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Karl Swenson

Karl Swenson

Known For Acting
Birthday Jul 23, 1908
Died Oct 08, 1978 (70)
Birthplace Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Popularity 1 (history)
Updated Dec 19, 2024 (Update)
Entry Date Apr 13, 2024
Links TMDb IMDb
Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Karl Swenson (July 23, 1908 – October 8, 1978) was an American theatre, radio, film, and television actor. Early in his career, he was credited as Peter Wayne Swenson was born in Brooklyn, New York, of Swedish parentage. Planning to be a doctor, he enrolled at ... Marietta College and undertook pre-medical studies but left that field to pursue acting. Swenson appeared extensively on the radio from the 1930s through the 1950s. Swenson entered the film industry in 1943 with two wartime documentary shorts, December 7 and The Sikorsky Helicopter, followed by more than thirty-five roles in feature films and television movies. No Name on the Bullet (1959) is only one of the many westerns in which he performed for both film and television. Swenson is remembered for his role as the doomsayer in the diner in Alfred Hitchcock's classic The Birds (1963) and had roles in The Prize (1963), Major Dundee (1965), The Sons of Katie Elder (1965), The Cincinnati Kid (1965) and Seconds (1966). In 1967, Swenson appeared in the western Hour of the Gun, and played the role of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt in the western film Brighty of the Grand Canyon, with co-stars Pat Conway and Joseph Cotten. His later film appearances included roles in ...tick...tick...tick... (1970), The Wild Country (1970), Vanishing Point (1971) and Ulzana's Raid (1972). Swenson was married to actress Joan Tompkins. Swenson died of a heart attack at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington, Connecticut on October 8, 1978, shortly after filming the Little House on the Prairie episode in which his character dies. The episode aired on October 16, 1978, eight days after Swenson's death. Swenson was interred at Center Cemetery in New Milford, Connecticut. CLR

Known For

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Filmography

Disney Sing-Along Songs: Colors of the Wind

Disney Sing-Along Songs: Colors of the Wind

1995

as (voice) (archive footage)

Disney's Sing-Along Songs: Under the Sea

Disney's Sing-Along Songs: Under the Sea

1990

as Merlin (archive footage) (voice)

Disney's Halloween Treat

Disney's Halloween Treat

1982

as Merlin (voice) (archive footage)

The Gun and the Pulpit

The Gun and the Pulpit

1974

as Adams

The New Healers

The New Healers

1972

as Mr. Fisherman

Ulzana's Raid

Ulzana's Raid

1972

as Rukeyser

A Howling in the Woods

A Howling in the Woods

1971

as Apperson

Vanishing Point

Vanishing Point

1971

as Clerk

The Wild Country

The Wild Country

1970

as Jensen

Tick... Tick... Tick...

Tick... Tick... Tick...

1970

as Frank Braddock Sr.

Hour of the Gun

Hour of the Gun

1967

as Dr. Charles Goodfellow

Brighty of the Grand Canyon

Brighty of the Grand Canyon

1966

as Theodore Roosevelt

Seconds

Seconds

1966

as Dr. Morris

The Cincinnati Kid

The Cincinnati Kid

1965

as Mr. Rudd

Major Dundee

Major Dundee

1965

as Captain Waller

The Sons of Katie Elder

The Sons of Katie Elder

1965

as Doc Isdell

The Sword in the Stone

The Sword in the Stone

1963

as Merlin (voice)

The Man from Galveston

The Man from Galveston

1963

as Sheriff

The Birds

The Birds

1963

as Drunken Doomsayer in Diner

The Prize

The Prize

1963

as Hilding

Walk on the Wild Side

Walk on the Wild Side

1962

as Schmidt

Pericles on 31st Street

Pericles on 31st Street

1962

as Louie DeBella

Lonely are the Brave

Lonely are the Brave

1962

as Rev. Hoskins

The Spiral Road

The Spiral Road

1962

as Insp. Bevers

How the West Was Won

How the West Was Won

1962

as Train Conductor (uncredited)

Judgment at Nuremberg

Judgment at Nuremberg

1961

as Heinrich Geuter

North to Alaska

North to Alaska

1960

as Lars Nordqvist

Flaming Star

Flaming Star

1960

as Dred Pierce

One Foot in Hell

One Foot in Hell

1960

as Sheriff Ole Olson

The Gallant Hours

The Gallant Hours

1960

as Bill Bailey

Ice Palace

Ice Palace

1960

as Scotty Ballantyne

The Hanging Tree

The Hanging Tree

1959

as Tom Flaunce

No Name on the Bullet

No Name on the Bullet

1959

as Stricker

Kings Go Forth

Kings Go Forth

1958

as The Colonel

Gateways to the Mind

Gateways to the Mind

1958

as Hal - the Cameraman (uncredited)

Four Boys and a Gun

Four Boys and a Gun

1957

as Mr. Badek

Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland

1955

as Humpty Dumpty

December 7th

December 7th

1943

as Machine-Gunner (uncredited)

Strangers All

Strangers All

1935

as Protester at Communist Meeting

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Organization Category Movie
Television Credits

