t
-
Twyla Tharp
Ballet Dancer, Choreographer / 1941 -
Twyla Tharp is an American dancer and choreographer who often integrated popular music--including songs by Billy Joel, Bob Dylan and Frank Sinatra--into her work.
See full bio
(1941-)
Ballet Dancer, Choreographer
-
Hugo Theorell
Biologist / 1903 - 1982
Nobel prize winning biochemist Axel Hugo Theodor Theorell 's study of enzymes led to an understanding of how organisms use nutrients to make usable energy.
See full bio
(1903-1982)
Biologist
-
Dave Thomas
Entrepreneur, Chef, Television Personality / 1932 - 2002
Dave Thomas is the founder of the hamburger chain Wendy's and was their TV spokesman starting in 1989.
See full bio
| Watch video
(1932-2002)
Entrepreneur, Chef, Television Personality
-
Hunter S. Thompson
Activist, Journalist, Author / 1937 - 2005
A counterculture icon, Hunter S. Thompson was an American journalist best known for writing 1971's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and creating "Gonzo journalism."
See full bio
| Watch video
(1937-2005)
Activist, Journalist, Author
-
Henry David Thoreau
Philosopher, Journalist, Poet / 1817 - 1862
American essayist, poet, and practical philosopher, Henry David Thoreau was a New England Transcendentalist and author of the book Walden.
See full bio
(1817-1862)
Philosopher, Journalist, Poet
-
Emmett Till
1941 - 1955
The murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till on August 28, 1955 galvanized the emerging civil rights movement.
See full bio
(1941-1955)
-
Alex Trebek
Philanthropist, Game Show Host / 1940 -
Alex Trebek has served as the host of Jeopardy!, one of the most popular game shows in television history, for which he has won several Daytime Emmy Awards.
See full bio
(1940-)
Philanthropist, Game Show Host
-
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev
Mass Murderer / 1993 -
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, along with brother Tamerlan, was named a suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings of April 15, 2013. Seven days later, he was charged with using a weapon of mass destruction in the attacks.
See full bio
(1993-)
Mass Murderer
-
Liv Tyler
Film Actress / 1977 -
Liv Tyler is an actress best known as an elf named Arwen in the Lord of the Rings films.
See full bio
(1977-)
Film Actress
v
-
Rudy Vallee
Singer, Radio Talk Show Host / 1901 - 1986
Rudy Vallée was an American singer and entertainer best known as the host of the variety hour The Rudy Vallee Show (1929-43).
See full bio
(1901-1986)
Singer, Radio Talk Show Host
-
Abigail Van Buren
Writer / 1918 - 2013
Pauline Phillips, best known by the pen name "Abigail Van Buren," was one of America's most adored advice columnists as the author of "Dear Abby." She was the twin sister of columnist Ann Landers.
See full bio
(1918-2013)
Writer
-
Gus Van Sant
Director / 1952 -
Gus Van Sant, the American director known best known for the blockbuster hit Good Will Hunting, starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.
See full bio
(1952-)
Director
-
Danitra Vance
Comedian / 1954 - 1994
Danitra Vance appeared on Saturday Night Live in 1986 and acted in films such as Limit Up and Little Man Tate.
See full bio
(1954-1994)
Comedian
-
Vivian Vance
Film Actress, Television Actress / 1909 - 1979
Vivian Vance was an actress chiefly known as Ethel Murtz on the 1950s TV sitcom I Love Lucy.
See full bio
(1909-1979)
Film Actress, Television Actress
-
Jesse Ventura
Film Actor, Athlete, Governor / 1951 -
Former professional wrestler Jesse Ventura went on to a career in acting and politics, becoming the governor of Minnesota.
See full bio
(1951-)
Film Actor, Athlete, Governor
-
Sofia Vergara
Actress / 1972 -
Sofia Vergara starred in the Tyler Perry films Meet the Browns (2008) and Madea Goes to Jail (2009). She is also known for playing Gloria Delgado-Pritchett on ABC's Modern Family, which premiered in 2009.
See full bio
(1972-)
Actress
-
Diana Vreeland
Journalist / 1903 - 1989
As a fashion journaist who worked for Harper's Bazaar and Vogue, Diana Vreeland was an influential figure in American fashion during the 20th century.
See full bio
(1903-1989)
Journalist
w
-
Rufus Wainwright
Songwriter, Pianist, Singer / 1973 -
Rufus Wainwright is a Canadian American singer and songwriter best known for his pop albums Rufus Wainwright (1998) and Poses (2001).
See full bio
(1973-)
Songwriter, Pianist, Singer
-
Maggie Lena Walker
Activist, Entrepreneur / 1864 - 1934
Maggie Lena Walker was grand secretary of the Independent Order of St. Luke, an organization dedicated to the social and financial advancement of African Americans.
See full bio
(1864-1934)
Activist, Entrepreneur
-
Margaret Walker
Author, Poet / 1915 - 1998
Margaret Walker is best known for writing on the African-American experience through fiction and poetry.
See full bio
(1915-1998)
Author, Poet
-
Bill Watterson
Artist / 1958 -
Bill Watterson is best known for his comic strip creation Calvin and Hobbes, about a boy and his imaginary friend.
