May McAvoy

Acting

Born Sep 06, 1899

From New York City, New York, USA

Died Apr 26, 1984

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia May McAvoy (September 8, 1899 – April 26, 1984) was an American actress who worked mainly during the silent film era. Some of her major roles are Laura Pennington in The Enchanted Cottage, Esther in Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, and Mary Dale in The Jazz Singer. McAvoy appeared in her first film, entitled Hate, in 1917. After appearing in more than three dozen films, she co-starred with Ramón Novarro and Francis X. Bushman in director Fred Niblo's 1925 production of Ben-Hur, released by MGM. The feature-length film was one of the most lavish and spectacular productions of the silent movie era. Although her voice was not heard in The Jazz Singer, McAvoy did speak in several other films, including the second "all-talkie" released by Warner Brothers, The Terror, which was directed by Roy Del Ruth and co-starred Conrad Nagel. For years a rumor circulated that McAvoy retired from the screen at the transition to sound films because of a lisp or speech impediment. In truth, she married the treasurer of United Artists, who asked her not to work. Later, she returned to films and played small roles during the 1940s and 1950s, making her final film appearance in a small part in the 1959 version of Ben-Hur.

May McAvoy

Known For

Ben-Hur

The Bad and the Beautiful

The Jazz Singer

Mystery Street

Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

Executive Suite

Love Crazy

Dulcy

Hollywood: Style Center of the World

Hollywood

Filmography — Acting

Ben-Hur

The Bad and the Beautiful

The Jazz Singer

Mystery Street

Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

Executive Suite

Love Crazy

Dulcy

Hollywood: Style Center of the World

Hollywood

Two Girls on Broadway

Two Girls and a Sailor

Phantom Raiders

Main Street on the March!

Three Women

The Yellow Cab Man

Third Finger, Left Hand

The Romance of Rosy Ridge

Clarence

Sucker List

Ringside Maisie

Lady Windermere's Fan

The Fire Brigade

Born to Sing

Luxury Liner

Rio Rita

1-2-3-Go!

Morals

The Enchanted Cottage

The Truth About Husbands

A Trip to Paramountown

A Homespun Vamp

The Passionate Quest

My Old Dutch

The Top of New York

Caught in the Fog

A Reno Divorce

The Savage

The Terror

West of the Water Tower

Tarnish

Kick In

Movie Pests

Whispers

Irish Hearts

A Private Scandal

The Road to Glory

The Lion and the Mouse

The Little Snob

Only 38

Slightly Used

Sentimental Tommy

Stolen Kisses

The Mad Whirl

Mr. Blabbermouth!

The Woman Under Oath

The Devil's Garden

Tessie

A Perfect Lady

The Bedroom Window

If I Were Single

A Virginia Courtship

No Defense

The Way of a Woman

Grumpy

Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch

Gareth Hughes