Elyse Knox was an American actress who is best known for her roles in The Mummy’s Tomb, Joe Palooka in Fighting Mad, and The Girl from Avenue A. Born Elsie Lillian Kornbrath on December 14, 1917, in Hartford, Connecticut, she became notable not only for her acting career but also as the wife of football star Tom Harmon and mother of actor Mark Harmon.
Personal and Family Life
Elyse married football star Tom Harmon on August 26, 1944, and they had three children: Mark, Kristin, and Kelly. Before that, she was briefly married to Paul Hesse from February 1942 until their divorce in March 1944. Elyse had a strong passion for art and pursued a career in painting early in her life, even holding an exhibition of her work in 1981.
Career Highlights
Knox’s acting career took off after she began modeling, which ultimately led to her being signed by 20th Century-Fox. She debuted in a minor role in the film Wake Up and Live in 1937 and went on to appear in various movies throughout the 1940s, including her famous role in The Mummy’s Tomb. Known as a “B” actress, she decided to retire from acting in 1949 after having children, but occasionally returned for commercial work.
Death and Legacy
Elyse Knox passed away on February 15, 2012, in Los Angeles, California, due to natural causes at the age of 94. She is remembered not only for her contributions to film but also for her remarkable family legacy, being the mother of notable personalities in the entertainment industry.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Hit the Ice | 1943-06-02 | Peggy Osborne |
| The Mummy’s Tomb | 1942-10-23 | Isobel Evans |
| Girl in 313 | 1940-05-31 | Judith Wilson |
| I Wouldn’t Be in Your Shoes | 1948-05-23 | Ann Quinn |
| Sheriff of Tombstone | 1941-05-07 | Mary Carson |
| Hay Foot | 1942-01-02 | Betty Barkley |
| Footlight Fever | 1941-03-21 | Eileen Drake |
| Mister Big | 1943-05-28 | Alice Taswell |
| A Wave, a WAC and a Marine | 1944-10-07 | Marian |
| Miss Polly | 1941-11-14 | Barbara Snodgrass |
| Top Sergeant | 1942-06-14 | Helen Gray |
| Tanks a Million | 1941-09-12 | Jeannie |
| Hi’ya, Sailor | 1943-10-08 | Pat Rogers |
| Moonlight and Cactus | 1944-09-08 | Louise Ferguson |
| Lillian Russell | 1940-05-24 | Lillian Russell’s Sister |
| There’s a Girl in My Heart | 1949-12-19 | Claire Adamson |
| Black Gold | 1947-09-16 | Ruth Frazer |
| Free, Blonde and 21 | 1940-03-28 | Marjorie |
| Keep ‘Em Slugging | 1943-03-01 | Suzanne |
| Forgotten Women | 1949-07-17 | Kate Allison |
| So’s Your Uncle | 1943-09-01 | Patricia Williams |
| Don Winslow of the Coast Guard | 1943-04-06 | Mercedes Colby |
| Joe Palooka, Champ | 1946-05-26 | Anne Howe |
| Joe Palooka in Fighting Mad | 1948-02-07 | Anne Howe |
| Joe Palooka in Winner Take All | 1948-09-19 | Anne Howe |
| Joe Palooka in the Counterpunch | 1949-08-14 | Anne Howe |
| The Girl from Avenue A | 1940-08-09 | Angela |
| I Was a Burlesque Queen | 1953-07-13 | Linda Prentiss |
| Joe Palooka in the Knockout | 1947-09-20 | Anne Howe |
| Gentleman Joe Palooka | 1946-10-05 | Anne Howe |
| Youth Will Be Served | 1940-11-22 | Pamela |
| Sweetheart of Sigma Chi | 1946-11-16 | Betty Allen |
| Linda, Be Good | 1947-11-07 | Linda Prentiss |
| Army Wives | 1945-01-12 | Jerry Van Dyke |
| All-American Co-Ed | 1941-10-31 | Co-ed |
| Arabian Nights | 1942-12-25 | Slave Girl (uncredited) |