Personal Info
Birth date
1899-09-06 (125 Years)
Day of death
1984-04-26
Gender
Female
Known for
Acting
Place of birth
New York City, New York, USA
Also known as
-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
Ben-Hur
7.887
Overview:
In 25 AD, Judah Ben-Hur, a Jew in ancient Judea, opposes the occupying Roman empire. Falsely accused by a Roman childhood friend-turned-overlord of trying to kill the Roman governor, he is put into slavery and his mother and sister are taken away as prisoners.Hollywood
7
Overview:
Angela comes to Hollywood with only two things: Her dream to become a movie star, and Grandpa. She leaves an Aunt, a brother, Grandma, and her longtime boyfriend back in Centerville. Despite seeing major movie stars around every corner, and knocking on every casting office door in town, at the end of her first day she is still unemployed. To her horror, when she arrives back at their hotel, she finds that Grandpa has been cast in a movie by William DeMille and quickly becomes a star during the ensuing weeks. Her family, worried that Angela and Grandpa are getting into trouble, come to Hollywood to drag them back home. In short order Aunt, Grandma, brother, boyfriend and even the parrot become superstars, but Angela is still unemployed...The Bad and the Beautiful
7.337
Overview:
Told in flashback form, the film traces the rise and fall of a tough, ambitious Hollywood producer, Jonathan Shields, as seen through the eyes of various acquaintances, including a writer, James Lee Bartlow; a star, Georgia Lorrison; and a director, Fred Amiel. He is a hard-driving, ambitious man who ruthlessly uses everyone on the way to becoming one of Hollywood's top movie makers.The Jazz Singer
6.105
Overview:
A young Jewish man is torn between tradition and individuality when his old-fashioned family objects to his career as a jazz singer. This is the first full length feature film to use synchronized sound, and is the original film musical.Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
7.305
Overview:
Erstwhile childhood friends, Judah Ben-Hur and Messala meet again as adults, this time with Roman officer Messala as conqueror and Judah as a wealthy, though conquered, Israelite. A slip of a brick during a Roman parade causes Judah to be sent off as a galley slave, his property confiscated and his mother and sister imprisoned. Years later, as a result of his determination to stay alive and his willingness to aid his Roman master, Judah returns to his homeland an exalted and wealthy Roman athlete. Unable to find his mother and sister, and believing them dead, he can think of nothing else than revenge against Messala.Mystery Street
6.7
Overview:
When a young woman's skeletal remains turn up on a Massachusetts beach, Barnstable cop Peter Moralas teams with Boston police and uses forensics, with the help of a Harvard professor, to determine the woman's identity, how she died, and who killed her.Dulcy
5.8
Overview:
A dizzy young woman aranges to turn her inventor-boyfriend's vacation into a chance meeting with a possible investor who happens to be her brother's future father-in-law. And Wacky stuff happens.Hollywood: Style Center of the World
5.5
Overview:
This short promotes the premise that movies often create a demand for the fashions seen in them. It starts with a vignette in rural America. A mother and daughter go to town to buy a new dress. In the dress shop window is a designer dress worn by Joan Crawford in a recent movie. We then go to Hollywood and visit Adrian, MGM's chief of costume design, and see how multiple copies of a single clothing pattern are produced. The film ends with short segments of several MGM features.Main Street on the March!
