People a to z

Journalist Elijah Lovejoy staunchly defended his right to publish abolitionist material in his newspaper, and died at the hands of a proslavery mob in 1837.

Linda Lovelace is a pornographic actress who had instant success with the 1972 film Deep Throat.

Country singer Patty Loveless is famous for her blend of musical styles, and songs like "How Can I Help You Say Goodbye?"

Jim Lovell is a former U.S. astronaut who commanded NASA's nearly disastrous Apollo 13 flight to the moon.

Lyle Lovett is an eclectic country music singer/songwriter who has also been known to dabble in acting.

Comedian and actor John Lovitz was part of the Saturday Night Live cast for five years, during which time he created memorable characters like Hanukkah Harry.

Juliette Gordon Low is the founder of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America.

Chris Lowe is a British musician best known as half of the electronic dance music duo the Pet Shop Boys.

Civil rights leader, social activist and minister Joseph Lowery has fought against prejudice and discrimination against African-Americans for more than 50 years.

Lord Lucan is best known for being in the suspect in the murder of his children's nanny, Sandra Rivett, and then disappearing.

By the 1960s, gangster and drug kingpin Frank Lucas had constructed an international drug ring that spanned from New York to South East Asia.

George Lucas directed the Star Wars films and Indiana Jones movies, both of which took on a cult-like following.

Henry Lee Lucas was a murderer best known for allegedly killing hundreds of people in the 1960s and '70s, though only three (including his mother) were confirmed.

Susan Lucci is an American actress, best known for portraying Erica Kane on the daytime drama All My Children.

Henry R. Luce was a journalist and publishing mogul who started the magazines Time, Life, Fortune and Sports Illustrated.

Lucky Luciano was an Italian-born American mobster best known for engineering the structure of modern organized crime in the United States.

Quarterback Andrew Luck was a two-time Heisman finalist at Stanford University. The Indianapolis Colts selected him with the number one pick in the 2012 NFL draft.

Lorna Luft is an actress and singer known for both TV and film roles as well as for being the daughter of Judy Garland.

Count Dracula was Actor Bela Lugosi's most famous role. Lugosi played him in stage productions and in the 1931 Universal Pictures film Dracula.

Baz Luhrmann is an Australian director and screenwriter best known for his films Strictly Ballroom, Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge.

American actor Derek Luke has starred in films including Antwone Fisher (2002) and Friday Night Lights (2004).

Lulu is a Scottish-born singer who performed "To Sir With Love" and appeared in the classic film of the same name alongside Sidney Poitier.

Director Sidney Lumet was best known for his films Twelve Angry Men and Serpico. He made more than 40 films during his career.

Journalist, television personality and author Joan London was on Good Morning America for nearly two decades, and was one of the most popular TV co-hosts.

Jeffrey Lundgren was an Ohio-based cult leader who murdered a family of five.

Ida Lupino was a famous mid-20th century film actress who was also a trailblazing director and producer in a male-dominated industry.

Victor Lustig was a con artist who became known at "the man who sold the Eiffel Tower."

Theologian Martin Luther forever changed Christianity when he began the Protestant Reformation in 16th-century Europe.

Arthur Leslie Lydiard is a former marathon runner from from New Zealand and a coach of Olympic gold medalists. He popularized jogging in the 1960s.

John Lydon, a.k.a. Johnny Rotten, was the lead singer and front man for the English punk rock band the Sex Pistols.

David Lynch is a film director and screenwriter known for his dark, offbeat films, notable Blue Velvet and Eraserhead

.

Jane Lynch is a Golden Globe and Emmy-Award winning film and television actress. She is best known for her role as Coach Sue Sylvester on the TV series Glee.

Former Army soldier Jessica Lynch was held captive by Iraqi soldiers at Saddam Hospital in Nasiriya then rescued by U.S. troops. A media firestorm followed.

Michael Lynche was a contestant on the ninth season of American Idol. He was the second finalist to receive the "judge's save."

Actor Paul Lynde is best known for his work on the fledgling game show Hollywood Squares, where he worked for 15 years.

Norwegian singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad and her band, ABBA, became an overnight sensation in 1974 with their first hit single, "Waterloo."

Loretta Lynn is a singer-songwriter known for "Coal Miner's Daughter," among many other country songs. A film about her by the same name was a critical hit.

