May McAvoy (September 8, 1899 – April 26, 1984) was a notable American actress best known for her contributions during the silent film era. Among her significant roles were Laura Pennington in *The Enchanted Cottage*, Esther in *Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ*, and Mary Dale in the groundbreaking film *The Jazz Singer*.
McAvoy's cinematic journey began in 1917 with her debut in the film *Hate*. Over the years, she appeared in over thirty films and gained wide recognition for her performance alongside Ramón Novarro and Francis X. Bushman in the 1925 MGM production of *Ben-Hur*, which is celebrated as one of the most extravagant projects of the silent film period.
While McAvoy's voice was not featured in *The Jazz Singer*, she did lend her voice to several films, including *The Terror*, Warner Brothers' second "all-talkie," directed by Roy Del Ruth and starring Conrad Nagel.
Rumors have long suggested that McAvoy left the film industry during the advent of sound due to a speech impediment. In reality, she chose to retire after marrying the treasurer of United Artists, who requested she step away from acting. Eventually, McAvoy made a return to the screen, taking on minor roles throughout the 1940s and 1950s, with her last appearance in the 1959 remake of *Ben-Hur*.
