| 100% | ANTONCHEKHOV | 12 | Russian writer of the play "Uncle Vanya": 2 wds. |
| 67% | BORISPASTERNAK | 14 | Russian writer of the novel "Doctor Zhivago": 2 wds. |
| 65% | IVANTURGENEV | 12 | Russian writer of the novel "Fathers and Sons": 2 wds. |
| 59% | EUGENEIONESCO | 13 | 20th-century writer of the French plays "Rhinoceros" and "The Bald Soprano": 2 wds. |
| 59% | SAMUELBECKETT | 13 | 20th-century writer of the French plays "Waiting for Godot" and "Endgame": 2 wds. |
| 59% | JEANPAULSARTRE | 14 | 20th-century writer of the French plays "No Exit" and "The Flies": 2 wds., hyph. |
| 51% | ELLENPAGE | 9 | "Tales of the City" actress who plays Vanya Hargreeves on "The Umbrella Academy" (2 wds.) |
| 51% | DRSEUSS | 7 | Writer of the children's book, "The Cat in the Hat": 2 wds. |
| 51% | BEATRIXPOTTER | 13 | Writer of the children's story, "The Tale of Tom Kitten": 2 wds. |
| 50% | BEVERLYCLEARY | 13 | Writer of the Ramona Quimby children's books who lived to age 104: 2 wds. |
| 49% | EDWARDALBEE | 11 | Author of the absurdist play "The Zoo Story": 2 wds. |
| 49% | SAMUELBECKETT | 13 | Author of the absurdist play "Waiting for Godot": 2 wds. |
| 49% | MARKTWAIN | 9 | Pen name of the American writer born Samuel Clemens: 2 wds. |
| 48% | TOMSTOPPARD | 11 | Author of the absurdist play "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead": 2 wds. |
| 48% | SHADOWMOON | 10 | Husband of the character played by 30a: 2 wds. |
| 47% | JANUARYJONES | 12 | Actress of the month who played Betty Francis on "Mad Men": 2 wds. |
| 47% | JAMESBROWN | 10 | Subject of the new biopic "Get On Up," played by Chadwick Boseman: 2 wds. |
| 47% | SIDNEYPOITIER | 13 | "Lilies of the Field" Oscar winner who played Donald Crease in "Sneakers": 2 wds. |
| 47% | HARRISONFORD | 12 | "Raiders of the Lost Ark" actor who plays Jacob Dutton on "1923": 2 wds. |
| 47% | ROALDDAHL | 9 | Writer of the children's books that the movies directed by 14-, 20-, and 36-Across were based on: 2 wds. |
| 46% | TRISPRIOR | 9 | Heroine of the Veronica Roth trilogy, played by Shailene Woodley in the movies: 2 wds. |
| 46% | DENNISQUAID | 11 | "Flight of the Phoenix" actor who plays the title role in 16-Across: 2 wds. |
| 46% | OMARIHARDWICK | 13 | "Army of the Dead" actor who plays an FBI agent in "The Mother": 2 wds. |
| 46% | IJEOMAOLUO | 10 | Writer of the bestseller "So You Want to Talk About Race" (2 wds.) |
| 46% | ZOESALDANA | 10 | "Guardians of the Galaxy" actress who plays Neytiri in "Avatar: The Way of Water": 2 wds. |
| 46% | TIFFANYHADDISH | 14 | "Keanu" actress who adopted one of the cats that played Keanu in the film: 2 wds. |
| 46% | ORLANDOBLOOM | 12 | "Pirates of the Caribbean" actor who plays marketing executive Danny Moore in "Gran Turismo": 2 wds. |
| 46% | CHUKWUDIIWUJI | 13 | "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" actor who plays Ik Nobe Lok on "Peacemaker": 2 wds. |
| 45% | JAMESJOYCE | 10 | Writer of the 1918 play "Exiles" |
| 45% | JONATHANPRYCE | 13 | "Pirates of the Caribbean" actor who played a Bond villain in 1997's "Tomorrow Never Dies": 2 wds. |