
May McAvoy
Known for Acting · 76 credits
- Born
- 1899-09-06
- Died
- 1984-04-26
- Place of birth
- New York City, New York, USA
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.
Known For

Ben-Hur
1959
as Woman in crowd (uncredited)

Executive Suite
1954
as Grimm's Secretary (uncredited)

Mystery Street
1950
as Nurse (uncredited)

The Bad and the Beautiful
1952
as Pebbel's Secretary (uncredited)

Dulcy
1940
as Miss Murphy - Van Dyke's Secretary (uncredited)

The Jazz Singer
1927
as Mary Dale
Movies (76)

Ben-Hur
1959
as Woman in crowd (uncredited)

Executive Suite
1954
as Grimm's Secretary (uncredited)

Mystery Street
1950
as Nurse (uncredited)

The Bad and the Beautiful
1952
as Pebbel's Secretary (uncredited)

Dulcy
1940
as Miss Murphy - Van Dyke's Secretary (uncredited)

The Jazz Singer
1927
as Mary Dale

Rio Rita
1942
as Hotel Guest (uncredited)

The Terror
1928
as Olga Redmayne

Clarence
1922
as Cora Wheeler

Tarnish
1924
as Letitia Tevis

The Savage
1926
as Ysabel Atwater

Slightly Used
1927
as Cynthia Martin

Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
1925
as Esther

Love Crazy
1941
as Sanity Hearing Secretary (uncredited)

Only 38
1923
as Lucy Stanley

The Enchanted Cottage
1924
as Laura Pennington

The Romance of Rosy Ridge
1947
as Wife (uncredited)

Third Finger, Left Hand
1940
as Telephone Operator (uncredited)

Luxury Liner
1948
as Woman (uncredited)

Irish Hearts
1927
as Sheila

The Yellow Cab Man
1950
as (uncredited)

Hollywood: Style Center of the World
1940
as Saleslady

Main Street on the March!
1941
as Window Shopper (uncredited)

Whispers
1941
as Gossip (uncredited)

Two Girls on Broadway
1940
as Chatworth's Secretary (uncredited)

Hollywood
1923
as May McAvoy

Phantom Raiders
1940
as Middle Telephone Operator

1-2-3-Go!
1941
as Nurse

No Defense
1929
as Ruth Harper

Two Girls and a Sailor
1944
as Dowager (uncredited)

Morals
1921
as Carlotta Carlotta

Born to Sing
1942
as (uncredited)

Lady Windermere's Fan
1925
as Lady Windermere

The Little Snob
1928
as May Banks

Three Women
1924
as Jeannie Wilton

A Reno Divorce
1927
as Carla

Her Reputation
1923
as Jacqueline Lanier

The Mad Whirl
1925
as Cathleen Gillis

Grumpy
1923
as Virginia Bullivant

West of the Water Tower
1924
as Bee Chew

The Bedroom Window
1924
as Ruth Martin

Kick In
1922
as Myrtle

The Lion and the Mouse
1928
as Shirley Ross

Sucker List
1941
as Secretary (uncredited)

Mr. Blabbermouth!
1942

Movie Pests
1944
as Woman Whose Vision Gets Blocked (uncredited)

My Husband's Other Wife
1920
as Nettie Bryson

If I Were Single
1927
as May Howard

I'll Say So
1918

A Trip to Paramountown
1922
as Self

A Homespun Vamp
1922
as Meg Mackenzie

Through a Glass Window
1922
as Jenny Martin

Ringside Maisie
1941
as 1st Nurse (uncredited)

My Old Dutch
1926
as Sal Gratton

The Fire Brigade
1926
as Helen Corwin

Matinee Ladies
1927
as Sallie Smith

The Sporting Duchess
1920
as Mary Aylmer

Sentimental Tommy
1921
as Grizel

The Truth About Husbands
1920
as Leslie Brownell
Tessie
1925
as Tessie
The Passionate Quest
1926

Stolen Kisses
1929
as May Lambert

A Virginia Courtship
1921
as Prudence Fairfax

A Perfect Lady
1918
as Claire Higgins

Caught in the Fog
1928
as The Girl

A Private Scandal
1921
as Jeanne Millett

The Woman Under Oath
1919
as Edith Norton
Gareth Hughes
2000
as Self (archive footage)

Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch
1919
as Australy Wiggs

To Hell with the Kaiser!
1918
as Wounded Girl

The Way of a Woman
1919
as Grace Lee

The Devil's Garden
1920
as Norah

The Forbidden Valley
1920
as Morning Glory

The Top of New York
1922
as Hilda O'Shaunnessey

The Road to Glory
1926
as Judith Allen

The House of the Tolling Bell
1920
as Lucy Atheron
About 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-l… With 76 credits spanning from 1918 to 2000, May McAvoy has appeared in 76 films and 0 TV shows.
Fans searching for May McAvoy movies, May McAvoy filmography, or the latest projects starring May McAvoy can stream many of these titles on CineFlixo, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular May McAvoy Movies
- Ben-Hur (1959) — as Woman in crowd (uncredited)
- Executive Suite (1954) — as Grimm's Secretary (uncredited)
- Mystery Street (1950) — as Nurse (uncredited)
- The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) — as Pebbel's Secretary (uncredited)
- Dulcy (1940) — as Miss Murphy - Van Dyke's Secretary (uncredited)
Where to Watch May McAvoy Films
Most May McAvoy movies and series are available to stream on CineFlixo in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring May McAvoy, check our movies catalogue and browse page.