k
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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,
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(1960-1999)
Publisher
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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.
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(1917-1963)
Civil Rights Activist, U.S. President, U.S. Representative
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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.
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(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
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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
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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
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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.
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(1925-1968)
Government Official
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Patsy Kensit
Film Actress, Television Actress, Dancer / 1968 -
British actress and singer Patsy Kensit is a TV and film actress best known for her three marriages, all to musicians.
See full bio
(1968-)
Film Actress, Television Actress, Dancer
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Stan Kenton
Songwriter, Pianist / 1911 - 1979
Stan Kenton was an American pianist, composer and bandleader associated with the swing movement in jazz.
See full bio
(1911-1979)
Songwriter, Pianist
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Jomo Kenyatta
Activist, World Leader, Prime Minister / 1894 - 1978
As the first leader of a unified, independent Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta brought stability and economic growth to the former British colony.
See full bio
(1894-1978)
Activist, World Leader, Prime Minister
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Kathleen Kenyon
Archaeologist, Educator, Historian, Journalist / 1906 - 1978
Dame Kathleen (Mary) Kenyon was an English archaeologist who excavated Jericho to and showed it to be the oldest known continuously occupied human settlement.
See full bio
(1906-1978)
Archaeologist, Educator, Historian, Journalist
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Keokuk
Political Leader / 1790 - 1848
Sauk Indian politician Keokuk became chief by ceding Indian lands to win white support and by rallying opposition to his own tribe's resistance leaders.
See full bio
(1790-1848)
Political Leader
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Jerome Kern
Songwriter / 1885 - 1945
American composer Jerome Kern penned the scores to several wildly successful Broadway musicals including Show Boat, which was later performed by the New York Philharmonic.
See full bio
(1885-1945)
Songwriter
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Joanna Kerns
Television Actress / 1953 -
On the hit sitcom, Growing Pains, actress Joanna Kerns played Maggie Seaver, one of the most popular television mothers of the late 1980s.
See full bio
(1953-)
Television Actress
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Jack Kerouac
Journalist, Author, Poet / 1922 - 1969
Jack Kerouac was an American writer best known for the novel On the Road, which became an American classic, pioneering the Beat Generation in the 1950s.
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(1922-1969)
Journalist, Author, Poet
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Deborah Kerr
Film Actress / 1921 - 2007
Deborah Kerr was a Scottish actress known for the poise and serenity she exhibited in portraying complex, prim characters.
See full bio
(1921-2007)
Film Actress
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Graham Kerr
Chef, Television Personality / 1934 -
British chef and television personality Graham Kerr has hosted numerous cooking shows that enjoyed popularity in both the U.K. and America.
See full bio
(1934-)
Chef, Television Personality
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Nancy Kerrigan
Ice Skater / 1969 -
Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan won a silver medal at the 1994 Olympics despite being hit in the knee earlier in the year.
See full bio
(1969-)
Ice Skater
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John Kerry
U.S. Representative / 1943 -
Senator John Kerry has supported free trade, expansive foreign and military policy and education spending. In 2004, he was a democratic presidential nominee.
See full bio
(1943-)
U.S. Representative
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André Kertész
Photographer / 1894 - 1985
André Kertész was Hungarian-born American photographer known for magazine photography in Look, Harper's Bazaar and Vogue.
See full bio
(1894-1985)
Photographer
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Imre Kertész
Journalist, Author / 1929 -
Imre Kertész is a Hungarian writer who survived the Holocaust and went on to win the 2002 Nobel Prize in Literature.
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(1929-)
Journalist, Author
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Ken Kesey
Journalist, Author / 1935 - 2001
Novelist Ken Kesey wrote One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest, which in the U.S. became one of the most widely read books of the 1960s.
See full bio
(1935-2001)
Journalist, Author
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Kesha
Songwriter, Rapper, Singer / 1987 -
Ke$ha is and American singer-songwriter whose big break came from an uncredited and unpaid cameo on rapper Flo Rida's 2009 No. 1 hit "Right Round."
See full bio
(1987-)
Songwriter, Rapper, Singer
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Jennifer Kessy
Athlete / 1977 -
Jennifer Kessy is a beach volleyball player, who, along with teammate April Ross, won a silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games.
