May McAvoy

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.

Filmography

Sanity Hearing Secretary (uncredited)
Telephone Operator (uncredited)
Dowager (uncredited)
Meg Mackenzie
Cora Wheeler
May McAvoy
Lady Windermere
Helen Corwin
Jeannie Wilton
(uncredited)
Cathleen Gillis
Carlotta Carlotta
Lucy Stanley
Self (archive footage)
Claire Higgins
Pebbel's Secretary (uncredited)
Jeanne Millett
Jacqueline Lanier
Chatworth's Secretary (uncredited)
Woman in crowd (uncredited)
Sal Gratton
Ysabel Atwater
Middle Telephone Operator
Woman Whose Vision Gets Blocked (uncredited)
Judith Allen
1st Nurse (uncredited)
Laura Pennington
Miss Murphy - Van Dyke's Secretary (uncredited)
(uncredited)
Woman (uncredited)
Olga Redmayne
May Lambert
Ruth Harper
Nurse (uncredited)
Cynthia Martin
Gossip (uncredited)
Window Shopper (uncredited)
Letitia Tevis
Myrtle
Secretary (uncredited)
Hotel Guest (uncredited)
Hilda O'Shaunnessey
Tessie