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 Morgan Frank Morgan Francis Phillip Wuppermann (born; June 1, 1890 – September 18, 1949), known professionally as Frank Morgan, and also briefly billed early in his career as as Frank Wupperman and Francis Morgan, was an American character actor on radio, stage and film. He was best known for his appearances in film's starting in the silent era in 1916, and then numerous sound films throughout the 1930s and 1940s. He was also a contract player at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Morgan was born in New York City, to Josephine Wright (née Hancox) and George Diogracia Wuppermann. He was the youngest of six boys