See full bio
(1977-)
Athlete
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Jack Kevorkian
Doctor / 1928 - 2011
Jack Kevorkian was a U.S.-based physician who assisted in patient suicides, sparking increased talk on hospice care and "right to die" legislative action.
See full bio
(1928-2011)
Doctor
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Francis Scott Key
Lawyer, Poet / 1779 - 1843
Francis Scott Key was an attorney and poet who wrote the lyrics to "The Star-Spangled Banner," the U.S. national anthem.
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(1779-1843)
Lawyer, Poet
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Alan Keyes
Diplomat, Radio Talk Show Host / 1950 -
Diplomat, radio commentator, and politician Alan Keyes was one of the most prominent African American conservatives in the late 20th and the early 21st century.
See full bio
(1950-)
Diplomat, Radio Talk Show Host
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John Maynard Keynes
Economist, Journalist / 1883 - 1946
English economist, journalist and financier John Maynard Keynes is best known for his Keynesian economics, theories on the causes of prolonged unemployment.
See full bio
(1883-1946)
Economist, Journalist
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Alicia Keys
Pianist, Singer / 1981 -
Alicia Keys is a multiple Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter whose debut album, Songs in A Minor, went platinum five times over.
See full bio
(1981-)
Pianist, Singer
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Khalid Sheikh Mohammed
Terrorist
Terrorist. Born March 1, 1964 or April 14, 1965 in the Baluchistan region of Pakistan. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was raised in Kuwait and joined the Muslim Brotherhood at age 16. He pursued his education in the United States, earning a degree in mechanical
See full bio
Terrorist
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Chaka Khan
Actress, Songwriter, Singer / 1953 -
Chaka Khan is an American singer and composer who gained international fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman of the band Rufus.
See full bio
(1953-)
Actress, Songwriter, Singer
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Genghis Khan
Warrior / 1155 - 1227
Mongolian warrior and ruler Genghis Khan created the largest empire in the world, the Mongol Empire, by destroying individual tribes in Northeast Asia.
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(1155-1227)
Warrior
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Imran Khan
Athlete, Political Leader / 1952 -
Imran Khan is a champion cricketer and a Pakistani politician.
See full bio
(1952-)
Athlete, Political Leader
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Khabul Khan
Political Leader / 1100 -
Mongol leader Khabul Khan had seven sons and is best known as the great grandfather of the great Mongol ruler Genghis Khan.
See full bio
(1100-)
Political Leader
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Kublai Khan
General, Political Leader, Emperor / 1215 - 1294
Mongolian general and statesman Kublai Khan was the grandson of Genghis Khan. He conquered China, founding and becoming the first emperor of the country's Yuan Dynasty.
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(1215-1294)
General, Political Leader, Emperor
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Mohammad Ayub Khan
General, World Leader / 1907 - 1974
Mohammad Ayub Khan was president of Pakistan from 1958 to 1969, giving birth to modern-day Pakistan. He introduced a system of basic democracies in 1960.
See full bio
(1907-1974)
General, World Leader
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Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
(1948-1997)
Songwriter, Singer
-
Mohammad Khatami
World Leader / 1943 -
Mohammad Khatami is an Iranian political leader and was President of Iran from 1997 to 2005.
See full bio
(1943-)
World Leader
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Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini
Political Leader, Religious Leader / 1902 - 1989
Ayatollah Khomeini became the supreme religious leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979, following many years of resistance to Shah Pahlavi.
See full bio
(1902-1989)
Political Leader, Religious Leader
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Nikita Khrushchev
World Leader / 1894 - 1971
Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev publicized Stalin's crimes, initiated the Cuban Missile Crisis and established a more open form of Communism in the USSR.
See full bio
(1894-1971)
World Leader
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Ban Ki-moon
Diplomat / 1944 -
South Korean Ban Ki-moon was elected secretary-general of the United Nations in 2006.
See full bio
(1944-)
Diplomat
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Jason Kidd
Basketball Player / 1973 -
Professional basketball player Jason Kidd is one of the top point guards in the sport. He helped the Dallas Mavericks win the NBA Championship in 2011.
See full bio
(1973-)
Basketball Player
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Michael Kidd
Ballet Dancer, Choreographer, Director / 1919 - 2007
Michael Kidd was a Tony Award-winning dancer, choreographer and director known for his work on Broadway's Guys and Dolls and the film Hello, Dolly!.
