j
-
Judge Judy
Judge, Reality Television Star, Journalist / 1942 -
Judith Sheindlin, or Judge Judy as she is known, is a no-nonsense courtroom presence on the TV show Judge Judy.
See full bio
(1942-)
Judge, Reality Television Star, Journalist
-
Augustus Juilliard
Entrepreneur, Philanthropist / 1836 - 1919
Augustus D. Juilliard was a successful businessman whose 1919 bequest for music education led to the creation of the acclaimed Juilliard School.
See full bio
(1836-1919)
Entrepreneur, Philanthropist
-
Raul Julia
Actor / 1940 - 1994
Raúl Juliá was a Puerto Rican actor best known for his work in film, including Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985) and The Addams Family (1991).
See full bio
(1940-1994)
Actor
-
Julius Caesar
General, Dictator / 100 - 44
Roman general and statesman Julius Caesar turned the Roman Republic into the powerful Roman Empire. A coup ended his reign, and his life, on the Ides of March.
See full bio
| Watch video
(100-44)
General, Dictator
-
Percy Julian
Academic, Civil Rights Activist, Medical Professional, Chemist / 1899 - 1975
African-American chemist Percy Julian was a pioneer in the chemical synthesis of medicinal drugs such as cortisone, steroids and birth control pills.
See full bio
(1899-1975)
Academic, Civil Rights Activist, Medical Professional, Chemist
-
Bae Yong Jun
Television Actor / 1972 -
Korean actor Bae Yong Jun made it big with TV hits such as Love Greeting before his 2003 big-screen debut in Scandal.
See full bio
(1972-)
Television Actor
-
Carl Jung
Inventor, Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Journalist / 1875 - 1961
Carl Jung established the idea of analytic psychology. He advanced the idea of introvert and extrovert personalities and the power of the unconscious.
See full bio
(1875-1961)
Inventor, Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Journalist
k
-
Jane Kaczmarek
Theater Actress, Television Actress / 1955 -
Actress Jane Kaczmarek is best known for playing the strict, yet unpredictable, Lois Wilkerson on the popular television sitcom Malcolm in the Middle.
See full bio
(1955-)
Theater Actress, Television Actress
-
Lech Kaczynski
World Leader / 1949 - 2010
Lech Kaczynski was a politician who served as president of Poland until his sudden death in a plane crash in 2010.
See full bio
(1949-2010)
World Leader
-
Ted Kaczynski
Terrorist / 1942 -
Ted Kaczynski is a mathematician best known for a campaign of letter bombs he sent as "The Unabomber" over a 20 year period, resulting in three fatalities.
See full bio
| Watch video
(1942-)
Terrorist
-
Colin Kaepernick
Football Player / 1987 -
National Football League quarterback Colin Kaepernick is the starting QB for the San Francisco 49ers. In 2012 he led the franchise to Super Bowl XLVII.
See full bio
(1987-)
Football Player
-
Franz Kafka
Author / 1883 - 1924
Author Franz Kafka explored the human struggle for understanding and security in his novels such as Amerika, The Trial and The Castle.
See full bio
(1883-1924)
Author
-
Paul Kagame
Activist, Military Leader, World Leader / 1957 -
Paul Kagame is a Rwandan military leader and politician who is best known for defeating Hutu extremist forces to end the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
See full bio
(1957-)
Activist, Military Leader, World Leader
-
Elena Kagan
Educator, Lawyer, Supreme Court Justice, Political Leader / 1960 -
First female politician,attorney to serve as solicitor general of the United States of America.
See full bio
(1960-)
Educator, Lawyer, Supreme Court Justice, Political Leader
-
Jerome Kagan
Scholar, Psychologist / 1929 -
Jerome Kagan is a professor of psychology at Harvard University and is regarded as key pioneer in the field of developmental psychology.
See full bio
(1929-)
Scholar, Psychologist
-
Duke Kahanamoku
Professional Swimmer / 1890 - 1968
Surfing icon Duke Kahanamoku (1890–1968) was an Olympic swimmer, film actor, and sheriff of Honolulu, Hawaii.
