Inga Swenson, the two-time Tony-nominated singer and actress who as the dictatorial German cook Gretchen Kraus sparred with Robert Guillaume‘s character on the 1980s ABC sitcom Benson, has died. She was 90.
Swenson died Sunday night of natural causes in hospice care in Los Angeles, her son, Mark Harris, told The Hollywood Reporter.
Swenson also sparkled in two critically acclaimed 1962 films released seven weeks apart — as the mother of Helen Keller (Patty Duke) in Arthur Penn’s The Miracle Worker (1962) and as the wife of a U.S. senator with a dark secret (Don Murray) in Otto Preminger’s political thriller Advise & Consent (1962).
On the strength of those performances, the Nebraska native — no, she was not born in Germany — was cast in 1963 as the spinster Lizzy in 110 in the Shade, based on N. Richard Nash’s play The Rainmaker. She received a Tony nomination for best actress in a musical for that performance,...
Swenson died Sunday night of natural causes in hospice care in Los Angeles, her son, Mark Harris, told The Hollywood Reporter.
Swenson also sparkled in two critically acclaimed 1962 films released seven weeks apart — as the mother of Helen Keller (Patty Duke) in Arthur Penn’s The Miracle Worker (1962) and as the wife of a U.S. senator with a dark secret (Don Murray) in Otto Preminger’s political thriller Advise & Consent (1962).
On the strength of those performances, the Nebraska native — no, she was not born in Germany — was cast in 1963 as the spinster Lizzy in 110 in the Shade, based on N. Richard Nash’s play The Rainmaker. She received a Tony nomination for best actress in a musical for that performance,...
- 7/28/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Inga Swenson, the versatile actress best known for memorable portrayals of combative women on the TV hits Soap and Benson, has died. Her son confirmed the news to TMZ. Swenson was 90.
Swenson’s involvement on the shows began with a multi-episode arc on Soap in 1978 as the conniving revenge-seeking Ingrid Svenson, the Swedish birth mother of Corinne Tate (Diana Canova). That led to a new role on the show’s spinoff, Benson, as Gretchen Kraus, an autocratic and combative German cook.
Over the course of the latter Swenson’s character was frequently at odds with Benson (Robert Guillaume) himself, often trading insults with him as he sought to run household affairs for Governor Eugene X. Gatling (James Noble). Despite their rivalry, Benson and Kraus later became close friends on the show. Swenson was Emmy nominated three times for the role, in 1980, 1982 and 1985.
A year before her first TV credit – an...
Swenson’s involvement on the shows began with a multi-episode arc on Soap in 1978 as the conniving revenge-seeking Ingrid Svenson, the Swedish birth mother of Corinne Tate (Diana Canova). That led to a new role on the show’s spinoff, Benson, as Gretchen Kraus, an autocratic and combative German cook.
Over the course of the latter Swenson’s character was frequently at odds with Benson (Robert Guillaume) himself, often trading insults with him as he sought to run household affairs for Governor Eugene X. Gatling (James Noble). Despite their rivalry, Benson and Kraus later became close friends on the show. Swenson was Emmy nominated three times for the role, in 1980, 1982 and 1985.
A year before her first TV credit – an...
- 7/28/2023
- by Tom Tapp
- Deadline Film + TV
The First Nudie Musical, will be available for the first time on VOD/Digital on February 25th from Quiver Distribution. Written by Bruce Kimmel and starring Cindy Williams (American Graffiti, Laverne & Shirley), Stephen Nathan (Bones), Diana Canova (Soap), and Susan Buckner (Grease),
Here’s a vintage trailer:
The son of a famous studio owner is forced to make porno films to keep the bankrupt studio from being made into a shopping center. In an attempt to get back on the high ground he makes a nudie musical. He makes a bet with the debtors who wish to take ownership of the studio, that if they finance the musical and he can’t complete it within two weeks, they can foreclose.
The post Cindy Williams in The First Nudie Musical Available for the First Time on VOD/Digital February 25th appeared first on We Are Movie Geeks.
Here’s a vintage trailer:
The son of a famous studio owner is forced to make porno films to keep the bankrupt studio from being made into a shopping center. In an attempt to get back on the high ground he makes a nudie musical. He makes a bet with the debtors who wish to take ownership of the studio, that if they finance the musical and he can’t complete it within two weeks, they can foreclose.
The post Cindy Williams in The First Nudie Musical Available for the First Time on VOD/Digital February 25th appeared first on We Are Movie Geeks.
- 2/14/2022
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Acting and singing were definitely in Diana Canova’s blood since her parents were both in the business and as a result, she did end up both acting and singing in her career and would be easily confused as still being active since a few of the pages that speak of her don’t mention her retirement in 2005. Looking at her acting career though it doesn’t appear that she’s been in anything since around 2011, but with the rate at which such pages are updated it could be that she’s been around and people might not know it as much. There
Whatever Happened to Diana Canova?...
