May McAvoy
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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.
Known for
Ben-Hur
Woman in crowd (uncredited)
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
Esther
The Woman Under Oath
Edith Norton
A Private Scandal
Jeanne Millett
Dulcy
Miss Murphy - Van Dyke's Secretary (uncredited)
The Bad and the Beautiful
Pebbel's Secretary (uncredited)
West of the Water Tower
Bee Chew
The Lion and the Mouse
Shirley Ross
Morals
Carlotta Carlotta
A Reno Divorce
Carla
The Truth About Husbands
Leslie Brownell
Matinee Ladies
Sallie Smith
The Little Snob
May Banks
A Homespun Vamp
Meg Mackenzie
Whispers
Gossip (uncredited)
Clarence
Cora Wheeler
Movie Pests
Woman Whose Vision Gets Blocked (uncredited)
The Jazz Singer
Mary Dale
The Terror
Olga Redmayne
Three Women
Jeannie Wilton
The Mad Whirl
Cathleen Gillis
Third Finger, Left Hand
Telephone Operator (uncredited)
Rio Rita
Hotel Guest (uncredited)
The Fire Brigade
Helen Corwin
A Perfect Lady
Claire Higgins
The Bedroom Window
Ruth Martin
1-2-3-Go!
Nurse
The Road to Glory
Judith Allen
Love Crazy
Sanity Hearing Secretary (uncredited)
The Passionate Quest
Hollywood
May McAvoy
Slightly Used
Cynthia Martin
Irish Hearts
Sheila
Phantom Raiders
Middle Telephone Operator
Mystery Street
Nurse (uncredited)
Her Reputation
Jacqueline Lanier
Tarnish
Letitia Tevis
Only 38
Lucy Stanley
The Way of a Woman
Grace Lee
Stolen Kisses
May Lambert
Lady Windermere's Fan
Lady Windermere
Two Girls on Broadway
Chatworth's Secretary (uncredited)
Hollywood: Style Center of the World
Saleslady
My Old Dutch
Sal Gratton
A Trip to Paramountown
Self
The Savage
Ysabel Atwater
Main Street on the March!
Window Shopper (uncredited)
Born to Sing
(uncredited)
Sentimental Tommy
Grizel
The Yellow Cab Man
(uncredited)
The Top of New York
Hilda O'Shaunnessey
Mr. Blabbermouth!
If I Were Single
May Howard
The Enchanted Cottage
Laura Pennington
Luxury Liner
Woman (uncredited)
Ringside Maisie
1st Nurse (uncredited)
No Defense
Ruth Harper
Sucker List
Secretary (uncredited)
Two Girls and a Sailor
Dowager (uncredited)
Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch
Australy Wiggs
Caught in the Fog
The Girl
Kick In
Myrtle
The Devil's Garden
Norah
Tessie
Tessie
Gareth Hughes
Self (archive footage)