See full bio
(1890-1968)
Professional Swimmer
-
Frida Kahlo
Painter / 1907 - 1954
Painter Frida Kahlo was a Mexican self-portrait artist who was married to Diego Rivera and is still admired as a feminist icon.
See full bio
| Watch video
(1907-1954)
Painter
-
Albert Kahn
Architect, Entrepreneur / 1869 - 1942
Architect Albert Kahn was known for his designs of American automobile factories. He was considered the world's foremost industrial architect at the time.
See full bio
(1869-1942)
Architect, Entrepreneur
-
Louis I. Kahn
Architect / 1901 - 1974
Louis Kahn was an architect whose buildings made him one of the most discussed architects to emerge after World War II.
See full bio
(1901-1974)
Architect
-
Madeline Kahn
Actress / 1942 - 1999
Madeleine Kahn was an actress of stage and screen known for her roles in Mel Brooks' comedies such as Blazing Saddles and High Anxiety.
See full bio
(1942-1999)
Actress
-
Kasey Kahne
Race Car Driver / 1980 -
Race car driver Kasey Kahne made a splash like no rookie before him in the history of NASCAR's top series. His appeal with fans was instant.
See full bio
(1980-)
Race Car Driver
-
Tim Kaine
Lawyer, Governor / 1958 -
Democrat Tim Kaine served as governor of Virginia from 2006 to 2010, and is currently a member of the U.S. Senate.
See full bio
(1958-)
Lawyer, Governor
-
Henry J Kaiser
Entrepreneur / 1882 - 1967
Industrialist Henry J. Kaiser capitalized on U.S. mobilization for WWII and grew his ship building company into a multi-billion dollar corporation.
See full bio
(1882-1967)
Entrepreneur
-
Kaka
Soccer Player, Philanthropist / 1982 -
Professional soccer player Kaká helped São Paulo take home the World Cup title in 2002. He later lead Milan to Champions League and Club World Cup titles.
See full bio
(1982-)
Soccer Player, Philanthropist
-
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Engineer, World Leader, Scientist / 1931 -
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is an Indian scientist and politician who served his country as president from 2002 to 2007.
See full bio
(1931-)
Engineer, World Leader, Scientist
-
Kamehameha I
King / 1758 - 1819
Kamehameha the Great was the Hawaiian conqueror and king who united the Hawaiian islands and founded the Kamehameha dynasty.
See full bio
(1758-1819)
King
-
Heike Kamerlingh-Onnes
Academic, Physicist / 1853 - 1926
Heike Kamerlingh-Onnes was a Dutch scientist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics for his production of liquid helium. He also discovered superconductivity.
See full bio
(1853-1926)
Academic, Physicist
-
Wassily Kandinsky
Educator, Painter, Lawyer / 1866 - 1944
Russian-born painter Wassily Kandinsky is credited as a leader in avant-garde art as one of the founders of pure abstraction in painting in the early 20th century.
See full bio
(1866-1944)
Educator, Painter, Lawyer
-
Garson Kanin
Director / 1912 - 1999
Garson Kanin directed Hollywood films for RKO studios, but is best known for the freelance projects he collaborated with his wife, actress Ruth Gordon.
See full bio
(1912-1999)
Director
-
Immanuel Kant
Philosopher / 1724 - 1804
Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher during the Enlightenment era of the late 18th century. His best known work is the Critique of Pure Reason.
See full bio
(1724-1804)
Philosopher
-
Raj Kapoor
Film Actor, Director, Producer / 1924 - 1988
Raj Kapoor was an Indian film director and producer of Hindi-language films. He is best known as the "Charlie Chaplin of Indian cinema."
See full bio
(1924-1988)
Film Actor, Director, Producer
-
Donna Karan
Fashion Designer / 1948 -
American fashion designer Donna Karan is one of the most influential designers in the world today.
See full bio
(1948-)
Fashion Designer
-
Khloé Kardashian
Reality Television Star / 1984 -
Reality television personality Khloé Kardashian has starred on Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Khloé and Lamar, Celebrity Apprentice and The X Factor.
See full bio
| Watch video
(1984-)
Reality Television Star
-
Kim Kardashian
Reality Television Star / 1980 -
Kim Kardashian is a model, actress, entrepreneur, socialite and star of the reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians.