Whatever Happened to Diana Canova?...
- 12/9/2020
- by Tom
- TVovermind.com
The Danish star of The Celebration and many others discusses what seeing America only through movies when she was growing up.
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014)
Jack Reacher (2012)
Gremlins (1984)
Piranha (1978)
The ’Burbs (1989)
Matinee (1993)
Hollywood Boulevard (1976)
The Celebration (1998)
On The Border (1998)
The Idiots (1998)
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
The Nutty Professor (1963)
Sawdust and Tinsel (1953)
Deep Throat (1972)
American Graffiti (1972)
Sexual Freedom In Denmark (1970)
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (1967)
The Godfather (1972)
Stripes (1981)
Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974)
Faces (1968)
Taking Off (1971)
Gloria (1980)
Gloria (1999)
The Biggest Heroes (1996)
Nashville (1975)
That Time of Year (2018)
Psycho (1960)
All That Jazz (1979)
California Split (1974)
The Player (1992)
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
Network (1976)
Taxi Driver (1976)
Heathers (1988)
Fame (1980)
Judy (2019)
Star 80 (1983)
Lenny (1974)
Over The Edge (1979)
Rumble Fish (1983)
The Outsiders (1983)
Footloose (1983)
Raging Bull (1980)
Running On Empty (1988)
Midnight Cowboy (1969)
The Deer Hunter (1978)
Superman (1978)
Superman II (1980)
On The Waterfront (1954)
The Magnificent Seven (1960)
The Dirty Dozen (1967)
Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
Planet of the Apes...
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014)
Jack Reacher (2012)
Gremlins (1984)
Piranha (1978)
The ’Burbs (1989)
Matinee (1993)
Hollywood Boulevard (1976)
The Celebration (1998)
On The Border (1998)
The Idiots (1998)
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
The Nutty Professor (1963)
Sawdust and Tinsel (1953)
Deep Throat (1972)
American Graffiti (1972)
Sexual Freedom In Denmark (1970)
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (1967)
The Godfather (1972)
Stripes (1981)
Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974)
Faces (1968)
Taking Off (1971)
Gloria (1980)
Gloria (1999)
The Biggest Heroes (1996)
Nashville (1975)
That Time of Year (2018)
Psycho (1960)
All That Jazz (1979)
California Split (1974)
The Player (1992)
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
Network (1976)
Taxi Driver (1976)
Heathers (1988)
Fame (1980)
Judy (2019)
Star 80 (1983)
Lenny (1974)
Over The Edge (1979)
Rumble Fish (1983)
The Outsiders (1983)
Footloose (1983)
Raging Bull (1980)
Running On Empty (1988)
Midnight Cowboy (1969)
The Deer Hunter (1978)
Superman (1978)
Superman II (1980)
On The Waterfront (1954)
The Magnificent Seven (1960)
The Dirty Dozen (1967)
Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
Planet of the Apes...
- 3/17/2020
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
Actor Paul Walker, best known for The Fast And The Furious film franchise, died today in Valencia, California at age 40.
According to Walker’s official Facebook page, he was the passenger in a car driven by a friend following a charity event.
Authorities said they responded to the crash at about 3:30 p.m. Pt in the 28300 block of Rye Canyon Loop and found the car engulfed in flames. The victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
Paul also starred in such films as Varsity Blues, Flags Of Our Fathers, Joy Ride and Timeline. The first time I saw Paul was back in the 80′s, when he starred as Diana Canova‘s son in Throb.
Our thoughts are with Paul’s family and friends.
The post Paul Walker Dies In Car Accident appeared first on thebacklot.com.
According to Walker’s official Facebook page, he was the passenger in a car driven by a friend following a charity event.
Authorities said they responded to the crash at about 3:30 p.m. Pt in the 28300 block of Rye Canyon Loop and found the car engulfed in flames. The victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
Paul also starred in such films as Varsity Blues, Flags Of Our Fathers, Joy Ride and Timeline. The first time I saw Paul was back in the 80′s, when he starred as Diana Canova‘s son in Throb.
Our thoughts are with Paul’s family and friends.
The post Paul Walker Dies In Car Accident appeared first on thebacklot.com.