Known as the "Forces' Sweetheart," singer Vera Lynn had a popular radio show during World War II and sang such songs as "The White Cliffs of Dover" and "We'll Meet Again."

Mary Lyon was an educator and founder of the first women's college, which is now known as Mount Holyoke College.

A leading twentieth century philosopher, Jean-Francois Lyotard was noted for his analysis of postmodernity and its impact on humankind.

M.I.A. is a British singer known for albums such as Arular and Kaya and hit singles such as "Paper Planes" and "O...Saya."

Yo-Yo Ma is an acclaimed cellist and songwriter who has produced dozens of albums and won more than 15 Grammy Awards.

Dora Maar was a French artist and poet best known as Pablo Picasso's lover and muse.

Wangari Maathai was a Kenyan political and environmental activist and her country's assistant minister of environment, natural resources and wildlife.

Bernie Mac was a standup comedian and actor on film and television known for his "Bernie Mac Show" and appearance in the "Ocean's 11" films.

Douglas MacArthur was an American general best known for his command of Allied forces in the Pacific Theater during World War II.

Sean MacBride was an Irish politician and the former chief of staff of the IRA

Former teen heartthrob beloved for his role in The Karate Kid, actor Ralph Macchio has appeared in movies, theater and on television. He is also a producer.      

Ramsay MacDonald was the first Labour Party prime minister of Great Britain, in Labour governments and the national coalition government.

New York physician Jeffrey MacDonald was convicted in 1979 for murdering his pregnant wife and two daughters, but questions remain about his guilt.

Scottish actress Kelly Macdonald has appeared on television in Broadwalk Empire and in such films as Gosford Park and Anna Karenina.

Andie MacDowell is an American actress and model notable for her roles in Sex, Lies and Videotape, Short Cuts, Four Weddings and a Funeral and Groundhog Day.

Bernarr MacFadden was a well known physical culturist, and became the preeminent advocate for healthy living and exercise.

Seth MacFarlane is best known for writing, animating and producing the hit TV show Family Guy.

Macbeth was king of Scotland during the 11th century. He was also the basis for Shakespeare's play Macbeth.

Shane McGowan is an Irish singer-songwriter who founded the folk-punk band the Pogues.

Italian diplomat Niccolò Machiavelli is best known for writing The Prince, a handbook for unscrupulous politicians that inspired the term "Machiavellian" and established its author as the "father of modern political theory."

William Lyon Mackenzie was a journalist and political agitator who led an unsuccessful revolt against the Canadian government in 1837.

Shirley MacLaine is one of Hollywood's legendary leading ladies, known for a vast span of films that include The Apartment, Sweet Charity and Terms of Endearment.

Kirkpatrick Macmillan is best known for inventing the first pedal bicycle.

English actor Patrick Macnee is best known for playing secret agent John Steed in the 1960s television series The Avengers.

Model Elle Macpherson put the super in "supermodel." In her day, she was known as "The Body" because of her stunning height and figure.

William H. Macy is an actor known for his diverse characters in films such as Fargo, Boogie Nights and Air Force One.

Liberal political journalist Rachel Maddow is known for hosting the MSNBC TV show The Rachel Maddow Show, as well as an Air America radio show of the same name.

Winnie Mandela was the controversial wife of Nelson Mandela who spent her life in varying governmental roles.

Dolley Madison is best known as the wife of United States President James Madison, who served from 1809 to 1817.

The fourth U.S. president, James Madison believed in a robust yet balanced federal government and is known as the "Father of the Constitution."

Bernard Madoff was a stockbrocker who ran his multibillion-dollar firm as a grand scale Ponzi scheme. He is currently serving a 150-year prison sentence.

Pop legend Madonna is known for her constant reinvention as a performer. Her biggest hits include "Papa Don't Preach," "Like a Prayer" and "Vogue."

Prior to being elected to the Venezuelan presidency in April 2013, Nicolás Maduro served as vice president under the nation's outspoken president, Hugo Chávez.

While in the service of Spain, the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan led the first European voyage of discovery to circumnavigate the globe.

Academy-award winning Italian stage and film actress Anna Magnani was in the movie Open City, and inspired playwright Tennessee Williams to pen The Rose Tattoo.