See full bio
(1919-2007)
Ballet Dancer, Choreographer, Director
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William Kidd
Pirate / 1654 - 1701
William Kidd is one of the most famous pirates in history, remembered for his execution for piracy on the Indian Ocean.
See full bio
(1654-1701)
Pirate
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Nicole Kidman
Film Actress / 1967 -
Academy Award–winning actress Nicole Kidman starred in Dead Calm, Moulin Rouge and The Hours, and was married to Tom Cruise for ten years.
See full bio
| Watch video
(1967-)
Film Actress
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Anthony Kiedis
Singer / 1962 -
Anthony Kiedis is the lead singer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Their 1991 alternative rock album BloodSugarSexMagik sold more than 4 million copies.
See full bio
(1962-)
Singer
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Anselm Kiefer
Painter / 1945 -
Anselm Kiefer is an internationally acclaimed German painter and sculptor whose work looks at his country’s political past.
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(1945-)
Painter
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Søren Kierkegaard
Philosopher, Critic, Theologian, Writer / 1813 - 1855
Søren Kierkegaard was a 19th century Danish philosopher who wrote about Christian belief systems and helped birth existentialism.
See full bio
(1813-1855)
Philosopher, Critic, Theologian, Writer
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Rinko Kikuchi
Film Actress, Theater Actress, Television Actress / 1981 -
Actress Rinko Kikuchi is an acclaimed screen and stage performer best known for her role in Babel as a fiercely defiant deaf mute.
See full bio
(1981-)
Film Actress, Theater Actress, Television Actress
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Jack Kilby
Engineer, Inventor / 1923 - 2005
Jack Kilby was an American physicist and electrical engineer who co-created the integrated circuit.
See full bio
(1923-2005)
Engineer, Inventor
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Dan Kiley
Architect / 1912 - 2004
Dan Kiley was an urban designer. He worked with prominent architects during and after the 1940s. His projects include the Dulles Airport.
See full bio
(1912-2004)
Architect
-
Zodiac Killer
Serial Killer
The Zodiac Killer is believed to be responsible for at least five killings between 1968 and 1969 in and around the San Francisco area.
See full bio
Serial Killer
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Jean-Claude Killy
Athlete / 1943 -
Jean-Claude Killy is a French former champion alpine skier who won three gold medals at the 1968 Winter Olympics.
See full bio
(1943-)
Athlete
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Val Kilmer
Film Actor / 1959 -
Val Kilmer is an actor known for such films as Batman Forever, The Doors and Top Gun.
See full bio
(1959-)
Film Actor
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Kim Jong Il
Dictator / 1941 - 2011
Kim Jong Il's dominating personality and complete concentration of power has come to define the country North Korea.
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(1941-2011)
Dictator
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Kim Young-Sam
World Leader / 1927 -
South Korean politician Kim Young-Sam was a moderate opposition leader for 30 years, and was president of South Korea from 1993 to 1998.
See full bio
(1927-)
World Leader
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Kimbra
Songwriter, Singer / 1990 -
New Zealand–born singer Kimbra is known for her fusion of musical styles and for her vocals on Gotye's hit "Somebody That I Used to Know."
See full bio
(1990-)
Songwriter, Singer
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Kenny Kimes
Murderer / 1975 -
Criminal Kenny Kimes and his mother, con artist Sante Kimes, jointly murdered lawyer Elmer Golmgren, banker Sayed Bilal Ahmed and businessman David Kazdin.
See full bio
(1975-)
Murderer
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Sante Kimes
Murderer, Thief / 1934 -
Sante Kimes is a convicted murderer who killed socialite Irene Silverman in a scheme to seize property.
See full bio
(1934-)
Murderer, Thief
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Jimmy Kimmel
Comedian, Game Show Host, Talk Show Host / 1967 -
Television personality and comedian Jimmy Kimmel hosted Comedy Central's game show, Win Ben Stein's Money, and the late night talk show late Jimmy Kimmel Live.
See full bio
(1967-)
Comedian, Game Show Host, Talk Show Host
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Ada Lovelace
Mathematician, Computer Programmer / 1815 - 1852
A gifted mathematician, Ada Lovelace is considered to have written instructions for the first computer program in the mid-1800s.
