MM
May McAvoy
Actor
Died April 26, 1984 (84 years)
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.
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
| 2011 | These Amazing Shadows · as Lady Windermere (clip From Lady Windermere's Fan (1925)) |
| 1959 | Ben-Hur · as Woman In Crowd (uncredited) |
| 1957 | Jailhouse Rock · as Minor Role |
| 1957 | Gun Glory · as Woman |
| 1957 | Designing Woman · as Boston Wardrobe Woman |
| 1957 | The Wings of Eagles · as Nurse |
| 1956 | Ransom! · as Miss May |
| 1955 | The Glass Slipper · as Ball Guest |
| 1955 | The Tender Trap · as Visitor To Home Show |
| 1954 | Executive Suite · as Grimm's Secretary |
| 1952 | The Bad and the Beautiful · as Pebbel's Secretary (uncredited) |
| 1950 | Watch the Birdie · as Minor Role |
| 1950 | The Lux Video Theatre (TV Series) · as Member Of The Jury |
| 1950 | Mystery Street · as Nurse (uncredited) |
| 1950 | The Yellow Cab Man · as (uncredited) |
| 1948 | Luxury Liner · as Woman (uncredited) |
| 1948 | A Date with Judy · as Dance Attendee |
| 1947 | The Unfinished Dance · as Ronsell's Secretary |
| 1947 | The Romance of Rosy Ridge · as Wife |
| 1946 | Till the Clouds Roll By · as Well-Wisher After 'roberta' |
| 1945 | Week-End at the Waldorf · as Minor Role |
| 1944 | Nothing But Trouble · as Servant Seeker |
| 1944 | Two Girls and a Sailor · as Dowager (uncredited) |
| 1943 | Air Raid Wardens · as Townswoman At Meeting |
| 1943 | Assignment in Brittany · as Nurse |
| 1942 | Rio Rita · as Hotel Guest (uncredited) |
| 1942 | Born to Sing · as (uncredited) |
| 1941 | Ringside Maisie · as 1st Nurse (uncredited) |
| 1941 | The Getaway · as Duff's Secretary |
| 1941 | Love Crazy · as Sanity Hearing Secretary (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Third Finger, Left Hand · as Telephone Operator (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Dulcy · as Miss Murphy - Van Dyke's Secretary (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Phantom Raiders · as Middle Telephone Operator |
| 1940 | The New Pupil · as Sally's Mother |
| 1940 | Two Girls on Broadway · as Chatworth's Secretary (uncredited) |
| 1931 | The House That Shadows Built · as Cast |
| 1928 | The Terror · as Olga Redmayne |
| 1927 | The Jazz Singer · as Mary Dale |
| 1926 | The Fire Brigade · as Helen Corwin |
| 1926 | The Road to Glory · as Judith Allen |
| 1925 | Lady Windermere's Fan · as Lady Windermere |
| 1925 | Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ · as Esther |
| 1925 | The Mad Whirl · as Cathleen Gillis |
| 1924 | Three Women · as Jeannie Wilton |
| 1924 | The Enchanted Cottage · as Laura Pennington |
| 1923 | Grumpy · as Virginia Bullivant |
| 1921 | Everything for Sale · as Helen Wainwright |