| 100% | TONYBENNETT | 11 | 17-Across and 30-Across collaborator who passed away on July 21, 2023 (2 wds.) |
| 55% | HERMANWOUK | 10 | "The Caine Mutiny," 18-Across, and 31-Across novelist who passed away at age 103 on May 17, 2019 (2 wds.) |
| 53% | IANMCEWAN | 9 | 15-Across and 31-Across novelist who turns 75 on June 21, 2023 (2 wds.) |
| 48% | STEVEBURNS | 10 | 17-Across and 28-Across host/musician who turns 50 on October 9, 2023 (2 wds.) |
| 48% | BILLYIDOL | 9 | 15-Across, 21-Across, and 34-Across singer who turns 65 on November 30 (2 wds.) |
| 47% | SUZANNESOMERS | 13 | 15-Across and "Step by Step" star who passed away in 2023 (2 wds.) |
| 46% | HILARYSWANK | 11 | "Million Dollar Baby," 19-Across, and 34-Across actress who turned 50 years old on July 30, 2024 (2 wds.) |
| 45% | FATSDOMINO | 10 | Legendary singer of 31-Across, "Ain't That a Shame," and "Walking to 17-Across," who passed away October 24, 2017 (2 wds.) |
| 45% | HARRYBELAFONTE | 14 | "Day-O" singer/actor/activist who passed away on April 25, 2023, at the age of 96 (2 wds.) |
| 45% | MARIOLOPEZ | 10 | 16-Across and 34-Across star who turned 50 on October 10, 2023 (2 wds.) |
| 44% | JUDYBLUME | 9 | 17-Across, 29-Across, and "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" novelist who turns 85 on February 12, 2023 (2 wds.) |
| 43% | LYNDACARTER | 11 | Actress who portrayed 17- and 25-Across on TV from 1975 to 1979: 2 wds. |
| 43% | ADAMSCOTT | 9 | "Parks and Recreation" actor who plays memory-blocked worker Mark on 17-Across: 2 wds. |
| 43% | EDDIEMONEY | 10 | "Two Tickets to Paradise," 18-Across, and 33-Across singer who passed away September 13, 2019 (2 wds.) |
| 42% | CAROLCHANNING | 13 | Singer/actress who passed away on January 15, 2019 (2 wds.) |
| 42% | BURTREYNOLDS | 12 | Star of "Deliverance," 14-Across, and 19-Across/35-Across who passed away September 6, 2018 (2 wds.) |
| 42% | CYNTHIANIXON | 12 | "Sex and the City" actress who plays struggling socialite Ada Brook on 17-Across: 2 wds. |
| 42% | KARENBLIXEN | 11 | Danish author who wrote 17-Across and 30-Across under the pen name Isak Dinesen (2 wds.) |
| 42% | GETSHORTY | 9 | 1995 comedy film starring 17-Across and 30-Across based on an Elmore Leonard novel (2 wds.) |
| 41% | SAMSHEPARD | 10 | "True West" playwright and "The Right Stuff" actor who died on July 27: 2 wds. |
| 41% | ALICECOOPER | 11 | "No More Mr. Nice Guy," 16-Across, 23-Across, and 31-Across singer who turns 75 on February 4, 2023 (2 wds.) |
| 41% | JOHNSINGLETON | 13 | Director of 18-Across and 40-Across who passed away in 2019 (2 wds.) |
| 41% | BEVERLYCLEARY | 13 | Children's author of 18-Across and 30-Across who turned 102 on April 12 (2 wds.) |
| 40% | SELENAGOMEZ | 11 | 18-Across and 30-Across singer who plays Mabel Mora on "Only Murders in the Building" (2 wds.) |
| 40% | JASONALDEAN | 11 | 17-Across and 30-Across country singer who was named ACM's Artist of the Decade for the 2010s (2 wds.) |
| 39% | JUSTINBIEBER | 12 | 21-year-old pop star who was roasted on Comedy Central on March 30: 2 wds. |
| 39% | HARLANCOBEN | 11 | 17-Across and 30-Across novelist who is the first writer to win an Anthony Award, a Shamus Award, and an Edgar Award (2 wds.) |
| 39% | TOBIASMENZIES | 13 | 15-Across and 30-Across actor who won an Emmy for playing Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, on "The Crown" (2 wds.) |
| 38% | MARYPOPPINS | 11 | 1964 film starring 17-Across and 30-Across based on children's books by P.L. Travers about a magical nanny (2 wds.) |
| 38% | TOMSEAVER | 9 | Pitching legend and World Series champion who passed away on Aug. 31 |