See full bio
| Watch video
(1980-)
Reality Television Star
-
Kourtney Kardashian
Reality Television Star / 1979 -
Kourtney Kardashian, sister of Kim Kardashian, has starred in the reality TV show Keeping Up with the Kardashians and its spin-offs with boyfriend Scott Disick.
See full bio
(1979-)
Reality Television Star
-
Karl Malone
Basketball Player / 1963 -
American basketball player Karl Malone broke the National Basketball Association (NBA) career record for free throws attempted and made.
See full bio
(1963-)
Basketball Player
-
Boris Karloff
Film Actor / 1887 - 1969
Boris Karloff was an English-born actor whose name became synonymous with horror movies.
See full bio
| Watch video
(1887-1969)
Film Actor
-
Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov
Chess Player / 1951 -
Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov was a Russian chess grandmaster and world champion from 1975-1985.
See full bio
(1951-)
Chess Player
-
Raden Adjeng Kartini
Women's Rights Activist, Journalist / 1879 - 1904
Raden Adjeng Kartini is a Javanese noblewoman and is best known as a pioneer in the area of women's rights for native Indonesians.
See full bio
(1879-1904)
Women's Rights Activist, Journalist
-
Hamid Karzai
World Leader / 1957 -
Hamid Karzai worked to overthrow the Taliban before becoming president of Afghanistan in 2004. As president he faced enormous political and economic challenges.
See full bio
(1957-)
World Leader
-
Linda Kasabian
1949 -
Linda Kasabian was a member of Charles Manson's "Family," and became the prosecution's star witness at their 1970 trial.
See full bio
(1949-)
-
Joseph Kasavubu
World Leader / 1910 - 1969
Joseph Kasavubu was the first president of the independent Congo republic from 1960 to 1965, who shortly after independence ousted the Congo's first premier.
See full bio
(1910-1969)
World Leader
-
Gary Kasparov
Chess Player / 1963 -
Russian Gary Kasparov became the youngest world chess champion in 1985. He formed the Professional Chess Association with English grandmaster Nigel Short.
See full bio
(1963-)
Chess Player
-
Kate DiCamillo
Author / 1964 -
Kate DiCamillo is an author whose children's books often confront themes of death and loss. She won a Newbery Medal in 2004 for The Tale of Despereaux (2003).
See full bio
(1964-)
Author
-
Katerina Witt
Ice Skater / 1965 -
German figure skater Katerina Witt won the first of six European championships and went on to win two Olympic gold medals and four World Championships.
See full bio
(1965-)
Ice Skater
-
Andy Kaufman
Television Actor, Comedian / 1949 - 1984
Believe it or not, comedian Andy Kaufman was banned from Saturday Night Live, but beloved for his portrayal of Latka Gravas on the sitcom Taxi.
See full bio
| Watch video
(1949-1984)
Television Actor, Comedian
-
George S. Kaufman
Playwright / 1889 - 1961
American playwright George S. Kaufman co-wrote a number of Broadway hits, two of which received Pulitzer Prizes.
See full bio
(1889-1961)
Playwright
-
Julie Kavner
Film Actor, Television Actor, Comedian / 1950 -
For more than a decade, comedic actress Julie Kavner has voiced one of television's most popular animated characters—Marge Simpson on The Simpsons.
See full bio
(1950-)
Film Actor, Television Actor, Comedian
-
Yasunari Kawabata
Author / 1899 - 1972
Yasunari Kawabata was a Japanese writer whose melancholic lyricism echoes an ancient Japanese literary tradition in the modern idiom.
See full bio
(1899-1972)
Author
-
Danny Kaye
Film Actor, Theater Actor, Television Actor, Comedian, Dancer, Singer, Philanthropist, Television Personality / 1913 - 1987
Actor and comedian Danny Kaye was enormously popular across stage, radio, TV and movie venues for his singing, dancing, impersonations and improvisations.
See full bio
(1913-1987)
Film Actor, Theater Actor, Television Actor, Comedian, Dancer, Singer, Philanthropist, Television Personality
-
Elia Kazan
Director / 1909 - 2003
Elia Kazan directed plays by Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller on Broadway, then won Oscars for films like On The Waterfront.
