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.
77 movies
Gareth Hughes
2000·0.0
Ben-Hur
1959·7.9
The Wings of Eagles
1957·6.3
Executive Suite
1954·7.1
The Bad and the Beautiful
1952·7.3
Mystery Street
1950·6.8
The Yellow Cab Man
1950·6.9
Luxury Liner
1948·5.8
The Romance of Rosy Ridge
1947·6.7
Movie Pests
1944·6.1
Two Girls and a Sailor
1944·5.8
Mr. Blabbermouth!
1942·5.1
Rio Rita
1942·6.0
Born to Sing
1942·5.4
Main Street on the March!
1941·6.1
Ringside Maisie
1941·5.6
Sucker List
1941·7.0
Love Crazy
1941·6.8
1-2-3-Go!
1941·6.6
Whispers
1941·8.0
Third Finger, Left Hand
1940·7.0
Dulcy
1940·6.4
Phantom Raiders
1940·6.1
Hollywood: Style Center of the World
1940·5.8
Two Girls on Broadway
1940·7.0
No Defense
1929·10.0
Stolen Kisses
1929·6.3
The Terror
1928·7.5
Caught in the Fog
1928·9.0
The Lion and the Mouse
1928·9.0
The Little Snob
1928·8.0
If I Were Single
1927·9.0
A Reno Divorce
1927·9.0
The Jazz Singer
1927·6.1
Slightly Used
1927·8.0
Irish Hearts
1927·10.0
Matinee Ladies
1927·9.0
The Fire Brigade
1926·5.0
The Savage
1926·9.0
The Passionate Quest
1926·9.0
My Old Dutch
1926·7.0
The Road to Glory
1926·6.5
Lady Windermere's Fan
1925·6.8
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
1925·7.3
Tessie
1925·9.0
The Mad Whirl
1925·6.6
Three Women
1924·4.3
Tarnish
1924·8.0
The Bedroom Window
1924·9.0
The Enchanted Cottage
1924·7.3
West of the Water Tower
1924·10.0
Her Reputation
1923·9.0
Hollywood
1923·9.0
Only 38
1923·9.0
Grumpy
1923·8.0
Kick In
1922·9.0
Clarence
1922·9.0
A Trip to Paramountown
1922·7.8
The Top of New York
1922·10.0
Through a Glass Window
1922·9.0
A Homespun Vamp
1922·8.0
A Virginia Courtship
1921·10.0
Morals
1921·10.0
A Private Scandal
1921·7.0
Sentimental Tommy
1921·7.0
The Truth About Husbands
1920·7.0
The Devil's Garden
1920·7.0
The Forbidden Valley
1920·8.0
The House of the Tolling Bell
1920·9.0
The Sporting Duchess
1920·8.0
My Husband's Other Wife
1920·10.0
The Way of a Woman
1919·8.0
The Woman Under Oath
1919·6.5
Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch
1919·6.3
I'll Say So
1918·0.0
A Perfect Lady
1918·0.0
To Hell with the Kaiser!
1918·0.0