Kelly Harmon Biography

Kelly Jean Harmon was born on November 9, 1948, in California, USA, to Tom Harmon and Elyse Knox. She was raised along with her siblings, Thomas Mark Harmon and Sharon Kristin Nelson.

At the age of 14, she was cast to play Teedee Doley in ‘CBS’ network's television series ‘The New Loretta Young Show.’ After completing her education, Harmon decided to follow in her mother’s footsteps to become an actress.

Kelly Harmon voiced Kimmy in the 1973 Hall Bartlett-directed drama film ‘Jonathan Livingston Seagull.’ The film was produced by superimposing dialogues over video recordings of actual seagulls. The movie received two nominations at ‘The Academy Awards.’

In 1976, she was seen in a couple of episodes of the popular action-adventure detective TV series ‘Switch.’ In 1978, she played a minor role in Herbert Ross-directed comedy-drama film ‘California Suite.’ The film became a critical success and Maggie Smith won the ‘Academy Award’ for ‘Best Supporting Actress’ for playing Diana Barrie in the film.

In 1979, she played Sarah in an episode titled ‘Greetings from Earth’ in the science fiction television series ‘Battlestar Galactica.’ In the same year, she was also seen in ‘NBC’ television network's crime drama series ‘Chips.’ The series became so successful that many spin-offs including a feature film were released in the subsequent years.

In 1980, she played Laurie in an episode titled ‘Focus on Fear’ in the famous television detective series ‘Barnaby Jones.’ She also played Jean in one of the episodes of ‘CBS’ network's action-adventure television series ‘The Incredible Hulk.’ Following the cancellation of the series in 1982, three TV films were aired on 'NBC.' The films, namely ‘The Incredible Hulk Returns,’ ‘The Trial of the Incredible Hulk,’ and ‘The Death of the Incredible Hulk,’ were based on the series.

In 1981, she was seen in the long-running American television soap opera ‘The Young and the Restless.’ In the same year, she also played supporting roles in television series, such as ‘Nero Wolfe’ and ‘One Day at a Time.’ The following year, she played Jennifer in an episode titled ‘The Protectors’ in the popular police drama television series ‘T. J. Hooker.’

From 1983 to 1984, she played Sunny Hayward in eight episodes of ‘NBC’ network's comedy-drama series ‘Bay City Blues.’ In 1984, she played Allison Grant in one of the episodes of ‘NBC’ network's ninja-themed action-adventure television series ‘The Master.’ The series, which was created by Michael Sloan, focuses on the adventures of an aging ninja master, played by Clarence Leroy Van Cleef Jr.

In the mid-80s, Harmon became famous by appearing in a series of commercials for ‘Tic Tac.’ She also became the face of a commercial rock radio station named ‘WRIF.’ Her association with ‘WRIF’ increased her popularity in Detroit as the radio station primarily targets listeners from Detroit.

Kelly Harmon took a break from acting and started focusing on her career as a costume designer. In 2010, she worked as a costumer in 10 episodes of the popular reality competition television series ‘Top Chef Masters.’ In the same year, she also appeared in a TV series documentary titled ‘Biography.’

She currently owns a successful interior design company in Los Angeles, California. Lifestyle magazines, such as ‘House Beautiful’ and ‘Town & Country’ have featured some of her company’s works.

Kelly Harmon’s father Thomas Dudley Harmon was an American football player, sports broadcaster, actor, and military pilot. He played football for the ‘Los Angeles Rams’ which competes in the ‘National Football League’ (NFL). During the ‘Second World War,’ he served as a pilot in the ‘United States Army Air Forces.’ In 1941, he starred in a movie titled ‘Harmon of Michigan.’

Harmon’s mother Elyse Knox was a famous model, actress, and fashion designer. She played supporting roles in many films, such as ‘Youth Will Be Served,’ ‘Girl from Avenue A,’ ‘Free, Blonde and 21,’ ‘Tanks a Million,’ and ‘Sheriff of Tombstone.’ In 1942, she landed the lead role of Isobel Evans in Harold Young-directed horror film ‘The Mummy's Tomb.’

Her older sister Sharon Kristin Nelson was a painter, author, and actress. She is best known for appearing in the popular TV show ‘The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.’ She focused on her painting career in the late 80s and went on to become a successful painter. Among the celebrities who collected her paintings were Dwight Yoakam, Tyne Daly, and Mia Farrow.

Her younger brother Thomas Mark Harmon is a popular television and film actor. He is best known for playing prominent roles in films, such as ‘Magic in the Water,’ ‘Till There Was You,’ ‘Cold Heaven,’ ‘Worth Winning,’ ‘Local Boys,’ ‘Stealing Home,’ ‘The Presidio,’ ‘After the Promise,’ and ‘Summer School.’ Before becoming an actor, he played American football for his college team.

Harmon dated automotive executive John Zachary DeLorean before marrying him on May 31, 1969. They got separated in 1971 and the divorce was finalized on June 3, 1972. She then married an entrepreneur named Robert Lyman Miller on June 24, 1984.