Lydia Cornell

Lydia Cornell (born Lydia Korniloff; July 23, 1953) is an American actress, best known for her role as Sara Rush on the ABC situation comedy Too Close for Comfort.

Early life and family Cornell was born Lydia Korniloff in El Paso, Texas on July 23, 1953. and Gregory Jacob Korniloff, a graduate of the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music and Arts, who was later assistant concertmaster of the El Paso Symphony Orchestra. Cornell is the elder sister of the late Paul Korniloff, a piano prodigy, and Kathryn Korniloff, co-founder of the band Two Nice Girls and a sound designer and composer since 1995.

While a nine-year-old fourth grade student at Mesita Elementary School, Cornell was chosen as El Paso's "Little Miss Cotton" in March 1963.

In 1966, Cornell and her family moved to Scarsdale, New York. She attended both Scarsdale Junior High School and Scarsdale High School, from which she graduated in 1971.

Cornell then enrolled at the University of Colorado Boulder (CU), where she studied business, drama, English, Russian, Spanish and Anthropology. During the summer between her sophomore and junior years, she worked as a photographer and server at the Caribou Ranch recording studio in Nederland, Colorado, where she met stars including Billy Joel, The Beach Boys, America, Chicago, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, David Cassidy, and Henry Diltz. Soon after, her mother and siblings moved back to El Paso, Texas. By 1978 Cornell had moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. While there she had a job for three months working at a recording studio and modeling for album covers, before being employed by Jack Webb Productions as a secretary-production assistant. In the summer of 1980, Cornell spent nine weeks filming in the Greek Isles for her appearance in the mythological horror film Blood Tide, which was not released until 1982.

Cornell's first major role was as Sara Rush, the daughter to Ted Knight's character Henry Rush, on the sitcom Too Close for Comfort during 1980–1985. In 1982, at the height of the sitcom's popularity, Cornell was described by sexologist Robert T. Francoeur as providing a modern example of "classic female stereotypes in the mold of Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield".

Cornell appeared in several single episode roles on television series such as The Love Boat, Charlie's Angels, The Drew Carey Show, Quantum Leap (the pilot episode) Full House, Knight Rider, The Dukes of Hazzard, The A-Team, T. J. Hooker, Simon & Simon, Hunter, Hardball, Black Scorpion, Hotel, Fantasy Island and Curb Your Enthusiasm. She also appeared as a guest on episodes of television game shows including Battle of the Network Stars, Super Password, and Match Game Hollywood Squares Hour.

Comedy career Cornell works as a stand-up comedian writing her own material. She writes political barbs on her personal blog. 1982 Bloodtide Barbara 1980-1986 The Love Boat 5 episodes

The A-Team Jody Joy Episode: Wheel of Fortune Simon & Simon Lisa Jenkins Episode: Family Forecast 1984-1986 Hotel Doris O'NeilClare Winslow Episode: TrialsEpisode: Facades 1986 T.J. Hooker Christine Shankman Episode: "Death Trip" (S5, E15)

Isabel Sanford's Honeymoon Hotel 1 episode Hunter Nicki Rains / Rena Farrell Episode: Straight to the Heart

Full House Linda Mosley Episode: El Problema Grande de D.J. Quantum Leap Sally Episode: Genesis: Part 1 - September 13, 1956 ( Monsters Portia Episode: A Bond of Silk Hâgar the Horrible Honi (voice) TV short 1990 Hardball (1989 TV series) Episode: "Every Dog Has His Day" (S1, E17) 2001 Black Scorpion (TV series) Patricia Carlyle Episode: "No Sweat" (S1, E9) 2005 Curb Your Enthusiasm Bra Saleswoman Episode: "The Christ Nail" (S5, E3) 2018 It's A Beach Thing (TV series) Mrs. Spangler Episode: Series pilot 2020 Viral Vignettes (TV series) Valerie Episode: "Care Package" (S1, E4)