May McAvoy
Known for Acting · 76 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
Ben-Hur
1959
as Woman in crowd (uncredited)
Executive Suite
1954
as Grimm's Secretary (uncredited)
Mystery Street
1950
as Nurse (uncredited)
The Bad and the Beautiful
1952
as Pebbel's Secretary (uncredited)
The Jazz Singer
1927
as Mary Dale
Love Crazy
1941
as Sanity Hearing Secretary (uncredited)
Movies (76)
Ben-Hur
1959
as Woman in crowd (uncredited)
Executive Suite
1954
as Grimm's Secretary (uncredited)
Mystery Street
1950
as Nurse (uncredited)
The Bad and the Beautiful
1952
as Pebbel's Secretary (uncredited)
The Jazz Singer
1927
as Mary Dale
Love Crazy
1941
as Sanity Hearing Secretary (uncredited)
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
1925
as Esther
Whispers
1941
as Gossip (uncredited)
The Terror
1928
as Olga Redmayne
Hollywood: Style Center of the World
1940
as Saleslady
Dulcy
1940
as Miss Murphy - Van Dyke's Secretary (uncredited)
Clarence
1922
as Cora Wheeler
Two Girls on Broadway
1940
as Chatworth's Secretary (uncredited)
Rio Rita
1942
as Hotel Guest (uncredited)
Hollywood
1923
as May McAvoy
Third Finger, Left Hand
1940
as Telephone Operator (uncredited)
Main Street on the March!
1941
as Window Shopper (uncredited)
The Romance of Rosy Ridge
1947
as Wife (uncredited)
Two Girls and a Sailor
1944
as Dowager (uncredited)
The Lion and the Mouse
1928
as Shirley Ross
Irish Hearts
1927
as Sheila
Tarnish
1924
as Letitia Tevis
Luxury Liner
1948
as Woman (uncredited)
Phantom Raiders
1940
as Middle Telephone Operator
Ringside Maisie
1941
as 1st Nurse (uncredited)
The Enchanted Cottage
1924
as Laura Pennington
Three Women
1924
as Jeannie Wilton
Only 38
1923
as Lucy Stanley
Born to Sing
1942
as (uncredited)
Kick In
1922
as Myrtle
Lady Windermere's Fan
1925
as Lady Windermere
The Savage
1926
as Ysabel Atwater
The Mad Whirl
1925
as Cathleen Gillis
Morals
1921
as Carlotta Carlotta
No Defense
1929
as Ruth Harper
Sentimental Tommy
1921
as Grizel
A Trip to Paramountown
1922
as Self
1-2-3-Go!
1941
as Nurse
Movie Pests
1944
as Woman Whose Vision Gets Blocked (uncredited)
Sucker List
1941
as Secretary (uncredited)
The Bedroom Window
1924
as Ruth Martin
A Reno Divorce
1927
as Carla
Slightly Used
1927
as Cynthia Martin
Matinee Ladies
1927
as Sallie Smith
The Truth About Husbands
1920
as Leslie Brownell
A Homespun Vamp
1922
as Meg Mackenzie
The Road to Glory
1926
as Judith Allen
The Yellow Cab Man
1950
as (uncredited)
The Little Snob
1928
as May Banks
The Woman Under Oath
1919
as Edith Norton
Caught in the Fog
1928
as The Girl
My Old Dutch
1926
as Sal Gratton
Stolen Kisses
1929
as May Lambert
A Virginia Courtship
1921
as Prudence Fairfax
Grumpy
1923
as Virginia Bullivant
A Private Scandal
1921
as Jeanne Millett
The Fire Brigade
1926
as Helen Corwin
West of the Water Tower
1924
as Bee Chew
The Way of a Woman
1919
as Grace Lee
If I Were Single
1927
as May Howard
My Husband's Other Wife
1920
as Nettie Bryson
Mr. Blabbermouth!
1942
Through a Glass Window
1922
as Jenny Martin
The Devil's Garden
1920
as Norah
Her Reputation
1923
as Jacqueline Lanier
Tessie
1925
as Tessie
A Perfect Lady
1918
as Claire Higgins
Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch
1919
as Australy Wiggs
I'll Say So
1918
The Sporting Duchess
1920
as Mary Aylmer
The Forbidden Valley
1920
as Morning Glory
Gareth Hughes
2000
as Self (archive footage)
The Passionate Quest
1926
The Top of New York
1922
as Hilda O'Shaunnessey
To Hell with the Kaiser!
1918
as Wounded Girl
The House of the Tolling Bell
1920
as Lucy Atheron
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 76 credits spanning from 1918 to 2000, May McAvoy has appeared in 76 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)
- Executive Suite (1954) — as Grimm's Secretary (uncredited)
- Mystery Street (1950) — as Nurse (uncredited)
- The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) — as Pebbel's Secretary (uncredited)
- The Jazz Singer (1927) — as Mary Dale
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.