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May McAvoy

1899-09-06

The 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.

May McAvoy in

Movies

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Ben-Hur

7.887 average rating
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The Bad and the Beautiful

7.3 average rating
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The Jazz Singer

6.104 average rating
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Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

7.3 average rating
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Mystery Street

6.7 average rating
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Love Crazy

7.1 average rating
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Rio Rita

5.8 average rating
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Lady Windermere's Fan

6.757 average rating
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Third Finger, Left Hand

6.8 average rating
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Hollywood

7 average rating
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The Terror

6 average rating
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Phantom Raiders

6.1 average rating
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Two Girls and a Sailor

5.7 average rating
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Born to Sing

5 average rating
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The Enchanted Cottage

6.5 average rating
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A Trip to Paramountown

6 average rating
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Luxury Liner

5.2 average rating
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Sucker List

6 average rating
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Dulcy

5.8 average rating
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If I Were Single

0 average rating