See full bio
(1909-2003)
Director
-
Thomas Kean
Academic, Governor / 1935 -
American Republican Party politician Thomas Kean is best known for serving as the Chairman of the 9/11 Commission after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
See full bio
(1935-)
Academic, Governor
-
Jimmy Choo
Fashion Designer / 1961 -
Fashion designer Jimmy Choo rose to fame for the quality and style of his handmade women's shoes.
See full bio
(1961-)
Fashion Designer
-
Buster Keaton
Film Actor, Comedian / 1895 - 1966
Comedian and director Buster Keaton was popular for his pioneering silent comedies in the 1920s.
See full bio
(1895-1966)
Film Actor, Comedian
-
Diane Keaton
Film Actress / 1946 -
Diane Keaton is an Oscar-winning actress who earned early acclaim for her work in several Woody Allen films and her dramatic work in The Godfather series.
See full bio
(1946-)
Film Actress
-
Michael Keaton
Film Actor, Television Actor, Director / 1951 -
Michael Keaton is an American actor known for his roles in the comedy Mr. Mom and as Batman in the Tim Burton-directed installments of the series.
See full bio
(1951-)
Film Actor, Television Actor, Director
-
John Keats
Poet / 1795 - 1821
English Romantic lyric poet John Keats was dedicated to the perfection of poetry marked by vivid imagery that expressed a philosophy through classical legend.
See full bio
(1795-1821)
Poet
-
Elizabeth Keckley
Fashion Designer / 1818 - 1907
Former slave Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley was dressmaker to Mary Todd Lincoln until she published a tell-all book about the First Family in 1868.
See full bio
(1818-1907)
Fashion Designer
-
Laura Keene
Theater Actress / 1826 - 1873
In addition to her successful career as an actress, Laura Keene became the first female theater manager. She witnessed Lincoln’s assassination.
See full bio
(1826-1873)
Theater Actress
-
Catherine Keener
Film Actress, Television Actress / 1959 -
Catherine Keener is an American actress best known for her role Maxine in the 1999 film Being John Malkovich.
See full bio
(1959-)
Film Actress, Television Actress
-
Bob Keeshan
Television Actor, Television Personality, Television Producer / 1927 - 2004
Bob Keeshan was a TV producer, developer, and personality who played both Clarabelle the Clown and Captain Kangaroo on children's TV shows.
See full bio
(1927-2004)
Television Actor, Television Personality, Television Producer
-
Andrew Kehoe
Mass Murderer / 1872 - 1927
Andrew Kehoe was a mass murderer who went on a 1927 killing spree that included dynamiting the Bath, Michigan Consolidated School, killing 37 children.
See full bio
(1872-1927)
Mass Murderer
-
Garrison Keillor
Radio Personality, Writer / 1942 -
Humor writer and radio personality Garrison Keillor hosts the program A Prairie Home Companion and tells stories about the fictional town Lake Wobegon.
See full bio
(1942-)
Radio Personality, Writer
-
Kip Keino
Track and Field Athlete / 1940 -
Kip Keino is a Kenyan distance runner, who won four Olympic medals. Later he served as president of the National Olympic Committee Kenya.
See full bio
(1940-)
Track and Field Athlete
-
Harvey Keitel
Film Actor, Television Actor, Producer / 1939 -
Harvey Keitel is best known for his work with director Martin Scorsese in the films Mean Streets and Taxi Driver.
See full bio
(1939-)
Film Actor, Television Actor, Producer
-
Toby Keith
Songwriter, Singer / 1961 -
Country music sensation Toby Keith is best known for his rousing anthems to the U.S. soldiers serving in the Middle East.
See full bio
| Watch video
(1961-)
Songwriter, Singer
-
Kelis
Singer / 1979 -
In 1999, hip-hop musician Kelis released her debut album Kaleidoscope, featuring militant, feminist-themed lyrics over hip-hop beats.
See full bio
(1979-)
Singer
-
Herb Kelleher
Entrepreneur / 1931 -
Herb Kelleher is the founder and former CEO of Southwest Airlines, one of the first airlines to offer low-cost fares by eliminating unnecessary services.
