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 Nelson (actor) Screen Actors Guild as SAG-AFTRA) to assist member performers facing serious but temporary financial hardships. A Frank Nelson parody appears from time to time in recent years within the comic strip "Gasoline Alley", in which he annoys Skeezix whenever he tries to go shopping regardless of the location, and even filled in as his doctor once. Frank Nelson's mannerisms were also used in the "Evil Con Carne" character Estroy, voiced by Maurice LaMarche. Frank Nelson (actor) Frank Brandon Nelson (May 6, 1911 – September 12, 1986) was an American comedic actor best known for playing put-upon foils on radio and