Biography
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.
Acted in 73
1950s
- 1959
- 1957
The Wings of Eagles
Nurse (uncredited)
- 1954
- 1952
- 1950
The Yellow Cab Man
(uncredited)
1940s
- 1948
Luxury Liner
Woman (uncredited)
- 1947
The Romance of Rosy Ridge
Wife (uncredited)
- 1944
Movie Pests
Woman Whose Vision Gets Blocked (uncredited)
Two Girls and a Sailor
Dowager (uncredited)
- 1942
Mr. Blabbermouth!
Movie
Rio Rita
Hotel Guest (uncredited)
Born to Sing
(uncredited)
- 1941
Main Street on the March!
Window Shopper (uncredited)
Ringside Maisie
1st Nurse (uncredited)
Sucker List
Secretary (uncredited)
1-2-3-Go!
Nurse
Whispers
Gossip (uncredited)
- 1940
Third Finger, Left Hand
Telephone Operator (uncredited)
Dulcy
Miss Murphy - Van Dyke's Secretary (uncredited)
Phantom Raiders
Middle Telephone Operator
Hollywood: Style Center of the World
Saleslady
Two Girls on Broadway
Chatworth's Secretary (uncredited)
1920s
- 1929
No Defense
Ruth Harper
Stolen Kisses
May Lambert
- 1928
The Terror
Olga Redmayne
Caught in the Fog
The Girl
The Lion and the Mouse
Shirley Ross
The Little Snob
May Banks
- 1927
If I Were Single
May Howard
A Reno Divorce
Carla
Slightly Used
Cynthia Martin
Irish Hearts
Sheila
Matinee Ladies
Sallie Smith
- 1926
The Fire Brigade
Helen Corwin
The Savage
Ysabel Atwater
My Old Dutch
Sal Gratton
The Road to Glory
Judith Allen
- 1925
The Mad Whirl
Cathleen Gillis
- 1924
Three Women
Jeannie Wilton
Tarnish
Letitia Tevis
The Bedroom Window
Ruth Martin
The Enchanted Cottage
Laura Pennington
West of the Water Tower
Bee Chew
- 1923
Her Reputation
Jacqueline Lanier
Hollywood
May McAvoy
Only 38
Lucy Stanley
Grumpy
Virginia Bullivant
- 1922
Kick In
Myrtle
Clarence
Cora Wheeler
The Top of New York
Hilda O'Shaunnessey
Through a Glass Window
Jenny Martin
A Homespun Vamp
Meg Mackenzie
- 1921
A Virginia Courtship
Prudence Fairfax
Morals
Carlotta Carlotta
A Private Scandal
Jeanne Millett
- 1920
The Truth About Husbands
Leslie Brownell
The Devil's Garden
Norah
The Forbidden Valley
Morning Glory
The House of the Tolling Bell
Lucy Atheron
The Sporting Duchess
Mary Aylmer
My Husband's Other Wife
Nettie Bryson
1910s
- 1919
The Way of a Woman
Grace Lee
The Woman Under Oath
Edith Norton
Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch
Australy Wiggs
- 1918
I'll Say So
Movie
A Perfect Lady
Claire Higgins
To Hell with the Kaiser!
Wounded Girl
Appearances1
1920s
- 1922
A Trip to Paramountown
Self