See full bio
(1931-)
Entrepreneur
-
Helen Keller
Educator, Activist, Journalist / 1880 - 1968
American educator Helen Keller overcame the adversity of being blind and deaf to become one of the 20th century's leading humanitarians, as well as co-founder of the ACLU.
See full bio
| Watch video
(1880-1968)
Educator, Activist, Journalist
-
David E. Kelley
Television Producer, Screenwriter / 1956 -
David E. Kelley is a writer and producer of TV shows and has worked on such series as L.A. Law, Ally McBeal, and The Practice.
See full bio
(1956-)
Television Producer, Screenwriter
-
Jill Kelley
Jill Kelley sought help from the FBI in 2012 after receiving threatening emails, triggering an investigation that exposed the affair between General David Petraeus and biographer Paula Broadwell.
See full bio
-
W.K. Kellogg
Business Leader, Philanthropist / 1860 - 1951
W.K. Kellogg founded the Kellogg Company, which makes cereal products that have become popular around the world.
See full bio
(1860-1951)
Business Leader, Philanthropist
-
Chris Kelly
Rapper / 1978 - 2013
Chris Kelly is best known for making up one half of the rap duo Kris Kross, who had a No. 1 hit with their 1992 song "Jump."
See full bio
(1978-2013)
Rapper
-
Ellsworth Kelly
Artist / 1923 -
The geometric paintings and sculptures of abstract artist Ellsworth Kelly are influenced by the avant-garde movement, including work by Henri Matisse.
See full bio
(1923-)
Artist
-
Gene Kelly
Film Actor, Dancer / 1912 - 1996
Gene Kelly was a dancer whose athletic style transformed the movie musical and did much to change the American public's conception of male dancers.
See full bio
| Watch video
(1912-1996)
Film Actor, Dancer
-
George Kelly
Criminal / 1895 - 1954
Bank robber, bootlegger and kidnapper George “Machine Gun” Kelly was sentenced to life in prison along with his wife, Kathryn Kelly, in 1933.
See full bio
(1895-1954)
Criminal
-
Machine Gun Kelly
Criminal / 1897 - 1954
Machine Gun Kelly was an American bootlegger, bank robber and kidnapper who made headlines in the 1930s.
See full bio
(1897-1954)
Criminal
-
Minka Kelly
Actress / 1980 -
Minka Kelly is an American actress best known for her cheerleading role on the acclaimed TV series Friday Night Lights.
See full bio
(1980-)
Actress
-
Ned Kelly
Criminal / 1855 - 1880
Australian outlaw Ned Kelly (1855–1880) was leader of the Kelly gang, notorious for robberies and police shootings in the 19th century.
See full bio
(1855-1880)
Criminal
-
R. Kelly
Singer / 1967 -
R. Kelly is a popular American R&B singer-songwriter and record producer best known for his gospel-tinged vocals and highly sexualized lyrics.
See full bio
(1967-)
Singer
-
William Kempe
Theater Actor, Comedian / 1560 - 1603
William Kempe was one of the most famous clowns of the Elizabethan era and originated some of Shakespeare's comedic characters.
See full bio
(1560-1603)
Theater Actor, Comedian
-
Edmund Kemper
Serial Killer / 1948 -
A serial killer, Edmund Kemper killed six young, college-age women in the Santa Cruz, California, area and several members of his family.
See full bio
| Watch video
(1948-)
Serial Killer
-
Anna Kendrick
Actress / 1985 -
Tony-nominated actress Anna Kendrick played Jessica, Bella Swan's friend, in the Twilight movies, based on Stephanie Meyer's teenage vampire novels.
See full bio
(1985-)
Actress
-
George F. Kennan
Historian, Diplomat, Academic Author / 1904 - 2005
George F. Kennan served as a U.S. diplomat from 1926 to 1953. He wrote a famous Foreign Affairs article, "The Sources of Soviet Conduct," under the pen name Mr. X.
See full bio
(1904-2005)
Historian, Diplomat, Academic Author
-
Anthony Kennedy
Supreme Court Justice / 1936 -
Anthony Kennedy is an associate justice on the U.S. Supreme Court who was appointed by Ronald Reagan.
