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
all 66
Movies 66
self 4
![Ben-Hur](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/5884-ben-hur.jpg)
Ben-Hur (1959)
![The Bad and the Beautiful](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/22693-the-bad-and-the-beautiful.jpg)
The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)
![Mystery Street](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/83114-mystery-street.jpg)
Mystery Street (1950)
![The Yellow Cab Man](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/91202-the-yellow-cab-man.jpg)
The Yellow Cab Man (1950)
![Luxury Liner](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/119581-luxury-liner.jpg)
Luxury Liner (1948)
![Movie Pests](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/136486-movie-pests.jpg)
Movie Pests (1944)
![Two Girls and a Sailor](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/77139-two-girls-and-a-sailor.jpg)
Two Girls and a Sailor (1944)
![My Tomato](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/685620-my-tomato.jpg)
My Tomato (1943)
![Rio Rita](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/83415-rio-rita.jpg)
Rio Rita (1942)
![Born to Sing](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/135970-born-to-sing.jpg)
Born to Sing (1942)
![Main Street on the March!](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/135823-main-street-on-the-march.jpg)
Main Street on the March! (1941)
![Ringside Maisie](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/3892-ringside-maisie.jpg)
Ringside Maisie (1941)
![Sucker List](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/135896-sucker-list.jpg)
Sucker List (1941)
![Love Crazy](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/87593-love-crazy.jpg)
Love Crazy (1941)
![Whispers](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/t/o.jpg)
Whispers (1941)
![Third Finger, Left Hand](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/77917-third-finger-left-hand.jpg)
Third Finger, Left Hand (1940)
![Dulcy](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/83570-dulcy.jpg)
Dulcy (1940)
![Phantom Raiders](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/76417-phantom-raiders.jpg)
Phantom Raiders (1940)
![Two Girls on Broadway](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/90709-two-girls-on-broadway.jpg)
Two Girls on Broadway (1940)
![No Defense](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/109349-no-defense.jpg)
No Defense (1929)
![Stolen Kisses](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/133030-stolen-kisses.jpg)
Stolen Kisses (1929)
![The Jazz Singer](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/8571-the-jazz-singer.jpg)
The Jazz Singer (1929)
![The Terror](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/26136-the-terror.jpg)
The Terror (1928)
![Caught in the Fog](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/67448-caught-in-the-fog.jpg)
Caught in the Fog (1928)
![The Lion and the Mouse](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/104496-the-lion-and-the-mouse.jpg)
The Lion and the Mouse (1928)
![The Little Snob](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/253991-the-little-snob.jpg)
The Little Snob (1928)
![If I Were Single](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/253639-if-i-were-single.jpg)
If I Were Single (1927)
![Slightly Used](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/132691-slightly-used.jpg)
Slightly Used (1927)
![Irish Hearts](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/253660-irish-hearts.jpg)
Irish Hearts (1927)
![Matinee Ladies](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/253694-matinee-ladies.jpg)
Matinee Ladies (1927)
![The Fire Brigade](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/132465-the-fire-brigade.jpg)
The Fire Brigade (1926)
![The Savage](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/132538-the-savage.jpg)
The Savage (1926)
![The Passionate Quest](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/284980-the-passionate-quest.jpg)
The Passionate Quest (1926)
![My Old Dutch](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/341933-my-old-dutch.jpg)
My Old Dutch (1926)
![The Road to Glory](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/79215-the-road-to-glory.jpg)
The Road to Glory (1926)
![Lady Windermere's Fan](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/22277-lady-windermere-s-fan.jpg)
Lady Windermere's Fan (1925)
![The Mad Whirl](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/132377-the-mad-whirl.jpg)
The Mad Whirl (1925)
![Three Women](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/42188-three-women.jpg)
Three Women (1924)
![Tarnish](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/504038-tarnish.jpg)
Tarnish (1924)
![The Bedroom Window](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/589579-the-bedroom-window.jpg)
The Bedroom Window (1924)
![The Enchanted Cottage](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/132257-the-enchanted-cottage.jpg)
The Enchanted Cottage (1924)
![Her Reputation](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/1062296-her-reputation.jpg)
Her Reputation (1923)
![Hollywood](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/187844-hollywood.jpg)
Hollywood (1923)
![Only 38](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/132199-only-38.jpg)
Only 38 (1923)
![Kick In](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/305170-kick-in.jpg)
Kick In (1922)
![Clarence](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/708884-clarence.jpg)
Clarence (1922)
![The Top of New York](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/489434-the-top-of-new-york.jpg)
The Top of New York (1922)
![A Homespun Vamp](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/726284-a-homespun-vamp.jpg)
A Homespun Vamp (1922)
![Morals](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/278414-morals.jpg)
Morals (1921)
![A Private Scandal](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/132024-a-private-scandal.jpg)
A Private Scandal (1921)
![Sentimental Tommy](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/85696-sentimental-tommy.jpg)
Sentimental Tommy (1921)
![The Truth About Husbands](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/302873-the-truth-about-husbands.jpg)
The Truth About Husbands (1920)
![The Way of a Woman](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/281072-the-way-of-a-woman.jpg)
The Way of a Woman (1919)
![The Woman Under Oath](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/314645-the-woman-under-oath.jpg)
The Woman Under Oath (1919)
![Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/295299-mrs-wiggs-of-the-cabbage-patch.jpg)
Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch (1919)
![I'll Say So](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/772119-i-ll-say-so.jpg)
I'll Say So (1918)
![A Perfect Lady](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/287172-a-perfect-lady.jpg)
A Perfect Lady (1918)
![Hate](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/1067138-hate.jpg)
Hate (1917)
Ratings
Gallery
![May McAvoy](https://images.moviefit.me/p/o/25235-may-mcavoy.jpg)
![May McAvoy](https://images.moviefit.me/p/o/25235-may-mcavoy.jpg)
Information
Known ForActing
GenderFemale
Birthday1899-09-06
Deathday1984-04-26 (84 years old)
Birth PlaceNew York City, United States of America
CitizenshipsUnited States of America
Awardsstar on Hollywood Walk of Fame
This article uses material from Wikipedia.
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