| 100% | STEPHENHAWKING | 14 | "A Brief History of Time" physicist (1/8/42-3/14/18) who declined a knighthood: 2 wds. |
| 47% | STEPHENHAWKING | 14 | British scientist who performed groundbreaking work in physics and cosmology and authored "A Brief History of Time": 2 wds. |
| 43% | HAWKING | 7 | Physicist responsible for A Brief History of Time |
| 43% | DAVIDBOWIE | 10 | "Fame" singer who declined a knighthood: 2 wds. |
| 42% | DANNYBOYLE | 10 | "Slumdog Millionaire" director who declined a knighthood: 2 wds. |
| 38% | HAWKING | 7 | Professor who wrote A Brief History of Time |
| 38% | HARRYSTYLES | 11 | "Sign of the Times" pop singer who released a self-titled #1 album in 2017: 2 wds. |
| 37% | STEPHEN | 7 | With 34-Across, "A Brief History of Time" author who is an atheist |
| 37% | JENNAFISCHER | 12 | Cohost of 14-Across who played a receptionist working for Dunder Mifflin: 2 wds. |
| 36% | HAWKING | 7 | Stephen __, author of A Brief History of Time |
| 36% | HAWKING | 7 | Stephen, author of A Brief History of Time |
| 36% | CAROLEKING | 10 | Frequent collaborator of 42-Across who wrote the song "You've Got a Friend" as a response to 18-Across (2 wds.) |
| 36% | CHRISPERFETTI | 13 | "Looking" actor who plays a history teacher and ally of 15-Across: 2 wds. |
| 36% | STEVENASH | 9 | 8-time NBA All-Star who retired with LA Lakers in 2015, and played a variety of sports before shifting to basketball in 1992: 2 wds. |
| 35% | BILLMAHER | 9 | "Real Time" host who owns a minority share of the New York Mets: 2 wds. |
| 35% | SHOELESSJOE | 11 | Nickname of "Black Sox" outfielder Jackson who's a character in 18-Across and 32-Across: 2 wds. |
| 35% | BERNIEWORRELL | 13 | Composer and founding member of Parliament-Funkadelic who wrote a concerto at age 8: 2 wds. |
| 35% | NOVAKDJOKOVIC | 13 | Serbian tennis star who's been ATP Player of the Year a record eight times: 2 wds. |
| 35% | FIBONACCI | 9 | Eponym of a number series that begins 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, ... |
| 34% | MARTINBRODEUR | 13 | A former New Jersey Devils ice hockey legend who is considered one of the greatest goaltenders of all time: 2 wds. |
| 34% | INVENTINGANNA | 13 | Shonda Rhimes miniseries starring 18-Across and 42-Across based on the true story of a con artist who pretended to be an heiress (2 wds.) |
| 34% | MICHAELJORDAN | 13 | Former Bulls player and 14-time NBA All-Star who scored 60+ points in a game five times: 2 wds. |
| 34% | JUNOTDIAZ | 9 | "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" author who was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship "genius grant" in 2012: 2 wds. |
| 34% | FRANKCAPRA | 10 | "It's a Wonderful Life" director who has won 3 Oscars out of 6 nominations for Best Director: 2 wds. |
| 34% | JAMESWOODS | 10 | "Once Upon a Time in America" actor who was the voice of villainous Hades in Disney's "Hercules": 2 wds. |
| 34% | WAYNEGRETZKY | 12 | Hockey Hall of Famer who scored 5 goals in a single game four times for the Edmonton Oilers: 2 wds. |
| 34% | MARIOLEMIEUX | 12 | Hockey Hall of Famer who scored 5 goals in a single game four times for the Pittsburgh Penguins: 2 wds. |
| 33% | JAMESHARDEN | 11 | Current Rockets player and 8-time NBA All-Star who's scored 60+ points in a game four times: 2 wds. |
| 33% | TATYANAALI | 10 | "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" actress who guest-starred as a principal on season 3 of "Abbott Elementary": 2 wds. |
| 33% | BRYANTROTTIER | 13 | Hockey Hall of Famer who scored 5 goals in a single game two times for the New York Islanders: 2 wds. |