| 100% | TONIMORRISON | 12 | 1993 Nobel Laureate in Literature who passed away August 5, 2019 (2 wds.) |
| 56% | TONIMORRISON | 12 | 1993 Nobel Laureate in Literature who was born February 18, 1931 (2 wds.) |
| 43% | JOHNSINGLETON | 13 | Director of 18-Across and 40-Across who passed away in 2019 (2 wds.) |
| 39% | TONIMORRISON | 12 | "Beloved" novelist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in the year 1993: 2 wds. |
| 38% | CAROLCHANNING | 13 | Singer/actress who passed away on January 15, 2019 (2 wds.) |
| 37% | NELSONMANDELA | 13 | 1993 Nobel Peace Prize winner who fought for racial equality in 28-Across: 2 wds. |
| 37% | RICOCASEK | 9 | Lead singer of The Cars who passed away September 15, 2019 (2 wds.) |
| 37% | LORETTALYNN | 11 | Country Music Hall of Fame singer-songwriter who passed away in 2022 (2 wds.) |
| 37% | JIMMYBUFFETT | 12 | Lead singer for the Coral Reefer Band who passed away in 2023 (2 wds.) |
| 37% | SUZANNESOMERS | 13 | 15-Across and "Step by Step" star who passed away in 2023 (2 wds.) |
| 35% | ANGELALANSBURY | 14 | British actress honored with Tony, Oscar, BAFTA, and SAG Lifetime Achievement awards who passed away in 2022 (2 wds.) |
| 34% | ENGEL | 5 | "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" actress Georgia who passed away in 2019 |
| 34% | HERMANWOUK | 10 | "The Caine Mutiny," 18-Across, and 31-Across novelist who passed away at age 103 on May 17, 2019 (2 wds.) |
| 34% | MORRISON | 8 | Toni ___, Nobel laureate behind works like "The Bluest Eye" and "Home" who passed away in 2019 |
| 33% | LOUISGOSSETTJR | 14 | "An Officer and a Gentleman" Oscar winner who passed away in 2024 (3 wds.) |
| 33% | GEORGIA | 7 | ___ Engel, Emmy-winning actress from "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" who passed away in 2019 |
| 32% | EDDIEMONEY | 10 | "Two Tickets to Paradise," 18-Across, and 33-Across singer who passed away September 13, 2019 (2 wds.) |
| 32% | TSELIOT | 7 | 1948 Nobel laureate in literature |
| 32% | ALICEMUNRO | 10 | Canadian short story author who won the 2013 Nobel Prize in Literature: 2 wds. |
| 31% | TONIMORRISON | 12 | "Beloved" author who died August 5, and who was the first African-American woman to win a Nobel Prize: 2 wds. |
| 31% | ABEAUTIFUL | 10 | "___ Mind," American biographical drama film from 2001 based on the life of Nobel Laureate in Economics, John Nash: 2 wds. |
| 31% | ALICEMUNRO | 10 | Canadian writer who won the 2013 Nobel Prize in Literature (2 wds.) |
| 31% | LOUISEGLUCK | 11 | American poet who won the 2020 Nobel Prize in Literature (2 wds.) |
| 31% | LOUISEGLUCK | 11 | American writer who won the 2020 Nobel Prize in Literature (2 wds.) |
| 31% | OLGATOKARCZUK | 13 | Polish writer who won the 2018 Nobel Prize in Literature (2 wds.) |
| 30% | BOBDYLAN | 8 | Singer/songwriter who was awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature (2 wds.) |
| 30% | PJOROURKE | 9 | "Holidays in Hell" humorist who passed away 2/15/2022 |
| 30% | BEAUTIFULMIND | 13 | 2001 American biographical drama film starring Russell Crowe, based on the life of a Nobel Laureate in Economics, Josh Nash, "A ___": 2 wds. |
| 30% | TONYBENNETT | 11 | 17-Across and 30-Across collaborator who passed away on July 21, 2023 (2 wds.) |
| 30% | HERTAMULLER | 11 | Romanian-German writer who won the 2009 Nobel Prize in Literature (2 wds.) |