See full bio
(1936-)
Supreme Court Justice
-
Caroline Kennedy
Lawyer / 1957 -
Writer, editor, and lawyer Caroline Kennedy is the only surviving child of John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
See full bio
| Watch video
(1957-)
Lawyer
-
Carolyn Bessette Kennedy
1966 - 1999
Carolyn Bessette Kennedy married John F. Kennedy Jr. and was considered a trendsetter and fashion icon. She died in a small plane crash in 1999.
See full bio
(1966-1999)
-
Ethel Kennedy
1928 -
Ethel Kennedy is best known as the widow of Robert F. Kennedy, the former U.S. Attorney General and New York Senator who was assassinated in 1968.
See full bio
(1928-)
-
Joan Bennett Kennedy
Pianist / 1936 -
Joan Bennett Kennedy is a pianist, a former model, and the former wife of Senator Edward Kennedy. She has publically struggled with alcoholism.
See full bio
(1936-)
Pianist
-
John F. Kennedy Jr.
Publisher / 1960 - 1999
Later the publisher of political magazine George, JFK Jr. was the first child ever born to a president-elect, the son of JFK and Jacqueline Kennedy,
See full bio
| Watch video
(1960-1999)
Publisher
-
John F. Kennedy
Civil Rights Activist, U.S. President, U.S. Representative / 1917 - 1963
John F. Kennedy, the 35th U.S. president, negotiated the Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty and initiated the Alliance for Progress. He was assassinated in 1963.
See full bio
| Watch video
(1917-1963)
Civil Rights Activist, U.S. President, U.S. Representative
-
Joseph P. Kennedy
Business Leader, Diplomat / 1888 - 1969
Joseph P. Kennedy is best known as the father of three political leaders: President John F. Kennedy, U.S. Representative Ted Kennedy and Robert Kennedy, who served as a U.S. senator and attorney general.
See full bio
| Watch video
(1888-1969)
Business Leader, Diplomat
-
Joseph P. Kennedy III
Lawyer, U.S. Representative / 1980 -
A part of the famed American political dynasty, Joseph P. Kennedy became the latest member of his family to win public office in 2012. He won a seat to the U.S. House of Representatives, taking over for the retiring Barney Frank.
See full bio
(1980-)
Lawyer, U.S. Representative
-
Mary Kennedy
Architect / 1960 - 2012
Mary (Richardson) Kennedy, an architect focusing on philanthropy and the environment, was the estranged wife of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
See full bio
(1960-2012)
Architect
-
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Environmental Activist, Lawyer, Radio Talk Show Host / 1954 -
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the son of former New York senator and U.S. attorney general Robert F. Kennedy, and nephew of former U.S. president John F. Kennedy.
See full bio
(1954-)
Environmental Activist, Lawyer, Radio Talk Show Host
-
Robert Kennedy
Government Official / 1925 - 1968
Robert Kennedy was Attorney General during his brother JFK's administration. He later served as a U.S. Senator and was assassinated during his run for the presidency.
See full bio
| Watch video
(1925-1968)
Government Official
-
Rose Kennedy
Activist, Philanthropist / 1890 - 1995
The matriarch of the Kennedy clan, Rose Kennedy saw three of her sons, Robert, John, and Edward, elected to public office and two of them killed by assassins.
See full bio
(1890-1995)
Activist, Philanthropist
-
Ted Kennedy
U.S. Representative / 1932 - 2009
Known as the “Lion of the Senate,” Democrat Ted Kennedy was a staunch liberal who was elected to Congress 9 times, spearheading many legislative reforms.
See full bio
(1932-2009)
U.S. Representative
-
Victoria Kennedy
Lawyer / 1954 -
A successful lawyer, Victoria Kennedy became a well-known figure in Washington, D.C., when she married Senator Ted Kennedy in 1992.
See full bio
(1954-)
Lawyer
-
William Kennedy
Author, Screenwriter / 1928 -
William Kennedy is a Pulitzer-winning novelist known for setting his works in his hometown of Albany, NY.
See full bio
(1928-)
Author, Screenwriter