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 Shannon the brilliant scientist Dr. Alexis Zarkov in the three "Flash Gordon" serials starring Buster Crabbe between 1936 and 1940. He worked afterwards as a writer for the TV-series "Tales of the Texas Rangers" between 1955 and 1958. Shannon died in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California at the age of 84. He is interred at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California. Frank Shannon Francis Connolly Shannon (July 27, 1874 – February 1, 1959), better known as Frank Shannon, was an Irish actor and writer. A stage actor and silent film pioneer, Shannon made his screen debut in 1913's "The Artist's Joke". He