| 100% | MIKEHAMMER | 10 | Private investigator created by Mickey Spillane played by 43-Across in the 1980s and 1990s (2 wds.) |
| 48% | BENSONDUBOIS | 12 | TV character played by Robert Guillaume in the 1970s and 1980s (2 wds.) |
| 46% | EWANMCGREGOR | 12 | Actor who played 29-/32-Across in the 1990s and 2000s: 2 wds. |
| 46% | ALECGUINNESS | 12 | Actor who played 29-/32-Across in the 1970s and 1980s: 2 wds. |
| 41% | VITOCORLEONE | 12 | Mafia don played by both 14-Across and 28-Across in the "Godfather" franchise: 2 wds. |
| 41% | GENY | 4 | Offspring born in the 1980s and 1990s, informally (2 wds.) |
| 41% | MIKEHAMMER | 10 | Private eye in novels by Mickey Spillane, such as I, the Jury and My Gun Is Quick |
| 41% | BENSONDUBOIS | 12 | TV character played by the late Robert Guillaume in the 1970s and 1980s (2 wds.) |
| 40% | HAMMER | 6 | Mike —, private eye in novels by Mickey Spillane, such as I, the Jury and My Gun Is Quick |
| 39% | JESSEPINKMAN | 12 | Character played by Aaron Paul in "Breaking Bad", who was a crystal meth dealer and worked with the character played by 30-Across: 2 wds. |
| 39% | EDITHBUNKER | 11 | Housewife played by 29-Across in "All in the Family": 2 wds. |
| 38% | TAMALAJONES | 11 | "Castle" actress who plays private investigator Lana in the TV series "Rebel": 2 wds. |
| 38% | STARRCARTER | 11 | Character played by Amandla Stenberg in the movie adaptation of 30-Across: 2 wds. |
| 38% | LALAW | 5 | Courtroom drama of the 1980s and 1990s: 2 wds., abbr. |
| 38% | TIMRAINES | 9 | Outfielder for the Expos and five other teams in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s: 2 wds. |
| 38% | NOLANRYAN | 9 | Pitcher for the Astros and three other teams in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s: 2 wds. |
| 38% | JAMIEMOYER | 10 | Pitcher for the Mariners and seven other teams in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s: 2 wds. |
| 38% | JESSESTONE | 10 | Fictional detective created by novelist 33-Across and played by actor 43-Across (2 wds.) |
| 38% | EASYRAWLINS | 11 | Fictional war veteran and private investigator featured in 14 novels by 29-Across (2 wds.) |
| 38% | JIMCARREY | 9 | "Dumb and Dumber" actor who played The Riddler in 43-Across (2 wds.) |
| 37% | MIKEHAMMER | 10 | Fictional detective created by Mickey Spillane: 2 wds. |
| 37% | NEWTSCAMANDER | 13 | Character played by 15-Across in "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them": 2 wds. |
| 37% | JACKIEROBINSON | 14 | Baseball superstar played by Chadwick Boseman in the 2013 biopic "42": 2 wds. |
| 37% | LORETTALYNN | 11 | Country singer played by 44-Across in the 1980 biopic "Coal Miner's Daughter": 2 wds. |
| 37% | INCREDIBLEHULK | 14 | Marvel Comics character currently played by Mark Ruffalo in the Avengers movies: 2 wds. |
| 37% | DOCTORWATSON | 12 | Character played by 27-Across in the BBC's "Sherlock" (2 wds.) |
| 36% | DUSTINHOFFMAN | 13 | Actor who played 43-Across in the movie "All the President's Men": 2 wds. |
| 36% | DOCTORSTRANGE | 13 | Marvel superhero who was played by Benedict Cumberbatch in the titular 2016 film: 2 wds. |
| 36% | NURSERATCHED | 12 | Villain created by Ken Kesey played by 19-Across and 34-Across (2 wds.) |
| 36% | BERNIEMADOFF | 12 | Disgraced former financier played by 17-Across in "The Wizard of Lies": 2 wds. |