May McAvoy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia May McAvoy (September 8, 1899 โ 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 Ramรณn 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.
Known For
Credits
- 2000 ยทGareth Hughesas Self (archive footage)
- 1959 ยทBen-Huras Woman in crowd (uncredited)
- 1952 ยทThe Bad and the Beautifulas Pebbel's Secretary (uncredited)
- 1950 ยทMystery Streetas Nurse (uncredited)
- 1950 ยทThe Yellow Cab Manas (uncredited)
- 1948 ยทLuxury Lineras Woman (uncredited)
- 1944 ยทMovie Pestsas Woman Whose Vision Gets Blocked (uncredited)
- 1944 ยทTwo Girls and a Sailoras Dowager (uncredited)
- 1942 ยทMr. Blabbermouth!as
- 1942 ยทRio Ritaas Hotel Guest (uncredited)
- 1942 ยทBorn to Singas (uncredited)
- 1941 ยทMain Street on the March!as Window Shopper (uncredited)
- 1941 ยทRingside Maisieas 1st Nurse (uncredited)
- 1941 ยทSucker Listas Secretary (uncredited)
- 1941 ยทLove Crazyas Sanity Hearing Secretary (uncredited)
- 1941 ยท1-2-3-Go!as Nurse
- 1941 ยทWhispersas Gossip (uncredited)
- 1940 ยทThird Finger, Left Handas Telephone Operator (uncredited)
- 1940 ยทDulcyas Miss Murphy - Van Dyke's Secretary (uncredited)
- 1940 ยทPhantom Raidersas Middle Telephone Operator
- 1940 ยทHollywood: Style Center of the Worldas Saleslady
- 1940 ยทTwo Girls on Broadwayas Chatworth's Secretary (uncredited)
- 1929 ยทNo Defenseas Ruth Harper
- 1929 ยทStolen Kissesas May Lambert
- 1928 ยทThe Terroras Olga Redmayne
- 1928 ยทCaught in the Fogas The Girl
- 1928 ยทThe Lion and the Mouseas Shirley Ross
- 1928 ยทThe Little Snobas May Banks
- 1927 ยทIf I Were Singleas May Howard
- 1927 ยทA Reno Divorceas Carla
- 1927 ยทThe Jazz Singeras Mary Dale
- 1927 ยทSlightly Usedas Cynthia Martin
- 1927 ยทIrish Heartsas Sheila
- 1926 ยทThe Fire Brigadeas Helen Corwin
- 1926 ยทThe Savageas Ysabel Atwater
- 1926 ยทThe Passionate Questas
- 1926 ยทMy Old Dutchas Sal Gratton
- 1926 ยทThe Road to Gloryas Judith Allen
- 1925 ยทLady Windermere's Fanas Lady Windermere
- 1925 ยทBen-Hur: A Tale of the Christas Esther
- 1925 ยทThe Mad Whirlas Cathleen Gillis
- 1924 ยทThree Womenas Jeannie Wilton
- 1924 ยทTarnishas Letitia Tevis
- 1924 ยทThe Bedroom Windowas Ruth Martin
- 1924 ยทThe Enchanted Cottageas Laura Pennington
- 1923 ยทHer Reputationas Jacqueline Lanier
- 1923 ยทHollywoodas May McAvoy
- 1923 ยทOnly 38as Lucy Stanley
- 1922 ยทKick Inas Myrtle
- 1922 ยทClarenceas Cora Wheeler
- 1922 ยทA Trip to Paramountownas Self
- 1922 ยทThe Top of New Yorkas Hilda O'Shaunnessey
- 1922 ยทA Homespun Vampas Meg Mackenzie
- 1921 ยทMoralsas Carlotta Carlotta
- 1921 ยทA Private Scandalas Jeanne Millett
- 1921 ยทSentimental Tommyas Grizel
- 1920 ยทThe Truth About Husbandsas Leslie Brownell
- 1920 ยทThe Devil's Gardenas Norah
- 1919 ยทThe Way of a Womanas Grace Lee
- 1919 ยทThe Woman Under Oathas Edith Norton
- 1919 ยทMrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patchas Australy Wiggs
- 1918 ยทI'll Say Soas
- 1918 ยทA Perfect Ladyas Claire Higgins