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 (77 titles)
Gareth Hughes
Self (archive footage) · 2000
7.9MovieBen-Hur
Woman in crowd (uncredited) · 1959
6.3MovieThe Wings of Eagles
Nurse (uncredited) · 1957
7.1MovieExecutive Suite
Grimm's Secretary (uncredited) · 1954
7.3MovieThe Bad and the Beautiful
Pebbel's Secretary (uncredited) · 1952
6.8MovieMystery Street
Nurse (uncredited) · 1950
6.9MovieThe Yellow Cab Man
(uncredited) · 1950
5.8MovieLuxury Liner
Woman (uncredited) · 1948
6.7MovieThe Romance of Rosy Ridge
Wife (uncredited) · 1947
6.1MovieMovie Pests
Woman Whose Vision Gets Blocked (uncredited) · 1944
5.8MovieTwo Girls and a Sailor
Dowager (uncredited) · 1944
5.1MovieMr. Blabbermouth!
1942
6.0MovieRio Rita
Hotel Guest (uncredited) · 1942
5.4MovieBorn to Sing
(uncredited) · 1942
6.1MovieMain Street on the March!
Window Shopper (uncredited) · 1941
5.6MovieRingside Maisie
1st Nurse (uncredited) · 1941
7.0MovieSucker List
Secretary (uncredited) · 1941
6.8MovieLove Crazy
Sanity Hearing Secretary (uncredited) · 1941
6.6Movie1-2-3-Go!
Nurse · 1941
8.0MovieWhispers
Gossip (uncredited) · 1941
7.0MovieThird Finger, Left Hand
Telephone Operator (uncredited) · 1940
6.4MovieDulcy
Miss Murphy - Van Dyke's Secretary (uncredited) · 1940
6.1MoviePhantom Raiders
Middle Telephone Operator · 1940
5.8MovieHollywood: Style Center of the World
Saleslady · 1940
7.0MovieTwo Girls on Broadway
Chatworth's Secretary (uncredited) · 1940
10.0MovieNo Defense
Ruth Harper · 1929
6.3MovieStolen Kisses
May Lambert · 1929
7.5MovieThe Terror
Olga Redmayne · 1928
9.0MovieCaught in the Fog
The Girl · 1928
9.0MovieThe Lion and the Mouse
Shirley Ross · 1928