May McAvoy
Known for Acting · 77 credits
- Born
- 1899-09-06
- Died
- 1984-04-26
- Place of birth
- New York City, New York, USA
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.
Known For
Movies (77)
Ben-Hur
1959
as Woman in crowd (uncredited)
No Defense
1929
as Ruth Harper
Rio Rita
1942
as Hotel Guest (uncredited)
Two Girls and a Sailor
1944
as Dowager (uncredited)
Ringside Maisie
1941
as 1st Nurse (uncredited)
The Bad and the Beautiful
1952
as Pebbel's Secretary (uncredited)
Sentimental Tommy
1921
as Grizel
The Jazz Singer
1927
as Mary Dale
Lady Windermere's Fan
1925
as Lady Windermere
The Wings of Eagles
1957
as Nurse (uncredited)
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
1925
as Esther
Executive Suite
1954
as Grimm's Secretary (uncredited)
Grumpy
1923
as Virginia Bullivant
The Fire Brigade
1926
as Helen Corwin
Third Finger, Left Hand
1940
as Telephone Operator (uncredited)
To Hell with the Kaiser!
1918
as Wounded Girl
Born to Sing
1942
as (uncredited)
Tessie
1925
as Tessie
Gareth Hughes
2000
as Self (archive footage)
The Yellow Cab Man
1950
as (uncredited)
Love Crazy
1941
as Sanity Hearing Secretary (uncredited)
The Sporting Duchess
1920
as Mary Aylmer
Through a Glass Window
1922
as Jenny Martin
The Romance of Rosy Ridge
1947
as Wife (uncredited)
Luxury Liner
1948
as Woman (uncredited)
My Husband's Other Wife
1920
as Nettie Bryson
I'll Say So
1918
The Terror
1928
as Olga Redmayne
Phantom Raiders
1940
as Middle Telephone Operator
Two Girls on Broadway
1940
as Chatworth's Secretary (uncredited)
Caught in the Fog
1928
as The Girl
Hollywood: Style Center of the World
1940
as Saleslady
The Devil's Garden
1920
as Norah
Mystery Street
1950
as Nurse (uncredited)
The Bedroom Window
1924
as Ruth Martin
A Homespun Vamp
1922
as Meg Mackenzie
The Way of a Woman
1919
as Grace Lee
The House of the Tolling Bell
1920
as Lucy Atheron
The Forbidden Valley
1920
as Morning Glory
Movie Pests
1944
as Woman Whose Vision Gets Blocked (uncredited)
A Trip to Paramountown
1922
as Self
The Road to Glory
1926
as Judith Allen
Stolen Kisses
1929
as May Lambert
Mr. Blabbermouth!
1942
Sucker List
1941
as Secretary (uncredited)
Three Women
1924
as Jeannie Wilton
Dulcy
1940
as Miss Murphy - Van Dyke's Secretary (uncredited)
Main Street on the March!
1941
as Window Shopper (uncredited)
The Enchanted Cottage
1924
as Laura Pennington
Hollywood
1923
as May McAvoy
West of the Water Tower
1924
as Bee Chew
Irish Hearts
1927
as Sheila
The Woman Under Oath
1919
as Edith Norton
Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch
1919
as Australy Wiggs
The Top of New York
1922
as Hilda O'Shaunnessey
The Truth About Husbands
1920
as Leslie Brownell
The Savage
1926
as Ysabel Atwater
A Private Scandal
1921
as Jeanne Millett
Clarence
1922
as Cora Wheeler
The Little Snob
1928
as May Banks
The Lion and the Mouse
1928
as Shirley Ross
Her Reputation
1923
as Jacqueline Lanier
A Perfect Lady
1918
as Claire Higgins
A Virginia Courtship
1921
as Prudence Fairfax
The Passionate Quest
1926
If I Were Single
1927
as May Howard
The Mad Whirl
1925
as Cathleen Gillis
My Old Dutch
1926
as Sal Gratton
Whispers
1941
as Gossip (uncredited)
Slightly Used
1927
as Cynthia Martin
Matinee Ladies
1927
as Sallie Smith
A Reno Divorce
1927
as Carla
Morals
1921
as Carlotta Carlotta
1-2-3-Go!
1941
as Nurse
Only 38
1923
as Lucy Stanley
Kick In
1922
as Myrtle
Tarnish
1924
as Letitia Tevis
About 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-l… With 77 credits spanning from 1918 to 2000, May McAvoy has appeared in 77 films and 0 TV shows.
Fans searching for May McAvoy movies, May McAvoy filmography, or the latest projects starring May McAvoy can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular May McAvoy Movies
- Ben-Hur (1959) — as Woman in crowd (uncredited)
- No Defense (1929) — as Ruth Harper
- Rio Rita (1942) — as Hotel Guest (uncredited)
- Two Girls and a Sailor (1944) — as Dowager (uncredited)
- Ringside Maisie (1941) — as 1st Nurse (uncredited)
Where to Watch May McAvoy Films
Most May McAvoy movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring May McAvoy, check our movies catalogue and browse page.