Masks are one of the oldest types of disguise. Even before Columbo had a dirty jacket, even before Poirot had his moustache, so a Roman stalker had a mask.
Of course, he wasn't a real stalker. He was an actor, playing a stalker in the very first episode of 'The Bill'.

Roman actors only had two types of mask - a happy one, and a sad one. They are the same two masks you sometimes see in a modern theatre!

But later, when Shakespeare was invented, more masks were designed. These included one with big eyebrows and one with a massive nose. The lead character in Macbeth is supposed to wear the big-nosed one - Shakespeare decided the play would be too depressing otherwise.
Unfortunately, his decision was lost in the mists of time.

More recently, several motion pictures have featured masks.
Jason from Friday the 13th wears a hockey mask. Jason fell into a lake when he was a baby, and grew up eating pond scum - that's why he's so angry!
The mutant from The Phantom of the Opera wears half a mask, since he can't afford a whole one.
Jim Carey from The Mask wears a mask - it's made of wood, and turns him insane!
And finally, the killer from Scream wears a mask. It's based on an old painting.
So many films, you might think. Why there so many films? Indeed, this fixation with masks has recently earnt Hollywood the nickname 'Mask-wood'.

But despite films being really popular, none of those masks are the most famous.

The most famous mask is the mask worn by Darth Vadar, in the film 'Star Wars'.

Darth Vadar is a man who has had a heart attack, and his head is all messed up too, after he tripped over.
He needs to wear a mask, because he is so old and ugly.