Deadpan vaudeville days, Buster Keaton developed his deadpan expression. Keaton realized that audiences responded better to his stony expression than when he smiled, and he carried this style into his silent film career. The 1980 film "Airplane!" was performed almost entirely in deadpan. Many popular American sitcoms use deadpan expressions to deliver dry humor, including "Curb Your Enthusiasm", "Arrested Development", and "My Name Is Earl". More recent examples are Andre Braugher as Captain Raymond Holt from the TV show "Brooklyn Nine-Nine", Jennette McCurdy as Sam Puckett in "iCarly", and Louis C.K. in "Louie". Another example is the comedy of Steven Wright.
Frank Hayes (actor) aged 52. Frank Hayes (actor) Frank Hayes (May 17, 1871 – December 28, 1923) was an American film actor of the silent era. He appeared in 73 films between 1913 and 1924. An actor with a unique hatchet face appearance he appeared mostly in comedies. His facial appearance naturally lent to comedic effect in silent films, but, he also showed up in sentimental farces such as "A Hoosier Romance" (1918), an early film starring Colleen Moore. In his last appearance, even though brief in the theatrical cut, he played "Old Grannis" in the tragedy "Greed". He died in Hollywood, California