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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
Movies and shows, newest first
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2000
Gareth Hughes
Movie Self (archive footage)
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1959
Ben-Hur
Movie Woman in crowd (uncredited)
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1957
The Wings of Eagles
Movie Nurse (uncredited)
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1954
Executive Suite
Movie Grimm's Secretary (uncredited)
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1952
The Bad and the Beautiful
Movie Pebbel's Secretary (uncredited)
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1950
Mystery Street
Movie Nurse (uncredited)
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1950
The Yellow Cab Man
Movie (uncredited)
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1948
Luxury Liner
Movie Woman (uncredited)
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1947
The Romance of Rosy Ridge
Movie Wife (uncredited)
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1944
Movie Pests
Movie Woman Whose Vision Gets Blocked (uncredited)
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1944
Two Girls and a Sailor
Movie Dowager (uncredited)
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1942
Mr. Blabbermouth!
Movie
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1942
Rio Rita
Movie Hotel Guest (uncredited)
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1942
Born to Sing
Movie (uncredited)
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1941
Main Street on the March!
Movie Window Shopper (uncredited)
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1941
Ringside Maisie
Movie 1st Nurse (uncredited)
More credits
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1941
Sucker List
Movie Secretary (uncredited)
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1941
Love Crazy
Movie Sanity Hearing Secretary (uncredited)
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1941
1-2-3-Go!
Movie Nurse
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1941
Whispers
Movie Gossip (uncredited)
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1940
Third Finger, Left Hand
Movie Telephone Operator (uncredited)
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1940
Dulcy
Movie Miss Murphy - Van Dyke's Secretary (uncredited)
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1940
Phantom Raiders
Movie Middle Telephone Operator
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1940
Hollywood: Style Center of the World
Movie Saleslady
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1940
Two Girls on Broadway
Movie Chatworth's Secretary (uncredited)
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1929
No Defense
Movie Ruth Harper
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1929
Stolen Kisses
Movie May Lambert
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1928
The Terror
Movie Olga Redmayne
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1928
Caught in the Fog
Movie The Girl
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1928
The Lion and the Mouse
Movie Shirley Ross
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1928
The Little Snob
Movie May Banks
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1927
If I Were Single
Movie May Howard
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1927
A Reno Divorce
Movie Carla
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1927
The Jazz Singer
Movie Mary Dale
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1927
Slightly Used
Movie Cynthia Martin
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1927
Irish Hearts
Movie Sheila
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1927
Matinee Ladies
Movie Sallie Smith
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1926
The Fire Brigade
Movie Helen Corwin
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1926
The Savage
Movie Ysabel Atwater
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1926
The Passionate Quest
Movie