People a to z

French painter Antoine Watteau's work embraced the artifice of the theatre, particularly the commedia dell'arte and ballet. His works typified the Rococo style.

Bill Watterson is best known for his comic strip creation "Calvin and Hobbes," about a boy and his imaginary friend.

Faye Wattleton, former president and CEO of Planned Parenthood—as well as the first African-American, first female and youngest president in the organization's history—has been one of the strongest champions of women's rights and reproductive health for more than four decades.

André Watts is an award-winning, renowned pianist known for his virtuosic playing and rhapsodic interpretations of classical music greats.

Charlie Watts is best known for playing drums as part of the famed rock 'n' roll group the Rolling Stones. He is also a noted jazz musician.

Actress Naomi Watts starred in Mulholland Drive and The Ring. She's also a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations, and works on HIV/AIDS awareness programs.

Damon Wayans is an African-American comedian who appeared on the sketch comedy show In Living Color.

Comedian and actor Keenen Ivory Wayans hosted his own late night show, The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show. His famous siblings are Damon, Shawn, Marlon and Kim.

Marlon Wayans is best known for his role in the Scary Movie series, and for being one of the Wayans siblings.

Shawn Wayan is an actor known for co-starring with his brother Marlon in various comic spoofs, including the Scary Movie franchise.

Anthony Wayne was an American general and U.S. Representative best known for winning the Battle of Fallen Timbers which removed Native American claims to Ohio and the surrounding area.

Liberian soccer star George Weah was named African, European and World Player of the Year in 1995 and has since become a prominent humanitarian and politician.

Veteran Australian actress Jacki Weaver has received Academy Award nominations for her work in such films as Animal Kingdom (2010) and Silver Linings Playbook (2012).

Randy Weaver, former U.S. Army combat engineer, is best known for being at the center of a deadly confrontation with FBI agents at Ruby Ridge, Idaho in 1992.

Noted economist Robert Weaver, was the first African American to serve in the U.S. cabinet as the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

Actress Sigourney Weaver is best known for her roles in films since the 1980s, including Ghost Busters, Working Girl and Alien.

Hugo Weaving is best known for playing Agent Smith in the Matrix film trilogy and Elrond in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy.

Composer. Andrew Lloyd Webber is an English composer known for such musical theater hits as Cats, Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar and The Phantom of the Opera.

Max Weber was a 19th century German sociologist and one of the founders of modern sociology. He wrote The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism in 1905.

Jazz musician Ben Webster (1909–1973) played tenor saxophone with jazz greats like Fletcher Henderson, Duke Ellington and Art Tatum.

Daniel Webster was an American lawyer and Whig Part leader who served as a congressman and secretary of state.

Weegee was a photographer noted for his gritty yet compassionate images of the aftermath of New York street crimes and disasters.

Songwriter Cynthia Weil is famous for singles including "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" for The Animals and "Walking in the Rain" for The Ronettes.

Simone Weil was a French intellectual, activist and Christian Mystic.

Former U.S. Representative Anthony Weiner served New York's 9th Congressional District from 1999 to 2011, when he abruptly resigned over a sexting scandal.

Harvey Weinstein founded the Miramax Film Corporation with his brother Bob and together the two produced hit films including Pulp Fiction and Good Will Hunting.

Bob Weir was a rhythm guitarist for the legendary rock band the Grateful Dead from 1964 to 1995 and later reunited to tour with former members as The Other Ones.

British actress and model Rachel Weisz is best known for her performances in The Mummy, Stealing Beauty and The Constant Gardener.

Florence Welch is the lead singer of the English indie rock band Florence and the Machine. She can be heard on popular songs such as "Kiss with a Fist" and "Shake It Out."

Actress Raquel Welch was launched as a cinematic sex symbol in One Million Years BC (1966) and continues to be regarded as one of the world's great beauties.

Gideon Welles was a 19th century journalist and politician who served as secretary of the U.S. Navy under presidents Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson.

Orson Welles wrote, directed and starred in the film Citizen Kane, among others, which remains one of the most influential films ever made.

