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.
76 acting credits
Acting · 76
Ben-Hur
1959
The Jazz Singer
1927
Mystery Street
1950
Love Crazy
1941
The Bad and the Beautiful
1952
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
1925
Executive Suite
1954
The Terror
1928
Hollywood: Style Center of the World
1940
Third Finger, Left Hand
1940
Hollywood
1923
Two Girls on Broadway
1940
Two Girls and a Sailor
1944
The Romance of Rosy Ridge
1947
Phantom Raiders
1940
Luxury Liner
1948
Rio Rita
1942
Dulcy
1940
Irish Hearts
1927
Three Women
1924
Lady Windermere's Fan
1925
Main Street on the March!
1941
1-2-3-Go!
1941
Ringside Maisie
1941
Morals
1921
Born to Sing
1942
The Road to Glory
1926
A Trip to Paramountown
1922
The Enchanted Cottage
1924
The Yellow Cab Man
1950
Caught in the Fog
1928
Stolen Kisses
1929
Sucker List
1941
My Old Dutch
1926
Only 38
1923
No Defense
1929
Clarence
1922
The Lion and the Mouse
1928
Movie Pests
1944
The Savage
1926
Her Reputation
1923
Whispers
1941
A Private Scandal
1921
The Mad Whirl
1925
The Top of New York
1922
Slightly Used
1927
If I Were Single
1927
A Perfect Lady
1918
The Sporting Duchess
1920
Kick In
1922
The Bedroom Window
1924
The Passionate Quest
1926
Tarnish
1924
Sentimental Tommy
1921
The Devil's Garden
1920
Tessie
1925
The Way of a Woman
1919
The Fire Brigade
1926
The Forbidden Valley
1920
Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch
1919
West of the Water Tower
1924
A Homespun Vamp
1922
The Little Snob
1928
The Woman Under Oath
1919
A Reno Divorce
1927
The Truth About Husbands
1920
Grumpy
1923
Gareth Hughes
2000
Mr. Blabbermouth!
1942
A Virginia Courtship
1921
My Husband's Other Wife
1920
Through a Glass Window
1922
I'll Say So
1918
To Hell with the Kaiser!
1918
Matinee Ladies
1927
The House of the Tolling Bell
1920