| 100% | SEAU | 4 | Retired linebacker Junior who left us in May 2012 |
| 39% | SEAU | 4 | Linebacker Junior who played in 12 consecutive Pro Bowls |
| 39% | YOU | 3 | "Addicted to ___" (song by an EDM artist who left us in 2018) |
| 38% | NEED | 4 | "I ___ to Know" (song by a rock artist who left us in 2017) |
| 38% | COAL | 4 | "___ Miner's Daughter" (song by a country artist who left us in 2022) |
| 38% | HOOD | 4 | "Boyz-n-the-___" (song by a rap artist who left us in 1995) |
| 38% | RED | 3 | "Little ___ Corvette" (song by an R&B/funk artist who left us in 2016) |
| 35% | OMAR | 4 | Shortstop Vizquel who retired in 2012 |
| 34% | CLEADUVALL | 10 | US actress who played Cora Lijek in 2012 film drama Argo |
| 33% | BARR | 4 | Comedian Roseanne who ran for US president in 2012 |
| 32% | BIEL | 4 | Jessica —, US actress who portrayed Vera Miles in 2012 biopic Hitchcock |
| 32% | JESSICA | 7 | & 19D US actress who portrayed Vera Miles in 2012 biopic Hitchcock |
| 32% | SOUTHPAW | 8 | Someone who might be called a "cuddy wifter" in the U.K. |
| 31% | ORR | 3 | Danny —, Great Britain, Wigan and Castleford rugby league scrum-half who retired in 2012 |
| 31% | AARON | 5 | Hank —, US baseball player who retired in 1976 with a total of 755 home runs |
| 31% | AARON | 5 | Hank ---, US baseball player who retired in 1976 with a total of 755 home runs |
| 31% | DANNYORR | 8 | Great Britain, Wigan Warriors and Castleford Tigers rugby league scrum-half who retired in 2012 |
| 30% | LUKE | 4 | ___ Kuechly, football linebacker who retired in 2020 and made it to the Pro Bowl seven times |
| 30% | BRANDONROY | 10 | Former NBA Rookie of the Year who retired in 2012 at the age of 27: 2 wds. |
| 29% | CSI | 3 | "___: Miami" (David Caruso series canceled in May 2012) |
| 29% | OBIT | 4 | Notice published for 36-Across in May 2012 |
| 29% | MOSS | 4 | Randy ___, NFL player who retired in 2011 but returned to play for the San Francisco 49ers in 2012 |
| 29% | ALY | 3 | Olympic gymnast Raisman who captained Team U.S.A.’s gold-medal-winning squads in 2012 and 2016 |
| 29% | SYDNEYLEROUX | 12 | US Women's National Team soccer player who scored five goals in a single game against Guatemala in 2012: 2 wds. |
| 28% | COLIN | 5 | ___ Powell, retired general in the U. S. Army who was honored with his second Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1993 |
| 28% | ONEAL | 5 | Shaq who earned an Ed.D. degree in May 2012 |
| 28% | SEAU | 4 | Linebacker Junior in the Pro Football Hall of Fame |
| 28% | OBAMA | 5 | US president reelected in 2012 |
| 27% | ZAYN | 4 | Singer Malik who left One Direction in 2015 |