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Karl Swenson(1908-1978)

  • Actor
  • Soundtrack
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Karl Swenson in Little House on the Prairie (1974)
CT #1, post
Play trailer0:55
The Sword in the Stone (1963)
11 Videos
25 Photos
Of Swedish descent, burly, light-haired character actor Karl Swenson was born in Brooklyn and started his four-decade career on radio. Throughout the late 30s and 40s, his voice could be heard all over the airwaves, appearing in scores of daytime serials ("Lorenzo Jones") and mystery dramas ("Inner Sanctum Mysteries"). He gave visual life to one of his serial characters, Walter Manning, in "Portia Faces Life" when it went to TV in 1953. It was during his lengthy work in this medium that he met his wife, stage and radio actress Joan Tompkins. They appeared together throughout their careers on TV and in a few films. In the 1950s, he kept afloat on TV in rugged guest spots (Dr. Kildare (1961), Gunsmoke (1955), Maverick (1957), Mission: Impossible (1966) and Hawaii Five-O (1968)). He didn't appear in films until age 50+ with minor roles in Kings Go Forth (1958), North to Alaska (1960), The Birds (1963) and The Sons of Katie Elder (1965). His voice was also well utilized in such animated features as The Sword in the Stone (1963) as the voice of Merlin. Karl met actor Michael Landon on the set of Bonanza (1959), appearing in four separate episodes over time. Landon remembered him when he began to film Little House on the Prairie (1974). Cast in the recurring role of lumber mill owner Lars Hanson, he remained with the show until his death in 1978 of a heart attack. His character on the show also died.
BornJuly 23, 1908
DiedOctober 8, 1978(70)
BornJuly 23, 1908
DiedOctober 8, 1978(70)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank

Photos25

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Known for

Junius Matthews, Rickie Sorensen, Karl Swenson, and Martha Wentworth in The Sword in the Stone (1963)
The Sword in the Stone
7.1
  • Merlin(voice)
  • 1963
Alfred Hitchcock and Tippi Hedren in The Birds (1963)
The Birds
7.6
  • Drunken Doomsayer in Diner
  • 1963
Marlene Dietrich, Judy Garland, Burt Lancaster, Spencer Tracy, Montgomery Clift, Maximilian Schell, and Richard Widmark in Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)
Judgment at Nuremberg
8.3
  • Dr. Heinrich Geuter
  • 1961
Vanishing Point (1971)
Vanishing Point
7.2
  • Sandy McKeese - Clerk at Delivery Agency
  • 1971

Credits

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IMDbPro

Actor



  • Melissa Sue Anderson, Melissa Gilbert, Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, Richard Bull, Sidney Greenbush, Jonathan Gilbert, Rachel Lindsay Greenbush, and Katherine MacGregor in Little House on the Prairie (1974)
    Little House on the Prairie
    7.5
    TV Series
    • Lars Hanson
    • 1974–1978
  • The Amazing Spider-Man (1977)
    The Amazing Spider-Man
    6.1
    TV Series
    • Dr. Carl Benson
    • 1978
  • Walt Disney in The Magical World of Disney (1954)
    The Magical World of Disney
    8.3
    TV Series
    • Jensen
    • Laredo Marshal
    • U.S. Marshal
    • 1958–1975
  • William Conrad in Cannon (1971)
    Cannon
    6.8
    TV Series
    • Jack Halsey
    • 1975
  • Ron Howard, Henry Winkler, Marion Ross, Tom Bosley, Erin Moran, Don Most, and Anson Williams in Happy Days (1974)
    Happy Days
    7.4
    TV Series
    • Police Detective
    • 1974
  • Apple's Way (1974)
    Apple's Way
    6.5
    TV Series
    • Dr. Knowles
    • 1974
  • The Gun and the Pulpit (1974)
    The Gun and the Pulpit
    5.7
    TV Movie
    • Adams
    • 1974
  • Doc Elliot (1973)
    Doc Elliot
    6.6
    TV Series
    • Mike Shea
    • 1974
  • The Streets of San Francisco (1972)
    The Streets of San Francisco
    7.3
    TV Series
    • Gustaveson
    • 1974
  • Emergency! (1972)
    Emergency!
    7.9
    TV Series
    • Gus
    • 1974
  • Buddy Ebsen in Barnaby Jones (1973)
    Barnaby Jones
    6.9
    TV Series
    • Mr. Fowler
    • 1973
  • Jack Klugman and Tony Randall in The Odd Couple (1970)
    The Odd Couple
    7.9
    TV Series
    • Captain Potter
    • 1973
  • Jon Provost, Tommy Rettig, Lassie the Dog, and Lassie in Lassie (1954)
    Lassie
    6.5
    TV Series
    • Karl Burkholm
    • Carl Birkholm
    • Baird ...
    • 1962–1972
  • Ulzana's Raid (1972)
    Ulzana's Raid
    7.0
    • Rukeyser
    • 1972
  • Circle of Fear (1972)
    Circle of Fear
    7.6
    TV Series
    • Ed Barnes
    • 1972

