| 100% | NITTI | 5 | Real-life 33-Across once played by Stallone |
| 49% | CIA | 3 | "Tenet" organization .. which in real life was once headed by George Tenet (abbr.) |
| 48% | AMYFISHER | 9 | Role played by Drew Barrymore in a 1993 TV movie based on real life |
| 45% | DREDD | 5 | Judge played by Stallone |
| 45% | RONWOODROOF | 11 | The real life character played by Matthew McConaughey in the Oscar winning movie "Dallas Buyers Club": 2 wds. |
| 45% | MUHAMMAD | 8 | With 33-Across, real-life heavyweight boxer portrayed by Eli Goree in "One Night in Miami" |
| 45% | DREDD | 5 | Titular judge played by Stallone |
| 44% | NEMO | 4 | Captain once played by Omar Sharif |
| 44% | ALI | 3 | Boxer once played by Will Smith |
| 44% | OAKLEY | 6 | Annie once played by Ethel Merman |
| 44% | MAGOO | 5 | Mr. once played by Leslie Nielsen |
| 44% | BILKO | 5 | Sergeant once played by Phil Silvers |
| 44% | OPIE | 4 | Character once played by Ron Howard |
| 43% | BOZO | 4 | TV clown once played by Willard Scott |
| 43% | TESLA | 5 | Real-life scientist played by David Bowie in "The Prestige," 2006 |
| 43% | TESLA | 5 | Real-life scientist played by David Bowie in The Prestige (2006) |
| 43% | NEDKELLY | 8 | Real-life outlaw played in film by Mick Jagger |
| 43% | LENNYBRUCE | 10 | Real-life comic played in film by Dustin Hoffman |
| 43% | BALBOA | 6 | Rocky's surname as played by Sylvester Stallone |
| 43% | RAMBO | 5 | Vietnam vet first played by Stallone in 1982 |
| 43% | RAMBO | 5 | Vietnam vet played by Stallone in "First Blood" |
| 43% | NITTI | 5 | Frank who was played by Stallone in "Capone" |
| 43% | IVY | 3 | Poison ___ (Batman villain once played by Uma Thurman) |
| 43% | ERIN | 4 | Brockovich who was once played by Julia Roberts |
| 42% | ALLMYCHILDREN | 13 | Long-running daytime drama featuring the wedding of the characters played by real-life couple 15-Across and 27-Across (3 wds.) |
| 42% | WANDAVISION | 11 | Disney+ series named for the characters played by 19-Across and 33-Across |
| 42% | GEORGEBAILEY | 12 | Character played by 29-Across in "It's a Wonderful Life" (2 wds.) |
| 42% | JIMLOVELL | 9 | Real-life astronaut played by Tom Hanks in "Apollo 13": 2 wds. |
| 42% | RAMBO | 5 | Vietnam veteran played by Stallone in four action movies |
| 42% | JUDGEDREDD | 10 | Comics enforcer played by Stallone in a 1995 film |