| 100% | DAVID | 5 | Director Lynch about whom Kyle MacLachlan wrote, "I will miss him more than the limits of my language can tell and my heart can bear" |
| 33% | PLATH | 5 | Poet who wrote "I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart. I am, I am, I am" |
| 30% | EMFORSTER | 9 | Edwardian novelist who said he was only able to write about “three types of people: the person I think I am, the people who irritate me, and the people I’d like to be” |
| 28% | DOUBLEPARKING | 13 | Lend me your ear! And I will speak of the clumsy monarch who needed twice as many golf strokes as his opponents, for he was the … |
| 27% | BRONTE | 6 | Who wrote "Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same" |
| 27% | LOIS | 4 | When I discovered that my son's school was built on a toxic waste dump, I fought for the cleanup of Love Canal and got more than 800 families evacuated |
| 27% | DAN | 3 | I wrote the Robert Langdon series and three of my novels were adapted into films |
| 27% | ITSALONGSTORY | 13 | "I'll tell you the rest another time," and what can be said about the starts of 20-, 28-, 36-, and 49-Across |
| 27% | LETO | 4 | Jared ___, I'm the frontman of 30 Seconds to Mars and a film star born the day after Christmas. Who am I? |
| 27% | POE | 3 | Who wrote "I was never kinder to the old man than during the whole week before I killed him" |
| 26% | WEATHERLY | 9 | "Bull" star Michael who says "My kids and my marriage are the things I'm proudest of" |
| 25% | DUKE | 4 | ___ Ellington, pianist who collaborated on more than 1000 compositions and is considered one of the most influential figures in jazz |
| 25% | CAIN | 4 | Biblical person who says "My punishment is greater than I can bear" |
| 25% | POE | 3 | Who wrote "I dwelt alone / In a world of moan, / And my soul was a stagnant tide" |
| 25% | SONDHEIM | 8 | Composer who wrote, about crosswords, "A good clue can give you all the pleasures of being duped that a mystery story can" |
| 25% | FRIDERIC | 8 | George ___ Handel, composer from the Baroque era who was born in the same year as 31a and has composed more than 40 operas |
| 24% | JOHN | 4 | I wrote "The Fault in Our Stars" and two of my books have been adapted into films |
| 24% | COLINKAEPERNICK | 15 | He said, “To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way” |
| 24% | DAVIS | 5 | Miles ___, trumpeter and "Someday My Prince Will Come" musician who is considered one of the most influential figures in jazz |
| 24% | CHERRYPICKING | 13 | Listen now! And I shall relate the story of the curious sovereign who adorned his castle with images of red fruit, for he was the … |
| 24% | JACK | 4 | I am screen's most-loved pirate and the captain of the Black Pearl |
| 24% | MEETMEHALFWAY | 13 | The Black Eyed Peas song from "The E.N.D." with the lyric, "Took my heart to the limit, and this is where I'll stay" (3 wds.) |
| 24% | VICTORHUGO | 10 | Poet who wrote "My heart has far more fire than you can frost to chill" |
| 24% | LAYLA | 5 | 1970 song by Eric Clapton featuring the titular character who's got him "on his knees," and is just the kind of girl they sing songs about |
| 24% | POE | 3 | Who wrote "It was many and many a year ago, / In a kingdom by the sea ..." |
| 24% | MARTINSCORSESE | 14 | New Hollywood director who won an Oscar for "The Departed," and is the most-nominated director alive in terms of Oscars: 2 wds. |
| 24% | CERSEI | 6 | I am Jaime's twin sister and two of my children have sat on the Iron Throne in "Game of Thrones" |
| 24% | YOUCANKEEPIT | 12 | "I don't need that back," and what can be said about the starts of 20-, 34-, and 40-Across |
| 23% | MAGI | 4 | The —, sages in the Gospel of Matthew who visited Mary and Joseph shortly after Jesus was born |
| 23% | PATCHADAMS | 10 | Doctor who said of Robin Williams, "he was the only actor I wanted to play me, and I think he did a fabulous job." |