), returns after a 25-year absence to answer George's marriage proposal.

PaperClips · 07-31-2023, 01:42 PM

She had a good run on Benson. I think they styled her hair after Moe on the Three Stooges.

dee2364 · 07-31-2023, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaperClips

She had a good run on Benson. I think they styled her hair after Moe on the Three Stooges.

Absolutely not. It was a popular style from the 1970s called the pageboy, and it was unisex:

It became dated into the 1980s but I'm guessing it was kept for so long because it had become part of the look of the character and made Ms. Kraus seem more European than American.

Incidentally, Inga Swenson was a stunner as a young woman:

340wedge · 07-31-2023, 11:33 PM

RIP to Inga. She really was beautiful and a wonderful singer.
On Benson she was head of housekeeping, head of household staff when Benson was promoted to Budget Director, then Aid to Benson when he became Lt. Governor

On Newhart she played an ex love interest to George.

07-28-2023, 05:21 PM	#1
opus VB Forum Superstar Join Date: May 16, 2015 Location: VB Galaxy Posts: 32,053	Benson’s Inga Swenson Dies at 90 Inga Swenson, who as Gretchen Kraus on the 1979-1986 sitcom Benson was an incredible comedic foil for Robert Guillaume’s titular butler, died on July 23 in Los Angeles. Swenson died at a board-and-care facility as a result of natural causes, her son Mark told TMZ, with her husband of 70 years, Lowell Harris, at her side. Her health reportedly was on the decline for the past six months. https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/...4w9ndv13PteGgY

07-30-2023, 02:06 AM	#4
MikeLutton Mike Lutton DVD Legend! Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 05, 2005 Location: usa pennsyvania Posts: 6,870	i bet they are laughing Joking around at the Govenor Mansion In The Sky
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07-30-2023, 09:32 AM	#7
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,125	R.I.P. Inga.
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07-31-2023, 01:09 PM	#8
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,608	A tribute to Inga Swenson is on today's blog, as well as tributes to Alan Arkin and Paxton Whitehead. Gretchen Kraus was never state budget director though, she became Benson's secretary after Denise left. What was her Newhart guest appearance?
	__________________ Top 200 TV Shows https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...14#post6225214 Top 150 Movies https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...84#post6175384 Top 1100 Scripted TV Characters https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=493306 Top Rookie TV Shows by Calendar Year https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=365017 Top Movies by Calendar Year https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=473533

07-28-2023, 05:43 PM	#2
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,338	I was going to post this, but it took nearly 20 minutes just to connect to the site.

07-29-2023, 11:15 PM	#3
JR1 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 07, 2009 Location: USA Posts: 742	RIP, Inga. She lived to a pretty nice age (as did James Noble). Inga and Robert G. had great chemistry. "I hear you..."

07-30-2023, 02:21 AM	#5
Bonniegirl AKA Hazel Horvath Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 10, 2014 Posts: 65,399	Oh no !! Not Miss Kraus !! Very sad ! She was so funny ! May she rest in peace !!

07-30-2023, 03:05 AM	#6
MikeLutton Mike Lutton DVD Legend! Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 05, 2005 Location: usa pennsyvania Posts: 6,870	I think there only 4 people left now Katie Pete His Wife, Denise, and that Taylor guy from the 1st Season

07-31-2023, 01:42 PM	#10
PaperClips Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 09, 2021 Posts: 316	She had a good run on Benson. I think they styled her hair after Moe on the Three Stooges.

07-31-2023, 11:33 PM	#12
340wedge Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 09, 2008 Location: New York Posts: 83	RIP to Inga. She really was beautiful and a wonderful singer. On Benson she was head of housekeeping, head of household staff when Benson was promoted to Budget Director, then Aid to Benson when he became Lt. Governor On Newhart she played an ex love interest to George.