May Irene 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'', and Mary Dale in '' The Jazz Singer''.

Life and career

May Irene McAvoy was born on September 8, 1899, in New York City to Julia Agnes McAvoy (née Reilly) and James Patrick McAvoy, who were both first generation Irish-Americans. The 1910 census lists her as living with her maternal grandparents in Sussex, New Jersey. McAvoy debuted as an extra in the film ''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 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, commonly shortened to MGM or MGM Studios) is an American Film production, film and television production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered ...

. She also portrayed Lady Windermere in Ernst Lubitsch's '' Lady Windermere's Fan'' (1925). In addition to acting in ''The Jazz Singer'', McAvoy coached Al Jolson as he made his film debut. Although her voice was not heard in ''The Jazz Singer'', she spoke in several other films, including the second sound film released by Warner Brothers, '' The Terror'', which was directed by

Roy Del Ruth Roy Del Ruth (October 18, 1893 – April 27, 1961) was an American filmmaker. Early career Beginning his Hollywood career as a writer for Mack Sennett in 1915, Del Ruth later directed his first short film ''Hungry Lions'' (1919) for the pr ...

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, uncredited roles during the 1940s and 1950s, making her final film appearance in a small part of the 1959 version of '' Ben-Hur''. Most of her later uncredited work was performed for

. McAvoy was the Rose Queen in the Rose Parade in 1923.

Personal life

McAvoy married banker Maurice Cleary on June 26, 1929, with whom she had a son named Patrick, and divorced him in 1940. They remarried on December 10, 1971. She was a registered Republican. McAvoy was a lifelong

Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

Death

On April 26, 1984, McAvoy died at the age of 84 from the after effects of a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when Ischemia, blood flow decreases or stops in one of the coronary arteries of the heart, causing infarction (tissue death) to the heart muscle. The most common symptom ...

suffered the previous year. She is interred in the Holy Cross Cemetery in

Culver City, California Culver City is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,779. It is mostly surrounded by Los Angeles, but also shares a border with the unincorporated area of Ladera Heights, Californi ...

. For her contribution to the motion picture industry, May McAvoy has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1731 Vine Street.

Filmography

;1917-1929 May McAvoy Stars of the Photoplay

;1940-1959

References

External links

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Photography and bibliographyMay McAvoy
portrait gallery NY Public Library (Billy Rose collection) {{DEFAULTSORT:McAvoy, May 1899 births 1984 deaths Actresses from New York City American film actresses American silent film actresses Burials at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City 20th-century American actresses American Roman Catholics New York (state) Republicans California Republicans