Dr. Kildare

as Judge

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Sep 27, 1961

Little House on the Prairie

as Lars Hanson

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 11, 1974

Hawaii Five-O

as Abel Morgan

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 20, 1968

Leave It to Beaver

as George Haskell

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Oct 04, 1957

The Andy Griffith Show

as Mr. McBeevee

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 03, 1960

The Odd Couple

as Captain Potter

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 24, 1970

The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters

as Coley Bishop

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 29, 1963

The Fugitive

as Axel Nielsen - Service station owner

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 17, 1963

Gunsmoke

as Hank Luz

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 10, 1955

Perry Mason

as Axel Norstaad

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 21, 1957

Hallmark Hall of Fame

as Humpty Dumpty

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Dec 24, 1951

Ironside

as Vet

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 28, 1967

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

as Ed Holland

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 02, 1955

The Fugitive

as Morgan

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 17, 1963

The Virginian

as Col. Theodore Roosevelt

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 19, 1962

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

as Asmussen

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 05, 1951

The Big Valley

as Bert Hadley

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 15, 1965

Profiles in Courage

as Chynoweth

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Nov 08, 1964

The Adventures of Jim Bowie

as Andre Rochambeau

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 07, 1956

Black Saddle

as Dr. Wyle

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 10, 1959

The Rebel

as Lew Bussey

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 04, 1959

Sugarfoot

as Andy Burke

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 17, 1957

Bat Masterson

as Jim Pate

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 08, 1958

The Rat Patrol

as Colonel Seidner

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 12, 1966

Mr. Novak

as Mr. Haskell

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 24, 1963

Riverboat

as Ansel Torgin

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 13, 1959

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre

as Lee Willis

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 05, 1956

Johnny Ringo

as Kramer

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 02, 1959

The Westerner

as Ben Potts

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 30, 1960

Ghost Story

as Ed Barnes

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 15, 1972

Emergency!

as Gus

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 22, 1972

Maverick

as Captain Nares

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 22, 1957

Maverick

as Sheriff Griffin

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 22, 1957

Hong Kong

as John Olwine

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 01, 1960

The Big Valley

as Aaron Moyers

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 15, 1965

Sugarfoot

as Alexi Sharlokov

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 17, 1957

Sugarfoot

as Dennis O'Hara

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 17, 1957

Sugarfoot

as Bill Manning

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 17, 1957

The Big Valley

as Steve Minter

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 15, 1965

The Virginian

as Karl Swenson

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 19, 1962

Gunsmoke

as Raff

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 10, 1955

The Virginian

as Ben Wallace

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 19, 1962

Gunsmoke

as Hutch

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 10, 1955

Gunsmoke

as Adam

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 10, 1955

Gunsmoke

as Tabe

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 10, 1955

Gunsmoke

as Ian McGovern

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 10, 1955

Gunsmoke

as Lars Karlgren

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 10, 1955

Gunsmoke

as McGruder

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 10, 1955

Gunsmoke

as Mr. Hubert

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 10, 1955

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre

as Lud Greening

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 05, 1956

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre

as Will Harmon

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 05, 1956

Hogan's Heroes

as Dr. Karl Svenson

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 17, 1965

Perry Mason

as Corley Ketchum

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 21, 1957

Perry Mason

as Charles Norman

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 21, 1957

Perry Mason

as Unk Hazekian

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 21, 1957

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

as John

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 02, 1955

Mission: Impossible

as Colonel Dubov

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Apr 05, 1968

Little House on the Prairie

as Mr. Hanson

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 11, 1974

Mission: Impossible

as Dr. Ziegler

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Apr 05, 1968

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

as George Sherston

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 20, 1962

Portia Faces Life

Episodes: 324

First Aired: Apr 05, 1954

Have Gun, Will Travel

Episodes: 6

First Aired: Sep 14, 1957

Cimarron Strip

Episodes: 6

First Aired: Sep 07, 1967

Lassie

Episodes: 5

First Aired: Sep 12, 1954

77 Sunset Strip

Episodes: 4

First Aired: Oct 10, 1958

Sam Benedict

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Sep 15, 1962

The Mod Squad

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 24, 1968

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Oct 06, 1958

Bronco

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 23, 1958

Judd for the Defense

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 08, 1967

The Rifleman

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 30, 1958

The Texan

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 29, 1958

Maverick

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 22, 1957

Trackdown

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 04, 1957

Mr. Lucky

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 24, 1959

Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 25, 1964

Happy Days

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 15, 1974

Surfside 6

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 06, 1960

Hawaiian Eye

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 07, 1959

Cannon

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 14, 1971

The Amazing Spider-Man

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Apr 05, 1978

Klondike

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 10, 1960

The Greatest Show on Earth

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 17, 1963

Outlaws

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 26, 1960

Rawhide

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 09, 1959

The Immortal

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 24, 1970

The Outcasts

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 23, 1968

The Young Rebels

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 20, 1970

Tarzan

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 08, 1966

Lock-Up

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 28, 1959

The Dakotas

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 07, 1963

Ben Casey

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 02, 1961

The Guns of Will Sonnett

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 08, 1967

The Bill Dana Show

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 22, 1963

CBS Playhouse

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Dec 08, 1966

Robert Montgomery Presents

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 30, 1950

The Lieutenant

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 14, 1963

Playwrights '56

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 04, 1955

General Electric True

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 30, 1962

Tightrope

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 08, 1959

The Court of Last Resort

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 04, 1957

The Walter Winchell File

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 02, 1957

Doc Elliot

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 10, 1973

Popularity Metrics

Popularity History


Year Month Avg Max Min
2024 6 13 19 8
2024 7 25 37 10
2024 8 20 36 10
2024 9 14 33 5
2024 10 10 21 5
2024 11 10 24 5
2024 12 12 21 7
2025 1 13 27 8
2025 2 7 13 1
2025 3 7 14 1
2025 4 1 1 1
2025 5 2 3 1
2025 6 1 2 1
2025 7 0 1 0
2025 8 1 2 0

Trending Rank


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