See full bio
(1815-1852)
Mathematician, Computer Programmer
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B.B. King
Songwriter, Guitarist, Singer / 1925 -
"King of the Blues" B.B. King began as a disc jockey in Memphis before finding fame as an R&B guitarist, with hits like "The Thrill Is Gone."
See full bio
| Watch video
(1925-)
Songwriter, Guitarist, Singer
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Billie Jean King
Tennis Player / 1943 -
Billie Jean King is best known for her long and successful tennis career.
See full bio
(1943-)
Tennis Player
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Carole King
Environmental Activist, Songwriter, Pianist, Singer / 1942 -
American singer and songwriter Carole King has written or co-written over 400 songs that have been recorded by more than 1,000 artists.
See full bio
(1942-)
Environmental Activist, Songwriter, Pianist, Singer
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Coretta Scott King
Civil Rights Activist, Women's Rights Activist, Anti-War Activist, Writer / 1927 - 2006
Coretta Scott King was an American civil rights activist and the wife of 1960s civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
See full bio
(1927-2006)
Civil Rights Activist, Women's Rights Activist, Anti-War Activist, Writer
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Don King
Entrepreneur / 1931 -
Don King is an eccentric boxing promoter known for his wild hair and the titanic bouts he arranges.
See full bio
(1931-)
Entrepreneur
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Ernest J. King
Military Leader / 1878 - 1956
American Admiral Ernest J. King was commander in chief of U.S. naval forces and chief of naval operations throughout most of World War II.
See full bio
(1878-1956)
Military Leader
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Larry King
Talk Show Host / 1933 -
In addition to his career of talk show host on Larry King Live, Larry King has appeared as himself in several movies and television shows.
See full bio
(1933-)
Talk Show Host
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Martin Luther King Jr.
Civil Rights Activist, Minister / 1929 - 1968
Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister and social activist, who led the Civil Rights Movement in the United States from the mid-1950s until his death by assassination in 1968.
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| Watch video
(1929-1968)
Civil Rights Activist, Minister
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Rodney King
1965 - 2012
When a mostly white jury acquitted the police officers who were caught on video beating Rodney King, it set off the L.A. riots of 1992.
See full bio
(1965-2012)
-
Rufus King
Lawyer, Diplomat, U.S. Representative / 1755 - 1827
Rufus King was an American lawyer and politician from Massachusetts best known as one of the framers and signers of the constitution.
See full bio
(1755-1827)
Lawyer, Diplomat, U.S. Representative
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Stephen King
Author / 1947 -
Stephen King is a New York Times-bestselling novelist who made his name in the horror and fantasy genres. Much of his work has been adapted into films.
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(1947-)
Author
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King Arthur
King
Legendary King Arthur formed the Knights of the Round Table and defended ancient Wales from encroaching Saxons.
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King
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King Tut
King / 1341 - 1323
King Tut is chiefly known for his intact tomb, discovered in Egypt's Valley of the Kings in 1922. Since then, his remains have held millions in awe over the mystery of his life and death.
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(1341-1323)
King
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King Yellowman
Musician / 1956 -
King Yellowman is a Jamaican dancehall reggae performer whose stage name references his white skin due to albinism, a genetic defect causing an absence of the pigment melanin.
See full bio
(1956-)
Musician
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Ben Kingsley
Actor / 1943 -
Ben Kingsley is an Academy Award-winning actor known for his work in films like Gandhi, Bugsy and Schindler’s List.
See full bio
(1943-)
Actor
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Charles Kingsley
Priest, Writer / 1819 - 1875
Charles Kingsley was an English clergyman who wrote Hypatia. He debated mightily with John Henry Newman about the Anglican church's trend toward Catholicism.
See full bio
(1819-1875)
Priest, Writer
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Barbara Kingsolver
Writer / 1955 -
American novelist and social activist Barbara Kingsolver wrote the best-selling novel The Poisonwood Bible. She was awarded the National Humanities Medal.
See full bio
(1955-)
Writer
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Alex Kingston
Actress / 1963 -
Alex Kingston is a British actress best known internationally for her role as Dr. Elizabeth Corday on the American hit TV show ER, and for playing the title role in the 1996 U.K. miniseries The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders.