- 12/1/2013
- by snicks
- The Backlot
Paul Walker dead at 40: ‘Fast and Furious’ actor dies in fiery car crash Paul Walker, best known for his role as the former cop Brian O’Conner in the Fast and Furious movie franchise, died today, November 30, 2013, in a fiery car crash in Valencia, a community in the city of Santa Clarita, located in the northern outskirts of Los Angeles County. Early reports indicated that two (unidentified) people had died after a red Porsche crashed into both a tree and a light pole, bursting into flames, in Rye Canyon Business Park. According to police, speed was a likely factor in the crash. Paul Walker was 40. (Photo: Paul Walker.) Walker was a passenger in the car of Roger Rodas, CEO of Always Evolving Performance Motors, described as "a performance shop for high end vehicles," and one of two Valencia-based companies owned by Walker. (As per Santa Clarita’s Khts, the...
- 12/1/2013
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Birthday shoutouts go to Ben Browder, (above) who is 50, Teri Garr is 68, and Donna Mills is 70!!The feature version of Angry Birds is a go, by the producer of Despicable Me. This year's inductees into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame are Rush, Public Enemy, Heart, Donna Summer, Randy Newman, and Albert King. Sir Ian McKellen Has Been Battling Prostate Cancer for Years.Scientists May Have Finally Unlocked Puzzle of Why People Are Gay. Thanks, Mom!Outsports has the details on a nasty anti-transgender rant by two sports radio "personalities."Below you can see the first official trailer for Man Of Steel. I'm impressed.
Would Anderson wear Meggings?
Below you can see Thomas Roberts talk to Paris Prince and Ravi Perry, the first gay male couple featured in the wedding section of Jet.
The Walking Dead won't return until February, but you can see a preview below, as Merle and Daryl get reacquainted.
Would Anderson wear Meggings?
Below you can see Thomas Roberts talk to Paris Prince and Ravi Perry, the first gay male couple featured in the wedding section of Jet.
The Walking Dead won't return until February, but you can see a preview below, as Merle and Daryl get reacquainted.
- 12/11/2012
- by snicks
- The Backlot
Mixing Comedy & Soap: A History of the Serialized Situation Comedy
By Doug Prinzivalli
As one of the producers of the hit web series Pretty - a parody hybrid of reality TV and soaps - I thought it would be a fun idea to take a brief look at the long history of the serialized situation comedy. The idea of mixing comedy with soap elements is not a new one - in fact it started over 60 years ago.
The First Hundred Years (CBS 1950-52) was a mildly humorous daily soap about newlyweds who are gifted with a bat-infested Victorian mansion. Sounds pretty wacky to me. After less than two years, it was replaced by something called The Guiding Light.
The Egg & I (CBS 1951-52) Based on a book by Betty MacDonald and the 1947 film (starring Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray) that followed, this show followed the misadventures of city folk...
By Doug Prinzivalli
As one of the producers of the hit web series Pretty - a parody hybrid of reality TV and soaps - I thought it would be a fun idea to take a brief look at the long history of the serialized situation comedy. The idea of mixing comedy with soap elements is not a new one - in fact it started over 60 years ago.
The First Hundred Years (CBS 1950-52) was a mildly humorous daily soap about newlyweds who are gifted with a bat-infested Victorian mansion. Sounds pretty wacky to me. After less than two years, it was replaced by something called The Guiding Light.
The Egg & I (CBS 1951-52) Based on a book by Betty MacDonald and the 1947 film (starring Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray) that followed, this show followed the misadventures of city folk...
- 12/2/2010
- by Guest Editorial
- We Love Soaps
This is the second part of an interview with producer Marsha Posner Williams. In the first part, we discussed how Williams began her career in television, working on the legendary ABC sitcom, Soap.
As one of the few people to work on the show from the very beginning to its untimely cancellation, Williams shared some of the casting challenges behind the scenes, her first-hand experience with the picketing and controversy surrounding the show, production challenges, and personal memories of the very talented cast, like Katherine Helmond, Robert Mandan, Robert Guillaume, Cathryn Damon, Richard Mulligan, Jay Johnson, and Billy Crystal.
In the second part of the interview, Williams talks briefly about other Soap alumnae like Ted Wass, Jimmy Baio, Diana Canova, Arthur Peterson, John Byner, and Donnelly Rhodes. She also puts to rest the idea that Soap was intentionally ended with one of...
As one of the few people to work on the show from the very beginning to its untimely cancellation, Williams shared some of the casting challenges behind the scenes, her first-hand experience with the picketing and controversy surrounding the show, production challenges, and personal memories of the very talented cast, like Katherine Helmond, Robert Mandan, Robert Guillaume, Cathryn Damon, Richard Mulligan, Jay Johnson, and Billy Crystal.
In the second part of the interview, Williams talks briefly about other Soap alumnae like Ted Wass, Jimmy Baio, Diana Canova, Arthur Peterson, John Byner, and Donnelly Rhodes. She also puts to rest the idea that Soap was intentionally ended with one of...
- 12/29/2009
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
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