| 100% | MAYAANGELOU | 11 | Writer whose first collection of poetry, "Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie," was published in 1971 (2 wds.) |
| 56% | ANGELOU | 7 | Author of the poetry collection “Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ’fore I Diiie” |
| 49% | ANGELOU | 7 | "Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'Fore I Diiie" poet |
| 39% | RIVERPHOENIX | 12 | "Stand by Me" actor whose first name is a medium-sized body of water: 2 wds. |
| 39% | MEA | 3 | "Just Give ___ Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie" |
| 37% | JANEGOODALL | 11 | Writer whose second book about chimpanzees, "In the Shadow of Man," was published in 1971 (2 wds.) |
| 35% | URSULAKLEGUIN | 13 | Writer whose second Earthsea novel, "The Tombs of Atuan," was published in 1971 (4 wds.) |
| 35% | FIGHTCLUB | 9 | Group in a 1999 movie whose first rule of membership is not to talk about it: 2 wds. |
| 35% | BROOKLOPEZ | 10 | Milwaukee Bucks player whose first name is a small body of water: 2 wds. |
| 35% | EMERALDFENNELL | 14 | "Promising Young Woman" writer/director whose first name is a shade of green: 2 wds. |
| 34% | OCEANVUONG | 10 | "On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous" author whose first name is a large body of water: 2 wds. |
| 34% | REDSEA | 6 | Mideast body of water whose parting was recapped in 15-Across in a bowl of tomato soup: 2 wds. |
| 33% | EDITHWHARTON | 12 | American writer whose novel "The Age of Innocence" was published in 1920 (2 wds.) |
| 32% | BETTEGREENE | 11 | "Summer of My German Soldier" writer whose 1974 novel, "Philip Hall Likes Me, I Reckon Maybe," was a Newbery Honor Book (2 wds.) |
| 32% | JACKIESTILES | 12 | 2016 Women's Basketball Hall of Fame inductee who was the first Division I player to score over 1,000 points in a season: 2 wds. |
| 31% | FORESTWHITAKER | 14 | "Respect" actor whose first name is a shade of green: 2 wds. |
| 31% | KITHARINGTON | 12 | "Game of Thrones" actor whose first name is also the term for a baby fox: 2 wds. |
| 30% | PETESAMPRAS | 11 | A retired American tennis legend whose record of 14 titles was only surpassed by Federer in 2009: 2 wds. |
| 30% | LUKECOMBS | 9 | Country singer whose cover of 27-Across's "Fast Car" was a #2 hit in 2023: 2 wds. |
| 30% | ANNEMURRAY | 10 | "You Needed Me" singer who was made a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1984: 2 wds. |
| 30% | TEABAG | 6 | Item that's placed in a cup of hot water to brew a drink: 2 wds. |
| 30% | SENECACRANE | 11 | Head Gamemaker in "The Hunger Games" whose last name is a kind of bird: 2 wds. |
| 30% | TREVORNOAH | 10 | "The Daily Show" star whose surname is a person in the book of Genesis: 2 wds. |
| 30% | WHITNEYHOUSTON | 14 | Singer and actress who played Rachel Marron in 18a and whose cover of "I Will Always Love You" became a best-selling single: 2 wds. |
| 30% | CARYELWES | 9 | Star of 33-Across whose memoir about it, "As You Wish," will be published in the fall of 2014: 2 wds. |
| 30% | CYBILLSHEPHERD | 14 | "Moonlighting" actress and star of a 1990s CBS sitcom, whose title was her first name: 2 wds. |
| 30% | JACKSPARROW | 11 | Rakish captain in "Pirates of the Caribbean" whose last name is a kind of bird: 2 wds. |
| 30% | MARCELDUCHAMP | 13 | French-American painter whose "Self-Portrait in Profile" is a highly recognized work of art: 2 wds. |
| 29% | MARTINLAWRENCE | 14 | Stand-up comedian and star of a 1990s Fox sitcom, whose title was his first name: 2 wds. |
| 29% | ELLENDEGENERES | 14 | Talk show host and star of a 1990s ABC sitcom, whose title was her first name: 2 wds. |