See full bio
(1963-)
Actress
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Sam Kinison
Comedian / 1953 - 1992
Sam Kinison was an American comedian best known for his crass humor and trademark scream. The Grammy-nominated comedian received his first break from fellow comedian Rodney Dangerfield.
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| Watch video
(1953-1992)
Comedian
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Greg Kinnear
Actor / 1963 -
Greg Kinnear, the American actor, nominated for an Academy Award in the film As Good as It Gets, after starting his career on Talk Soup.
See full bio
(1963-)
Actor
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Alfred Kinsey
Anthropologist, Educator, Biologist, Zoologist, Academic Author, Journalist / 1894 - 1956
Biologist Alfred Kinsey wrote Sexual Behavior in the Human Male, which was based on research he and his colleagues conducted at the Institute for Sex Research.
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(1894-1956)
Anthropologist, Educator, Biologist, Zoologist, Academic Author, Journalist
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Klaus Kinski
Film Actor / 1926 - 1991
Actor Klaus Kinski made his mark in such films as Aguirre (1972), Nosferatu (1979) and Fitzcarraldo (1982).
See full bio
(1926-1991)
Film Actor
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Rudyard Kipling
Writer / 1865 - 1936
Rudyard Kipling was an English author, famous for his works: Just So Stories, The Jungle Book and "Gunga Din." He received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907.
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(1865-1936)
Writer
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Gustav Kirchhoff
Physicist / 1824 - 1887
German physicist Gustav Kirchoff became the first scientist to show that electric current flows at the speed of light through a conductor.
See full bio
(1824-1887)
Physicist
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Gelsey Kirkland
Ballet Dancer / 1952 -
Gelsey Kirkland joined the New York City Ballet at age 15, becoming its youngest member. In 1984, she left the spotlight for several years due to physical and emotional issues.
See full bio
(1952-)
Ballet Dancer
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Chris Kirkpatrick
Singer, Reality Television Star / 1971 -
Chris Kirkpatrick was the eldest member of the popular boy band N'Sync, not to mention the only one with dreadlocks. Now he plays now in the group Nigels 11.
See full bio
(1971-)
Singer, Reality Television Star
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Jeane Kirkpatrick
Scholar, Political Scientist, Government Official / 1926 - 2006
Jeane Kirkpatrick was the first American female ambassador to the United Nations, an anticommunist, and Ronald Reagan's foreign policy adviser.
See full bio
(1926-2006)
Scholar, Political Scientist, Government Official
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Henry Kissinger
Diplomat, Political Scientist / 1923 -
Henry Kissinger is an American political scientist and diplomat who won the Nobel Peace Prize for efforts to broker a peaceful settlement of the Vietnam War.
See full bio
(1923-)
Diplomat, Political Scientist
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Tawny Kitaen
Actress, Pin-up / 1961 -
Tawny Kitaen is best known for appearing in music videos in the 1980s, including Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again" video. She later starred on reality televison series like The Surreal Life and Celebrity Rehab.
See full bio
| Watch video
(1961-)
Actress, Pin-up
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Eartha Kitt
Actress / 1927 - 2008
Singer and actress Eartha Kitt is best known for her holiday song "Santa Baby," and for playing Catwoman in the 1960's TV show Batman.
See full bio
(1927-2008)
Actress
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Martin Heinrich Klaproth
Educator, Chemist / 1743 - 1817
German chemist Martin Klaproth Heinrich discovered a number of elements in the 19th century, including uranium and zirconium.
See full bio
(1743-1817)
Educator, Chemist
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Dylan Klebold
Mass Murderer / 1981 - 1999
Along with Eric Harris, Dylan Klebold shot and killed 13 people and injured 20 at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999.
See full bio
(1981-1999)
Mass Murderer
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Paul Klee
Educator, Painter / 1879 - 1940
Paul Klee was a prolific Swiss and German artist best known for his large body of work, influenced by cubism, expressionism and surrealism.
See full bio
(1879-1940)
Educator, Painter
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Calvin Klein
Fashion Designer / 1942 -
Fashion designer Calvin Klein is known for his line of menswear and womenswear. He also designs home collections, fragrances and cosmetics.
See full bio
(1942-)
Fashion Designer
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Lawrence Klein
Economist / 1920 -
American economist Lawrence Klein’s work in developing macroeconometric models won him the 1980 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences.
See full bio
(1920-)
Economist