Who was Buster Keaton?

An American filmmaker, actor and comedian who was best known for his silent films and his deadpan performances.

FILM EXAMPLE – The General (1926)

Who was Charlie Chaplin?

An English composer, filmmaker, and comic actor who became famous internationally due to his screen persona ‘the Tramp’ in the era of silent film.

FILM EXAMPLE – The Great Dictator (1940)

Who was Harold Lloyd?

Harold Lloyd was an American actor and comedian, a famous stunt performer who appeared in many silent comedy films throughout his career.

FILM EXAMPLE – Safety Last! (1923)

Why were they so influential?

It could be said that all three of these actors shared an influence, which could be identified as normalising the use of exaggerated comedy and characterisation in the early 1900s, as film continued to evolve and embrace new or more imaginative genres.

(source used – Wikipedia)