Born 1917 in Hartford, Connecticut, American actress, model, and fashion designer Elyse Knox was signed to a movie contract (as Elsie M. Kornbrath) by 20th Century-Fox in November 1939, and played incidental roles for one year. She 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. 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.
Knox died in 2012 at her home in Los Angeles at age 94. Take a look at these fabulous photos to see portraits of young Elyse Knox in the 1940s.
Great glamour shots!
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