| 100% | COTTONMALONE | 12 | Fictional bookseller and former spy who appears in 20 Steve Berry novels, including 18-Across and 32-Across (2 wds.) |
| 44% | KILGORETROUT | 12 | Fictional novelist who appears in several novels by 41-Across, including "Slaughterhouse-Five" and "Breakfast of Champions" (2 wds.) |
| 43% | KATHRYNDANCE | 12 | Fictional California Bureau of Investigation special agent created by 32-Across who appears in crossover novels with 18-Across (2 wds.) |
| 38% | SHOELESSJOE | 11 | Nickname of "Black Sox" outfielder Jackson who's a character in 18-Across and 32-Across: 2 wds. |
| 38% | THOMASLYNLEY | 12 | Fictional Scotland Yard inspector featured in 20 novels by Elizabeth George, including 16-Across and 49-Across (2 wds.) |
| 36% | CORKOCONNOR | 11 | Former small-town sheriff featured in a series of novels by William Kent Krueger, including "Iron Lake," 18-Across, and 29-Across (2 wds.) |
| 35% | GABRIELALLON | 12 | Israeli intelligence officer featured in 18 novels by Daniel Silva, including 18-Across and 30-Across (2 wds.) |
| 35% | ANNETTEBENING | 13 | Actress and wife of 18-Across, who also appears in "Rules Don't Apply": 2 wds. |
| 33% | DAXSHEPARD | 10 | Former "Punk'd" host who plays Crosby Braverman on 18-Across and Mike Levine-Young on 32-Across (2 wds.) |
| 33% | DOCTORSTRANGE | 13 | Fictional superhero appearing in comic books who is the primary protector of Earth against magical and mystical threats: 2 wds. |
| 32% | FREDARMISEN | 11 | Former "Saturday Night Live" comedian who cocreated and frequently appears on 34-Across: 2 wds. |
| 32% | NICOLEKIDMAN | 12 | "Lion" actress who costars with Reese Witherspoon and Shailene Woodley in 32-Across: 2 wds |
| 32% | ASHLEYELSTON | 12 | "10 Blind Dates" author who wrote 18-Across and 32-Across (2 wds.) |
| 31% | SHONDARHIMES | 12 | 18-Across creator who wrote the episode in which 32-Across died: 2 wds |
| 31% | SHADOWTYRANTS | 13 | 2018 novel in the Oregon Files series by 18-Across and 39-Across (2 wds.) |
| 31% | WONDERWOMAN | 11 | Fictional superhero appearing in comic books who is a founding member of the Justice League and an ambassador of the Amazon people: 2 wds. |
| 31% | DANIELLESTEEL | 13 | Bestselling romance novelist who has written more than 200 books, including 18-Across and 43-Across (2 wds.) |
| 31% | JOHNCENA | 8 | Actor and WWE wrestler who appears in 9-Down, 15-Across, and 51-Across (2 wds.) |
| 31% | WALTLONGMIRE | 12 | Sheriff of the fictional county of Absaroka, Wyoming, who is featured in 20 books by 40-Across and a 2012-2017 television series (2 wds.) |
| 31% | MIKETYSON | 9 | * Former heavyweight boxing champ who appeared in "The Hangover": 2 wds. |
| 31% | EMMATHOMPSON | 12 | Oscar-winning actress who plays P.L. Travers, author of the novel "Mary Poppins," in 32-Across: 2 wds. |
| 31% | PETERSELLERS | 12 | Actor who played Pres. Merkin Muffley, Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake, and the title character in 32-Across: 2 wds. |
| 31% | BARACKOBAMA | 11 | Former U.S. President who wrote "Dreams from My Father," 18-Across, and 29-Across (2 wds.) |
| 31% | MIKETYSON | 9 | American former boxer who became the youngest heavyweight champion in history in 1986 at the age of 20 years and 4 months: 2 wds. |
| 30% | CRAIGT | 6 | With 32-Across, "Coach" star who played the father in the 1982 version of 18-Across: 2 wds. |
| 30% | MIAWASIKOWSKA | 13 | Actress who played the daughter of 14- and 32-Across in "The Kids Are All Right": 2 wds. |
| 30% | TERIPOLO | 8 | "The Fosters" actress who appeared in Hallmark Channel films "The Christmas Shepherd" and "The Christmas Heart": 2 wds. |
| 30% | TONIMORRISON | 12 | 18-Across and 32-Across novelist who won the 1993 Nobel Prize for Literature (2 wds.) |
| 30% | JOSHOCONNOR | 11 | "Emma" actor who played 32-Across in seasons 3 and 4 of "The Crown": 2 wds. |
| 30% | KARLIEKLOSS | 11 | American model and computer programmer who appeared in the music video of "Bad Blood": 2 wds. |