| 100% | STEPHENHAWKING | 14 | British scientist who performed groundbreaking work in physics and cosmology and authored "A Brief History of Time": 2 wds. |
| 39% | STEPHENHAWKING | 14 | "A Brief History of Time" physicist (1/8/42-3/14/18) who declined a knighthood: 2 wds. |
| 35% | JUNOTDIAZ | 9 | "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" author who was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship "genius grant" in 2012: 2 wds. |
| 35% | SEANPENN | 8 | Two time Academy Award winning actor of "Mystic River" who appeared in a guest role on "Two and a Half Men": 2 wds. |
| 35% | ARTHURASHKIN | 12 | American scientist who won one half of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on optical tweezers: 2 wds. |
| 34% | EDSHEERAN | 9 | British singer who made a cameo in HBO series "Game of Thrones: 2 wds. |
| 33% | STEPHEN | 7 | With 34-Across, "A Brief History of Time" author who is an atheist |
| 32% | BEWICK | 6 | Thomas —, author of A History of British Birds who died in 1828 |
| 32% | HAWKING | 7 | Stephen __, author of A Brief History of Time |
| 32% | HAWKING | 7 | Stephen, author of A Brief History of Time |
| 32% | HAWKING | 7 | Professor who wrote A Brief History of Time |
| 32% | MOTHERTERESA | 12 | Canonized nun who is known for her work in India and has a "family" name: 2 wds. |
| 32% | PETERBENCHLEY | 13 | Author of "Jaws" who cameoed as a reporter in the 1975 film adaptation: 2 wds. |
| 32% | STEPHENIEMEYER | 14 | "Twilight" author and winner of a National Merit Scholarship in 1992: 2 wds. |
| 32% | BERNARDSHAW | 11 | Irish playwright George ___ whose volume of work including "Man and Superman" won him a Nobel Prize in Literature: 2 wds. |
| 32% | KIRKFRANKLIN | 12 | "Stomp" singer and choir director who competed against Fred Hammond in a 2020 episode of "Verzuz": 2 wds. |
| 32% | HAROLDPINTER | 12 | British author of "The Birthday Party" who won the 2005 Nobel Prize in Literature: 2 wds. |
| 32% | CHRISPERFETTI | 13 | "Looking" actor who plays a history teacher and ally of 15-Across: 2 wds. |
| 32% | AMYWINEHOUSE | 12 | British singer who won five Grammys in 2008, including Best New Artist, and died of alcohol poisoning in 2011: 2 wds. |
| 32% | AMYPOEHLER | 10 | Actress who played the role of Leslie Knope in "Parks and Recreation", a role she is best-known for: 2 wds. |
| 32% | KAZUOISHIGURO | 13 | British author of "Never Let Me Go" who won the 2017 Nobel Prize in Literature : 2 wds. |
| 32% | SCOTTJUREK | 10 | American ultramarathoner and bestselling author of "Eat & Run" who has been a vegan since 1999: 2 wds. |
| 32% | TANEHISICOATES | 14 | "Between the World and Me" author who won a "genius grant" in 2015: 2 wds. |
| 32% | ALISONBECHDEL | 13 | "Fun Home" author and cartoonist who was awarded a "genius grant" in 2014: 2 wds. |
| 32% | BEVERLYCLEARY | 13 | Children's author of 18-Across and 30-Across who has a public school named for her in Portland, Oregon (2 wds.) |
| 31% | WAYNEGRETZKY | 12 | Hockey Hall of Famer who scored 5 goals in a single game four times for the Edmonton Oilers: 2 wds. |
| 31% | MARIOLEMIEUX | 12 | Hockey Hall of Famer who scored 5 goals in a single game four times for the Pittsburgh Penguins: 2 wds. |
| 31% | BARACKOBAMA | 11 | Political victor who was Time's Person of the Year in 2008 and 2012: 2 wds. |
| 31% | JOSEPHCOTTEN | 12 | Actor who played a reporter and friend of the title character in 17-Across: 2 wds. |
| 31% | BRYANTROTTIER | 13 | Hockey Hall of Famer who scored 5 goals in a single game two times for the New York Islanders: 2 wds. |