Elyse Knox

Elyse Knox (born December 14, 1917) is an American actress.

Early life

Born Elsie Lillian Kornbrath to Frederick and Elizabeth Kornbrath in Hartford, Connecticut, she is not the daughter of U.S. Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox, despite many sources suggesting she is. She studied at the Traphagen School of Fashion in Manhattan then embarked on a career in fashion design. Her good looks enabled her to model some of her own creations for Vogue magazine that led to a contract offer from Twentieth Century Fox film studio in 1937.

Career

Knox performed mainly in minor or secondary roles until 1942 when 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. Knox appeared as herself in the Universal Studios 1944 production "Follow the Boys," one of the World War II morale-booster films made for both the soldiers serving overseas as well as civilians at home. Knox also was a pin up girl during the War, appearing in such magazines as YANK, a weekly put out by the United States Military.

In late 1945, she 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 Elyse Knox appearing in another five Joe Palooka productions. After acting in thirty-nine films, Elyse Knox retired in 1949 following her performance in the musical film There's a Girl in My Heart.

Personal life

Knox continued to do modeling work for print ads and while appearing on the Bing Crosby radio show she met football star Tom Harmon. They became engaged, but broke up when Harmon entered the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942. That year, Knox married fashion photographer Paul Hesse, who had shot many of her print ads and magazine covers. The marriage was brief. 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. Knox's wedding dress was made from silk from the parachute Harmon used when bailing out of his crippled plane. The couple remained together until his death in 1990. They had three children, Kristin (b.1945), an actress and painter who at seventeen married recording artist Ricky Nelson and had Tracy, twins Gunnar and Matthew, and son Sam; Kelly (b. 1948), who modeled and also acted in film and television (TJ Hooker) and was once married to automaker John DeLorean; and Mark (b.1951), film and television actor who starred in films such as The Presidio and the current TV show NCIS.

Filmography

Year Film Role Other notes

1937 Wake Up and Live Nurse uncredited

1940 Lillian Russell Lillian Russell's Sister performer: "Brighten the Corner Where You Are"

Youth Will Be Served Pamela

Yesterday's Heroes Undetermined role uncredited

Girl from Avenue A Angela

Girl in 313 Judith Wilson

Star Dust Girl uncredited

Free, Blonde and 21 Marjorie

1941 Miss Polly Barbara Snodgrass

All-American Co-Ed Co-ed uncredited

Tanks a Million Jeannie

Sheriff of Tombstone Mary Carson

Footlight Fever Eileen Drake

1942 Arabian Nights Duenna uncredited

The Mummy's Tomb Isobel Evans

Top Sergeant Helen Gray

Hay Foot Betty Barkley

1943 Hi'ya, Sailor Pat Rogers

So's Your Uncle Patricia Williams

Hit the Ice Nurse Peggy Osborne

Mister Big Alice Taswell

Keep 'Em Slugging Suzanne

Don Winslow of the Coast Guard Mercedes Colby

1944 Army Wives Jerry Van Dyke

A Wave, a WAC and a Marine Marian

Moonlight and Cactus Louise Ferguson

Follow the Boys Herself

1946 Sweetheart of Sigma Chi Betty Allen

Gentleman Joe Palooka Anne Howe

Joe Palooka, Champ Anne Howe

1947 Linda Be Good Linda Prentiss

Joe Palooka in the Knockout Anne Howe

Black Gold Ruth Frazer

1948 Joe Palooka in Winner Take All Anne Howe

I Wouldn't Be in Your Shoes Ann Quinn

Joe Palooka in Fighting Mad Anne Howe

1949 There's a Girl in My Heart Claire Adamson

Joe Palooka in the Counterpunch Anne Howe

Forgotten Women Kate Allison

1953 I Was a Burlesque Queen Linda Prentiss archive footage

1999 Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed Isobel Evans archive footage