People a to z

Sonny Liston was introduced to boxing while serving time in a Missouri State penitentiary. He became a professional fighter in 1953.

Franz Liszt was a Hungarian pianist and composer of enormous influence and originality. He was renowned in Europe during the Romantic movement.

Equally versed in comedy and drama, John Lithgow has won raves for his work in World According to Garp, 3rd Rock from the Sun, and Dexter.

Little Eva was a singer best known for the overnight stardom brought to her through her #1 smash "The Loco-Motion."

Brian Littrell is known for making two types of music: pop hits with the Backstreet Boys and inspirational tunes as a Christian music artist.

Lucy Liu is a TV and film actress known for her work on Ally McBeal and in the Charlie's Angels films.

Anastasia Valeryevna Liukin, better known as Nastia Liukin, is a world-renowned gymnast and Olympian who was named the Olympic individual all-around Champion in 2008.

Viola Gregg Liuzzo was an activist in the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. She was murdered by members of the Ku Klux Klan for her efforts.

Blake Lively is an actress notable for her role as Serena van der Woodsen on the CW network's teen drama Gossip Girl.

David Livingstone was a Scottish missionary, abolitionist and physician known for his explorations of Africa, having crossed the continent during the mid-19th century.

Christopher Lloyd is an American actor best known for his role as the eccentric "Doc" Brown in the successful Back to the Future films.

Comedian Harold Lloyd was a star of silent film era, appearing in notable movies Just Nuts, Girl Shy and The Freshman.

Meat Loaf is a multi-platinum musician, made famous for his rock opera, Bat Out of Hell. He's acted in cult-hit films, Rocky Horror Picture Show and Fight Club.

Ryan Lochte is an American swimmer who has won 11 Olympic medals in the sport, including five golds.

English philosopher John Locke's works lie at the foundation of modern philosophical empiricism and political liberalism.

Singer Kimberley Locke made a hugely successful run on American Idol and ended up placing third (behind runner-up Clay Aiken and winner Ruben Studdard).

Actress Heather Locklear was on the television series C.H.I.P.S, Dynasty, T.J. Hooker, Melrose Place and Sin City. She was also in the movie Firestarter.

Activist and lawyer Belva Lockwood was the first woman to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Henry Cabot Lodge was an American politician from Massachusetts and the first U.S. Senate majority leader.

Lisa Loeb made a name for herself in the mid-1990s with her contemporary rock sound and hit single "Stay."

Richard Loeb, of Leopold and Loeb, is best known for murdering 14-year old Bobby Franks with Nathan Leopold in an attempt to carry out the 'perfect crime'.

Lindsay Lohan is an actress and pop singer who starred in the film Mean Girls and in the TV movie Liz & Dick.

Vince Lombardi was an NFL coach, notably for the Green Bay Packers, a team he led to five championships.

Jack London was a 19th century American author and journalist, best known for the adventure novels White Fang and The Call of the Wild.

Tampa Bay serial killer Bobby Joe Long confessed to killing 10 women, and raping more than 50, in the 1980s.

Emmy-award winning television and film actress Shelley Long played Diane Chambers on the TV sitcom Cheers and was Carol Brady in The Brady Bunch: The Movie.

Singer Claudine Longet recorded seven albums from 1966 to 1972 and user her popularity to transition into an acting career. She murdered her boyfriend in 1976.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was a famed 19th century scholar, novelist and poet known for works like Voices of the Night, Evangeline and The Song of Hiawatha.

Actress Eva Longoria landed her breakthrough role in 2004 as Gabrielle Solis on the hit television series Desperate Housewives.

James Longstreet was the principle general of the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, serving under Robert E. Lee.

Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes was a singer and rapper known for her work with the 1990s group TLC.

Actress and singer Jennifer Lopez is one of Hollywood’s leading ladies who’s also forged a successful pop and dance music career.

Mario Lopez is a television host and actor who has appeared chiefly on various television series, such as Saved by the Bell, Extra and America's Best Dance Crew.

Professional golfer Nancy Lopez was named Player of the Year four times during her career. She was the first woman to be awarded the Frances Ouimet Award.

Antonio López de Santa Anna was a 19th century Mexican military officer who acted as the country’s president and dictator at different periods.

Cuban Mijain Lopez won a gold medal for wrestling at the 2008 Summer Olympics, where he served as Cuba's opening-ceremony flagbearer.

Jon Lord is best known for his membership in the hard-rock band Deep Purple in the late 1960s, performing songs like "Demon's Eye" and "Space Truckin'." He later joined the band Whitesnake, which gained wide fame in the 1980s.

Lord Snowdon was married to Princess Margaret, sister of Queen Elizabeth II, from 1960 to 1978. He is also a world-renowned photographer and documentarian.

Audre Lorde wrote the poetry collections From a Land Where Other People Live (1973) and The Black Unicorn (1978), as well as memoirs like A Burst of Light (1988).

Traci Lords is an actress who gained notoriety in the 1980s when she appeared in pornographic films at the age of 15.

Sophia Loren is an Academy Award-winning Italian actress. A striking beauty, Loren is often listed among the world's all time most attractive women.

Fashion designer Christian Louboutin has developed an international following for his distinctive red-soled footwear.

American diving champion Greg Louganis won 13 world championships and made history at the 1982 Olympics as the first diver ever awarded a perfect score.

The world heavyweight boxing champion from June 22, 1937, until March 1, 1949, Joe Louis held the title longer than anyone else in history.

Louis I succeeded his father, Charlemagne, as emperor, serving as ruler of the Franks for 26 years.

Louis VII was king of France who pursued a long rivalry with Henry II of England.

Louis XII was king of France from 1498 and was noted for his disastrous Italian wars and his domestic popularity.

King Louis XIV of France led an absolute monarchy during France’s classical age. He revoked the Edict of Nantes and is known for his aggressive foreign policy.

Louis XV was king of France from 1715 to 1774. He is best known for contributing to the decline of royal authority that led to the French Revolution in 1789.

Louis XVI was the last king of France (1774–92) in the line of Bourbon monarchs preceding the French Revolution of 1789. He was executed for treason by guillotine in 1793.

Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus is best known for playing Elaine on the sitcom Seinfeld. She has also starred on The New Adventures of Old Christine, and the HBO TV series Veep.

Marie-Louise is best known for her marriage to the emperor Napoleon after his divorce from Josephine.

Demi Lovato is a singer and actress who stars on Disney Channel's original series Sonny with a Chance.

Before she became the poster child for drugs and plastic surgery, Courtney Love was an alternative rock star married to Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain.

Singer Darlene Love sang backup for hit artists including Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin but struggled to gain fame for her solo endeavors.

Horror fiction author H.P. Lovecraft wrote short stories, novels and novellas, including "The Call of Cthulhu" and The Case of Charles Dexter Ward.

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.