Elyse Knox (born Elsie M. Kornbrath, December 14, 1917 – February 16, 2012) was an American actress, model, and fashion designer. She is the mother of actor Mark Harmon.
Early life Knox was born in Hartford, Connecticut, the daughter of Austrian immigrants Hermine Sophie (née Muck) and Frederick Kornbrath.1920 US Census, Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut She had a brother, Fred.
She attended Hartford Public High School, graduating in 1936, and studied at the Traphagen School of Fashion in Manhattan, New York.
Career
She was signed to a movie contract (as Elsie M. Kornbrath) by 20th Century-Fox in November 1939,Boxoffice, "Sign Hartford Girl", Nov. 25, 1939, p. 52. and played incidental roles for one year. Fox dropped her option and she was signed by comedy producer Hal Roach, who featured her in four films. After two minor features (a Roy Rogers western and an RKO comedy), she found a home at Universal, appearing in 11 films as a featured ingenue. She had a leading role with Lon Chaney Jr. in The Mummy's Tomb, one of the series of Mummy horror films made by Universal Studios. That year she was also in the Abbott and Costello comedy Hit The Ice (1942). She appeared as herself in the Universal Studios 1944 production Follow the Boys, one of the World War II morale-booster films made both for the soldiers serving overseas and civilians at home. Knox also was a pin-up girl during the war, appearing in such magazines as Yank, a weekly published and distributed by the United States military.
In late 1945, Knox was signed by Monogram Pictures to portray Anne Howe, the love interest of fictional boxer Joe Palooka in Joe Palooka, Champ. Based on the very popular comic strip, the instant success of the May 1946 film led to Knox appearing in another five Joe Palooka productions. After acting in 39 films, Knox retired in 1949 following her performance in the musical film There's a Girl in My Heart.
Personal life On February 21, 1942, Knox married commercial photographer Paul Hesse in Coronado, California.
Following her divorce and Tom Harmon's return from World War II (during which he survived two plane crashes and being lost in the jungle), she and Harmon married in 1944. Her wedding dress was made of silk from the parachute Harmon used when bailing out of his plane.Time, August 28, 1944. After Harmon's demobilization, they settled in the Los Angeles area.
Children
The couple had three children: Kristin, Kelly, and Mark. Kristin became an actress and painter, who at 17 married recording artist Ricky Nelson and gave birth to four children: Tracy, twins Gunnar and Matthew, and Sam. Kelly, a model turned interior designer, was once married to automaker John DeLorean, and has two daughters and a son and two other stepchildren. Mark played quarterback at UCLA, became an actor, and has two sons with wife Pam Dawber.
Death On February 16, 2012, Knox died at her home in Los Angeles at age 94.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1937Wake Up and LiveNurseuncredited1940Lillian RussellLillian Russell's Sisterperformer: "Brighten the Corner Where You Are"Youth Will Be ServedPamelaYesterday's HeroesUndetermined roleuncreditedGirl from Avenue AAngelaGirl in 313Judith WilsonStar DustGirluncreditedFree, Blonde and 21Marjorie1941Miss PollyBarbara SnodgrassAll-American Co-EdCo-eduncreditedTanks a MillionJeannieSheriff of TombstoneMary CarsonFootlight FeverEileen Drake1942Arabian NightsDuennauncreditedThe Mummy's TombIsobel EvansTop SergeantHelen GrayHay FootBetty Barkley1943Hi'ya, SailorPat RogersSo's Your UnclePatricia WilliamsHit the IceNurse Peggy OsborneMister BigAlice TaswellKeep 'Em SluggingSuzanneDon Winslow of the Coast GuardMercedes Colby1944Army WivesJerry Van DykeA WAVE, a WAC and a MarineMarianMoonlight and CactusLouise FergusonFollow the BoysHerself1946Sweetheart of Sigma ChiBetty AllenGentleman Joe PalookaAnne HoweJoe Palooka, ChampAnne Howe1947Linda, Be GoodLinda PrentissJoe Palooka in the KnockoutAnne HoweBlack GoldRuth Frazer1948Joe Palooka in Winner Take AllAnne HoweI Wouldn't Be in Your ShoesAnn QuinnJoe Palooka in Fighting MadAnne Howe1949There's a Girl in My HeartClaire AdamsonJoe Palooka in the CounterpunchAnne Howe Forgotten WomenKate Allison1953I Was a Burlesque QueenLinda Prentissarchive footage1999Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition UnearthedIsobel Evansarchive footage
References
External links
Obituary, The Daily Telegraph; accessed January 18, 2016.