H.G. Wells was a writer of science-fiction works—including The Time Machine and War of the Worlds—who had a great influence on our vision of the future.

Ida B. Wells was an African-American journalist and activist who led an anti-lynching crusade in the United States in the 1890s.

A country music legend, Kitty Wells had a string of hits in the 1950s and '60s, including "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels."

Chinese-American actress Ming-Na is best known for her portrayal of Dr. Deb Chen on the medical drama ER.

Rutina Wesley is an African-American actress known for her role as Tara Thornton on the HBO vampire series True Blood.

Tom Wesselmann was a 20th century American painter associated with the Pop Art movement.

Dorothy West is a writer remembered for her sharp observations of varied issues within the African American community.

James West is an American inventor who developed the foil electret microphone, now used in 90 percent of all contemporary microphones, in 1962.

Jerry West is a former basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers who went on to become the team’s head coach and general manager.

Kanye West is a Grammy-winning rapper and sought-after producer who is as well known for his outrageous statements as he is for his broad musical palette.

Mae West started in Vaudeville and on the stage in New York, and later moved to Hollywood to star in films known for their blunt sexuality and steamy settings.

Samuel West is a British actor best known for his roles in the films Howards End, Notting Hill, Van Helsing and Hyde Park on Hudson.

Dr. Ruth Westheimer is one of the world's most recognized authorities on sex. She has delivered her advice on TV, radio and the web for decades and has written numerous books.

William Westmoreland was a U.S. Army general who made a name for himself as commander of American troops in Vietnam.

Edward Weston's photography captured organic forms and texture. Portraits of his family taken in the 1940s are some of his best work.

Fashion designer Vivienne Westwood helped set the style for modern punk and New Wave music.

Tina Weymouth is best known as the bassist in the band The Talking Heads.

In the late 18th century, slave poet Phillis Wheatley impressed everyone she met, proving to the world that the color of one's skin does not indicate one's intellect.

Joss Whedon is a writer and director best known as the creator of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Adam Wheeler, also known as the "Ivy League Imposter," made national news when it was discovered that he had boasted an academic career—including admission to Harvard University—based on lies.

Actress Lisa Whelchel co-starred in the popular 1980s sitcom The Facts of Life.

British actor Ben Whishaw is best known for playing Freddie Lyon on the television series The Hour and Q in the 2012 film Skyfall.

Actor, producer and director Forest Whitaker won an Academy Award for his portrayal of dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland. He’s also known for films like Bird, Ghost Dog and The Butler.

Betty White is a comedic actress who has been in show business, from TV to film, since the 1950s, most notably on The Golden Girls.

Dan White assassinated San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk, a gay rights activist, in 1978.

Jack White is best known for singing and playing guitar with Meg White in the band the White Stripes.

Actor Jaleel White rose to fame as the nerdy boy-next-door Steve Urkel on the 1990s hit sitcom Family Matters.

John White was a British artist, explorer, cartographer and governor of the English settlement on Roanoke Island (now in North Carolina, U.S.).

Pearl White was an American silent film actress best known for her role in The Perils of Pauline, in which she did her own stunt work.

American skateboarder and snowboarder Shaun White, known as the "Flying Tomato," is a two-time Olympic gold medalist. He has also won multiple Summer and Winter X Games medals.

T.H. White was an English writer known for his novel series about King Arthur, The Once and Future King.

Vanna White is the longtime co-host of the popular game show Wheel of Fortune.

Charles Whitman was a former Marine and sniper who killed 16 people at the University of Texas in 1966.

Meg Whitman is the successful corporate executive, serving as CEO of eBay and later Hewlett Packard. In 2010 she lost her bid to win the California governorship.

Walt Whitman was an American poet whose verse collection Leaves of Grass is a landmark in the history of American literature.

Eli Whitney was an American inventor who created the cotton gin and pushed the “interchangeable parts” mode of production.

John Greenleaf Whittier was an American poet and abolitionist who, in the latter part of his life, was a household name in both England and the United States.