May McAvoy
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.
Filmography
Gareth Hughes
as Self (archive footage)
Gareth Hughes
as Self (archive footage)
Ben-Hur
as Woman in crowd (uncredited)
Ben-Hur
as Woman in crowd (uncredited)
The Wings of Eagles
as Nurse (uncredited)
The Wings of Eagles
as Nurse (uncredited)
Mystery Street
as Nurse (uncredited)
Mystery Street
as Nurse (uncredited)
The Yellow Cab Man
as (uncredited)
The Yellow Cab Man
as (uncredited)
The Romance of Rosy Ridge
as Wife (uncredited)
The Romance of Rosy Ridge
as Wife (uncredited)
Mr. Blabbermouth!
Mr. Blabbermouth!
Rio Rita
as Hotel Guest (uncredited)
Rio Rita
as Hotel Guest (uncredited)
Born to Sing
as (uncredited)
Born to Sing
as (uncredited)
Main Street on the March!
as Window Shopper (uncredited)
Main Street on the March!
as Window Shopper (uncredited)
Ringside Maisie
as 1st Nurse (uncredited)
Ringside Maisie
as 1st Nurse (uncredited)
Sucker List
as Secretary (uncredited)
Sucker List
as Secretary (uncredited)
Love Crazy
as Sanity Hearing Secretary (uncredited)
Love Crazy
as Sanity Hearing Secretary (uncredited)
1-2-3-Go!
as Nurse
1-2-3-Go!
as Nurse
Third Finger, Left Hand
as Telephone Operator (uncredited)
Third Finger, Left Hand
as Telephone Operator (uncredited)
Phantom Raiders
as Middle Telephone Operator
Phantom Raiders
as Middle Telephone Operator
Matinee Ladies
as Sallie Smith
Matinee Ladies
as Sallie Smith
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
as Esther
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
as Esther
Tessie
as Tessie
Tessie
as Tessie
Three Women
as Jeannie Wilton
Three Women
as Jeannie Wilton
Tarnish
as Letitia Tevis
Tarnish
as Letitia Tevis
The Bedroom Window
as Ruth Martin
The Bedroom Window
as Ruth Martin
The Enchanted Cottage
as Laura Pennington
The Enchanted Cottage
as Laura Pennington
West of the Water Tower
as Bee Chew
West of the Water Tower
as Bee Chew
Hollywood
as May McAvoy
Hollywood
as May McAvoy
Only 38
as Lucy Stanley
Only 38
as Lucy Stanley
Grumpy
as Virginia Bullivant
Grumpy
as Virginia Bullivant
Kick In
as Myrtle
Kick In
as Myrtle
Clarence
as Cora Wheeler
Clarence
as Cora Wheeler
A Trip to Paramountown
as Self
A Trip to Paramountown
as Self
The Top of New York
as Hilda O'Shaunnessey
The Top of New York
as Hilda O'Shaunnessey
Through a Glass Window
as Jenny Martin
Through a Glass Window
as Jenny Martin
Sentimental Tommy
as Grizel
Sentimental Tommy
as Grizel
The House of the Tolling Bell
as Lucy Atheron
The House of the Tolling Bell
as Lucy Atheron