5.6
Overview:
This Best Short Subject Academy Award winning film begins in the spring of 1940, just before the Nazi occupation of the Benelux countries, and ends immediately after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. It chronicles how the people of "Main Street America", the country's military forces, and its industrial base were completely transformed when the decision was made to gear up for war. Original footage is interspersed with contemporary newsreels and stock footage.The Terror
6
Overview:
Guests at an old English manor house are stalked by a mysterious killer known only as "The Terror".Two Girls and a Sailor
5.7
Overview:
A sailor helps two sisters start up a service canteen. The sailor soon becomes taken with gorgeous sister Jean, unaware that her sibling Patsy is also in love with him.Lady Windermere's Fan
6.75
Overview:
A society woman believes her husband is having an affair, a misconception which may have dire personal consequences for all involved.Third Finger, Left Hand
6.8
Overview:
Magazine editor Margot Merrick pretends to be married in order to avoid advances from male colleagues. Unfortunately, things don't go to plan when Jeff Thompson, a potential suitor, uncovers the deception and decides to show up at Margot's family home posing as her husband!Rio Rita
5.8
Overview:
Doc and Wishey run into some Nazi-agents, who want to smuggle bombs into the USA from a Mexican border hotel.The Yellow Cab Man
6.3
Overview:
Pirdy is accident prone. He has been denied insurance from every company in town because he is always getting hit or hurt in some way. On the day that he meets the lovely Ellen of the Yellow Cab Co., he also meets the crooked lawyer named Creavy. Pirdy is an inventor and when Creavy learns about elastic-glass, his new invention, he makes plans to steal the process. With the help of another con man named Doksteader, and the boys, he will steal this million dollar invention no matter who gets hurt.Phantom Raiders
6.1
Overview:
In this second Carter mystery, a mysterious rash of cargo ships sinking in Panama leads insurers Llewellyns of London to hire vacationer Nick Carter and his eccentric associate Bartholomew to investigate. Nick recognizes influential nightclub owner Al Taurez as a shady operator, but getting the goods on him depends on slick diversions involving the heavyweight champ of the Pacific Tuna Fleet, a Panamanian bombshell armed with American slang, a young couple in love and a whole raft of crooks and cutthroats.Love Crazy
7.1
Overview:
Circumstance, an old flame and a mother-in-law drive a happily married couple to the verge of divorce and insanity.The Enchanted Cottage
6.5
Overview:
The Enchanted Cottage stars Richard Barthelmess as Oliver, a physically and emotionally wounded World War I veteran who comes home to a fiancée who promptly leaves him. Licking his wounds in solitude, he meets a young woman named Laura (May McAvoy). They fall in love and agree to marry, but unexpected and magical events occur inside The Enchanted Cottage where they have agreed to spend their wedding night.1-2-3-Go!
6.7
Overview:
While playing baseball, Mickey runs into the street to catch a fly ball and is struck by a car. When the gang visit him in the hospital they are appalled to find the ward populated by many other children injured in automobile accidents. The Our Gang kids resolve to do something about the problem, and thus the "1-2-3-Go Safety Society" is born.Mr. Blabbermouth!
4.778
Overview:
Following Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, America was rife with rumors about the size of Japan's armed forces and how well-equipped they were to wage war against the U.S. Using animation, the first part of this film dispels these rumors by showing that the U.S. had more raw materials and more fighting ships. The narrator also cautions moviegoers against spreading rumors (which are often initiated by enemy infiltrators to create fear and dissention) and believing everything they read in the newspapers. Just because "they say" something, that doesn't make it true.Ringside Maisie
7
Overview:
Young undefeated boxer Terry Dolan, who's been lying to his invalid mother about his career, confides to Maisie that he hates and is terrified by boxing and wants out. Not wanting to let down his best friend and manager Skeets Maguire, who has hopes of him becoming the next champion, he is reluctant to bring up the subject with him. Maisie convinces Terry to tell Skeets, whose unexpected reaction induces him to step into the ring again.A Trip to Paramountown
7.3
Overview:
Documentary short film depicting the filmmaking activity at the Paramount Studios in Hollywood, featuring dozens of stars captured candidly and at work.Born to Sing
5
Overview:
A group of children put on a show in order to prove that a down and out musician was the real composer of a Broadway show's songs.Two Girls on Broadway
6.6
Overview:
Eddie Kerns sells his song to a Broadway producer and also lands a job dancing in the musical. He sends for his dance partner-fiancée Molly Mahoney who brings her younger sister Pat. Upon seeing Molly and Pat dance, the producer picks Pat for the show and gives Molly a job selling cigarettes. A wealthy friend of the producer named "Chat" Chatsworth also has his eye on Pat. Pat is teamed with Eddie in the specialty number as Kerns and Mahoney. Pat and Eddie soon realize that they are in love and must tell Molly. Pat balks at hurting Molly and goes out with Chat who already has five ex-wives. Remake of The Broadway Melody (1929).The Truth About Husbands
NYR
Overview:
With an eye towards social climbing wealthy Dustan Renshaw breaks his engagement with Janet Preece to wed socialite Leslie Brown. Moving abroad after marriage Leslie welcomes her friends the Stonehays while Dustan is away, accompanied by their private secretary, Janet Preece. Janet's sudden illness compels her to remain, and the two women become fast friends. Leslie learns the story of Janet's betrayal by a man known to her only as "D. R. Devastated to learn the truth Leslie leaves Dustan but as time passes, they are reunited at Janet's deathbed.Slightly Used
NYR
Overview:
Cynthia Martin’s father insists she marry before her two younger sisters Helen and Grace. So, she invents a husband for herself called Major Smith. Trouble begins when the fictitious husband Major John Smith materializes, bringing with him chaos and confusion.Clarence
NYR
Overview:
Clarence Smith is an ex-soldier who is hired for odd jobs by Mr. Wheeler primarily because he has overheard a family argument. And the Wheeler household is going through quite a bit of turmoil -- Mrs. Wheeler feels neglected by her husband and is jealous of Violet Pinney, the governess. Daughter Cora is planning to elope with her father's secretary, Hubert Stem. Son Bobby, meanwhile, has been making passes at the maid.Sucker List
6.333
Overview:
In this MGM Crime Does Not Pay series short, a man and his racketeer buddies devise a scheme to bilk those already seemingly desperate for money of what little they have.Caught in the Fog
NYR
Overview:
Wealthy Bob visits his mother's Florida houseboat in order to remove her jewelry and stumbles upon a bobbed-hair bandit and her male accomplice, who mistake him for another burglar. A fight is broken up by the arrival of an elderly couple (still more burglars) who are posing as guests. Bob keeps his identity secret and passes himself off as the butler; the girl and her partner pretend to be the maid and the cook. A couple of idiotic detectives, arrive on the scene, closely followed by a heavy fog that traps them all on board.Acting
2000Gareth Hughes as Self (archive footage)
1959Ben-Hur as Woman in crowd (uncredited)
1952The Bad and the Beautiful as Pebbel's Secretary (uncredited)
1950Mystery Street as Nurse (uncredited)
1950The Yellow Cab Man as (uncredited)
1948Luxury Liner as Woman (uncredited)
1944Movie Pests as Woman Whose Vision Gets Blocked (uncredited)
1944Two Girls and a Sailor as Dowager (uncredited)
1942Mr. Blabbermouth! as Unknown
1942Rio Rita as Hotel Guest (uncredited)
1942Born to Sing as (uncredited)
1941Main Street on the March! as Window Shopper (uncredited)
1941Ringside Maisie as 1st Nurse (uncredited)
1941Sucker List as Secretary (uncredited)
1941Love Crazy as Sanity Hearing Secretary (uncredited)
19411-2-3-Go! as Nurse
1941Whispers as Gossip (uncredited)
1940Third Finger, Left Hand as Telephone Operator (uncredited)
1940Dulcy as Miss Murphy - Van Dyke's Secretary (uncredited)
1940Phantom Raiders as Middle Telephone Operator
1940Hollywood: Style Center of the World as Saleslady
1940Two Girls on Broadway as Chatworth's Secretary (uncredited)
1929No Defense as Ruth Harper
1929Stolen Kisses as May Lambert
1928The Terror as Olga Redmayne
1928Caught in the Fog as The Girl
1928The Lion and the Mouse as Shirley Ross
1928The Little Snob as May Banks
1927If I Were Single as May Howard
1927A Reno Divorce as Carla
1927The Jazz Singer as Mary Dale
1927Slightly Used as Cynthia Martin
1927Irish Hearts as Sheila
1927Matinee Ladies as Sallie Smith
1926The Fire Brigade as Helen Corwin
1926The Savage as Ysabel Atwater
1926The Passionate Quest as Unknown
1926My Old Dutch as Sal Gratton
1926The Road to Glory as Judith Allen
1925Lady Windermere's Fan as Lady Windermere
1925Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ as Esther
1925Tessie as Tessie
1925The Mad Whirl as Cathleen Gillis
1924Three Women as Jeannie Wilton
1924Tarnish as Letitia Tevis
1924The Bedroom Window as Ruth Martin
1924The Enchanted Cottage as Laura Pennington
1924West of the Water Tower as Bee Chew
1923Her Reputation as Jacqueline Lanier
1923Hollywood as May McAvoy
1923Only 38 as Lucy Stanley
1922Kick In as Myrtle
1922Clarence as Cora Wheeler
1922A Trip to Paramountown as Self
1922The Top of New York as Hilda O'Shaunnessey
1922A Homespun Vamp as Meg Mackenzie
1921Morals as Carlotta Carlotta
1921A Private Scandal as Jeanne Millett
1921Sentimental Tommy as Grizel
1920The Truth About Husbands as Leslie Brownell
1920The Devil's Garden as Norah
1919The Way of a Woman as Grace Lee
1919The Woman Under Oath as Edith Norton
1919Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch as Australy Wiggs
1918I'll Say So as Unknown
1918A Perfect Lady as Claire Higgins