Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Birthdate
1899-09-06
Day of Death
1984-04-26
Place of Birth
New York City, New York, USA
May McAvoy
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 (76)
Gareth Hughes
2000
Ben-Hur
1959
Executive Suite
1954
The Bad and the Beautiful
1952
Mystery Street
1950
The Yellow Cab Man
1950
Luxury Liner
1948
The Romance of Rosy Ridge
1947
Movie Pests
1944
Two Girls and a Sailor
1944
Mr. Blabbermouth!
1942
Rio Rita
1942
Born to Sing
1942
Main Street on the March!
1941