Soundtrack



  • Disney Sing-Along Songs: Colors of the Wind (1995)
    Disney Sing-Along Songs: Colors of the Wind
    6.8
    Video
    • performer: "Higitus Figitus"
    • 1995
  • Junius Matthews, Rickie Sorensen, Karl Swenson, and Martha Wentworth in The Sword in the Stone (1963)
    The Sword in the Stone
    7.1
    • performer: "Higitus Figitus" (1963), "That's What Makes the World Go Round" (1963), "A Most Befuddling Thing" (1963) (uncredited)
    • 1963
  • Bachelor Father (1957)
    Bachelor Father
    7.2
    TV Series
    • performer: "For He's A Jolly Good Fellow" (uncredited)
    • 1958

Videos11

The Sword in the Stone: 50th Anniversary Edition
Clip 1:58
The Sword in the Stone: 50th Anniversary Edition
The Sword in the Stone: 50th Anniversary Edition
Clip 2:00
The Sword in the Stone: 50th Anniversary Edition
The Sword in the Stone: 50th Anniversary Edition
Clip 2:00
The Sword in the Stone: 50th Anniversary Edition
The Sword in the Stone: 50th Anniversary Edition
Clip 1:55
The Sword in the Stone: 50th Anniversary Edition
The Sword in the Stone: 50th Anniversary Edition
Clip 2:01
The Sword in the Stone: 50th Anniversary Edition
The Sword in the Stone: 50th Anniversary Edition
Clip 1:37
The Sword in the Stone: 50th Anniversary Edition
The Sword in the Stone
Clip 5:13
The Sword in the Stone

Personal details

Edit
  • Alternative names
    • Karl Swensen
  • Born
    • July 23, 1908
    • Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
  • Died
    • October 8, 1978
    • Torrington, Connecticut, USA(heart attack)
  • Spouses
      Joan TompkinsDecember 21, 1951 - October 8, 1978 (his death)
  • Parents
      Karl Emil Swenson
  • Other works
    Stage: Appeared (as "Thompson") in "A Glass of Water" on Broadway. Comedy. Written by Eugène Scribe. Directed by Marina Germanova. American Laboratory: 5 Mar 1930-Mar 1930 (closing date unknown/9 performances). Cast: Britton Diller, Emily Floyd, Richard Gaines (as "The Marquis de Torcy, Ambassador of Louis XIV"), Maria Germanova, Elaine Howe, Charles Kradoska, Angela Mulinos, William Post, Frances Williams.

Did you know

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  • Trivia
    He suffered a heart attack while visiting relatives in Canaan, CT; and was pronounced dead on arrival at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington, CT.

FAQ

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  • When did Karl Swenson die?
    October 8, 1978
  • How did Karl Swenson die?
    Heart attack
  • How old was Karl Swenson when he died?
    70 years old
  • Where did Karl Swenson die?
    Torrington, Connecticut, USA
  • When was Karl Swenson born?
    July 23, 1908

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