Actor
May McAvoy
Born 6 September 1899 · New York City, New York, USA — died 26 April 1984
May McAvoy was an American actress who rose to stardom in silent films of the 1920s. She is best remembered for The Enchanted Cottage, Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ and The Jazz Singer. After leaving leading roles, she returned for small parts in the 1940s and 1950s.
Key films
The Enchanted Cottage (1924)
One of her best-known silent leads, playing Laura Pennington.
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925)On Cinespective
Played Esther in MGM's lavish epic, one of the biggest productions of the silent era.
Lady Windermere's Fan (1925)
Took the title role in Ernst Lubitsch's silent adaptation of Oscar Wilde's play.
The Jazz Singer (1927)
Played Mary Dale in the landmark early sound feature from Warner Bros.
Ben-Hur (1959)On Cinespective
Her final film appearance, a small part in the remake of the story she had starred in.
Key awards
No major awards are documented here.
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 77
- 1918A Perfect Lady · as Claire HigginsActor
- 1918To Hell with the Kaiser! · as Wounded GirlActor
- 1918I'll Say SoActor
- 1919Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch · as Australy WiggsActor
- 1919The Woman Under Oath · as Edith NortonActor
- 1919The Way of a Woman · as Grace LeeActor
- 1920The Devil's Garden · as NorahActor
- 1920The Truth About Husbands · as Leslie BrownellActor
- 1920The Sporting Duchess · as Mary AylmerActor
- 1920My Husband's Other Wife · as Nettie BrysonActor
- 1920The Forbidden Valley · as Morning GloryActor
- 1920The House of the Tolling Bell · as Lucy AtheronActor
- 1921Sentimental Tommy · as GrizelActor
- 1921Morals · as Carlotta CarlottaActor
- 1921A Private Scandal · as Jeanne MillettActor
- 1921A Virginia Courtship · as Prudence FairfaxActor
- 1922A Trip to Paramountown · as SelfActor
- 1922Kick In · as MyrtleActor
- 1922A Homespun Vamp · as Meg MackenzieActor
- 1922Clarence · as Cora WheelerActor
- 1922The Top of New York · as Hilda O'ShaunnesseyActor
- 1922Through a Glass Window · as Jenny MartinActor
- 1923Hollywood · as May McAvoyActor
- 1923Only 38 · as Lucy StanleyActor
- 1923Her Reputation · as Jacqueline LanierActor
- 1923Grumpy · as Virginia BullivantActor
- 1924The Enchanted Cottage · as Laura PenningtonActor
- 1924Three Women · as Jeannie WiltonActor
- 1924The Bedroom Window · as Ruth MartinActor
- 1924Tarnish · as Letitia TevisActor
- 1924West of the Water Tower · as Bee ChewActor
- 1925Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ · as EstherActor
- 1925Lady Windermere's Fan · as Lady WindermereActor
- 1925The Mad Whirl · as Cathleen GillisActor
- 1925Tessie · as TessieActor
- 1926The Fire Brigade · as Helen CorwinActor
- 1926The Road to Glory · as Judith AllenActor
- 1926My Old Dutch · as Sal GrattonActor
- 1926The Savage · as Ysabel AtwaterActor
- 1926The Passionate QuestActor
- 1927The Jazz Singer · as Mary DaleActor
- 1927Irish Hearts · as SheilaActor
- 1927A Reno Divorce · as CarlaActor
- 1927Slightly Used · as Cynthia MartinActor
- 1927If I Were Single · as May HowardActor
- 1927Matinee Ladies · as Sallie SmithActor
- 1928The Terror · as Olga RedmayneActor
- 1928The Little Snob · as May BanksActor
- 1928The Lion and the Mouse · as Shirley RossActor
- 1928Caught in the Fog · as The GirlActor
- 1929Stolen Kisses · as May LambertActor
- 1929No Defense · as Ruth HarperActor
- 1940Phantom Raiders · as Middle Telephone OperatorActor
- 1940Third Finger, Left Hand · as Telephone Operator (uncredited)Actor
- 1940Two Girls on Broadway · as Chatworth's Secretary (uncredited)Actor
- 1940Dulcy · as Miss Murphy - Van Dyke's Secretary (uncredited)Actor
- 1940Hollywood: Style Center of the World · as SalesladyActor
- 1941Love Crazy · as Sanity Hearing Secretary (uncredited)Actor
- 1941Main Street on the March! · as Window Shopper (uncredited)Actor
- 19411-2-3-Go! · as NurseActor
- 1941Sucker List · as Secretary (uncredited)Actor
- 1941Ringside Maisie · as 1st Nurse (uncredited)Actor
- 1941Whispers · as Gossip (uncredited)Actor
- 1942Rio Rita · as Hotel Guest (uncredited)Actor
- 1942Mr. Blabbermouth!Actor
- 1942Born to Sing · as (uncredited)Actor
- 1944Two Girls and a Sailor · as Dowager (uncredited)Actor
- 1944Movie Pests · as Woman Whose Vision Gets Blocked (uncredited)Actor
- 1947The Romance of Rosy Ridge · as Wife (uncredited)Actor
- 1948Luxury Liner · as Woman (uncredited)Actor
- 1950Mystery Street · as Nurse (uncredited)Actor
- 1950The Yellow Cab Man · as (uncredited)Actor
- 1952The Bad and the Beautiful · as Pebbel's Secretary (uncredited)Actor
- 1954Executive Suite · as Grimm's Secretary (uncredited)Actor
- 1957The Wings of Eagles · as Nurse (uncredited)Actor
- 1959Ben-Hur · as Woman in crowd (uncredited)Actor
- 2000Gareth Hughes · as Self (archive footage)Actor
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.