May McAvoy

DOB: 1899-09-06

DOD: 1984-04-26

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.

Starred In

1927
Movie

The Jazz Singer

1941
Movie

Love Crazy

1922
Movie

A Homespun Vamp

1922
Movie

Clarence

1923
Movie

Hollywood

1924
Movie

The Bedroom Window

1926
Movie

The Fire Brigade

1927
Movie

Irish Hearts

1924
Movie

Three Women

1950
Movie

The Yellow Cab Man

1925
Movie

The Mad Whirl

1918
Movie

I'll Say So

1921
Movie

Morals

1923
Movie

Only 38

2000
Movie

Gareth Hughes

1918
Movie

A Perfect Lady

1921
Movie

A Private Scandal

1920
Movie

The Devil's Garden

1923
Movie

Her Reputation

1959
Movie

Ben-Hur

1926
Movie

My Old Dutch

1926
Movie

The Savage

1927
Movie

A Reno Divorce

1928
Movie

The Little Snob

1940
Movie

Phantom Raiders

1944
Movie

Movie Pests

1926
Movie

The Road to Glory

1941
Movie

Ringside Maisie

1919
Movie

The Way of a Woman

1940
Movie

Dulcy

1942
Movie

Born to Sing

1948
Movie

Luxury Liner

1928
Movie

Caught in the Fog

1928
Movie

The Terror

1929
Movie

Stolen Kisses

1929
Movie

No Defense

1921
Movie

Sentimental Tommy

1950
Movie

Mystery Street

1927
Movie

Slightly Used

1941
Movie

Whispers

1942
Movie

Mr. Blabbermouth!

1924
Movie

Tarnish

1927
Movie

If I Were Single

1922
Movie

Kick In

1941
Movie

Sucker List

1942
Movie

Rio Rita

1941
Movie

1-2-3-Go!

1925
Movie

Tessie

1927
Movie

Matinee Ladies