See full bio
(1958-)
Artist
-
Faye Wattleton
Women's Rights Activist, Business Leader, Nurse, Philanthropist / 1943 -
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.
See full bio
(1943-)
Women's Rights Activist, Business Leader, Nurse, Philanthropist
-
Marlon Wayans
Film Actor, Comedian / 1972 -
Marlon Wayans is best known for his role in the Scary Movie series, and for being one of the Wayans siblings.
See full bio
(1972-)
Film Actor, Comedian
-
Gideon Welles
Civil Rights Activist, Lawyer, Editor, Journalist, Government Official / 1802 - 1878
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.
See full bio
(1802-1878)
Civil Rights Activist, Lawyer, Editor, Journalist, Government Official
-
Ida B. Wells
Civil Rights Activist, Journalist / 1862 - 1931
Ida B. Wells was an African-American journalist and activist who led an anti-lynching crusade in the United States in the 1890s.
See full bio
| Watch video
(1862-1931)
Civil Rights Activist, Journalist
-
Forest Whitaker
Film Actor, Filmmaker / 1961 -
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.
See full bio
| Watch video
(1961-)
Film Actor, Filmmaker
-
E.B. White
Writer / 1899 - 1985
Writer E. B. White was a contributor to The New Yorker, co-author of The Elements of Style, and the author of Charlotte's Web.
See full bio
(1899-1985)
Writer
-
Jack White
Guitarist, Singer / 1975 -
Jack White is best known for singing and playing guitar with Meg White in the band the White Stripes.
See full bio
(1975-)
Guitarist, Singer
-
Walter White
Civil Rights Activist / 1893 - 1955
Walter White became de facto spokesman for African-Americans from his longstanding post with the NAACP.
See full bio
(1893-1955)
Civil Rights Activist
-
Jordyn Wieber
Gymnast / 1995 -
American gymnast Jordyn Wieber is best known as the first U.S. Olympic women's gymnastics team member to hail from Michigan.
See full bio
(1995-)
Gymnast
-
Hoyt Wilhelm
Baseball Player / 1923 - 2002
Hoyt Wilhelm was a Major League Baseball relief pitcher known for his knuckleball and who set a pitching record.
See full bio
(1923-2002)
Baseball Player
-
Cootie Williams
Trumpet Player / 1908 - 1985
Cootie Williams was a jazz trumpeter best known for his longtime work and recorded legacy with composer and bandleader Duke Ellington.
See full bio
(1908-1985)
Trumpet Player
-
Michelle Williams
Actress, Singer / 1980 -
Michelle Williams became a top pop music star as part of the band Destiny's Child. She has also enjoyed some success as a solo gospel music artist and an actress.
See full bio
(1980-)
Actress, Singer
-
Montel Williams
Talk Show Host / 1956 -
Author and actor Montel Williams rose to fame in 1991 with the launch of his talk show, The Montel Williams Show, which ran for 17 seasons and earned its host an Emmy.
See full bio
(1956-)
Talk Show Host
-
Olivia Williams
Actress / 1968 -
Olivia Williams is a British actress known for appearing in such films as Rushmore, The Postman and Hyde park on Hudson.
See full bio
(1968-)
Actress
-
Robin Williams
Actor, Comedian / 1951 -
Actor and comedian Robin Williams is known for his fast-paced, improvisational performance style. He performed in films like Good Will Hunting and Dead Poets Society.
See full bio
| Watch video
(1951-)
Actor, Comedian
-
Wendy Williams
Radio Talk Show Host, Talk Show Host / 1964 -
Wendy Williams is a radio DJ and TV talk show host known for her no-nonsense attitude and brash on-air personality.
See full bio
(1964-)
Radio Talk Show Host, Talk Show Host
-
Diane Wood
Lawyer, Judge / 1950 -
Diane Wood is a judge and lawyer who has been mentioned in connection with filling Supreme Court justice vacancies.
See full bio
(1950-)
Lawyer, Judge
-
Natalie Wood
Film Actress / 1938 - 1981
Actress Natalie Wood starred in the films Rebel Without a Cause with James Dean and in West Side Story as Maria. She drowned during a boating trip in 1981.
See full bio
(1938-1981)
Film Actress
-
Caroline Wozniacki
Tennis Player / 1990 -
Danish tennis player Caroline Wozniacki has been ranked No. 1 on the WTA Tour, and is the youngest singles player worldwide to be ranked in the top 10.
See full bio
(1990-)
Tennis Player
-
Andrew Wyeth
Painter / 1917 - 2009
Andrew Wyeth was an American realist painter who painted subjects around his hometown pf Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. His most famous work is Christina's World.
See full bio
(1917-2009)
Painter
-
William Wyler
Director / 1902 - 1981
William Wyler was an Oscar-winning film director known for such films as Ben Hur and The Best Years of Our Lives.
See full bio
(1902-1981)
Director
y
-
Rosalyn S. Yalow
Academic, Physicist / 1921 -
Rosalyn S. Yalow was a Nobel Prize-winning medical physicist who conducted groundbreaking research on type II diabetes.
See full bio
(1921-)
Academic, Physicist
-
Kristi Yamaguchi
Ice Skater / 1971 -
Kristi Yamaguchi is a U.S. figure skater and Olympic gold medalist. She is also an author, philanthropist and founder of the Always Dream Foundation.
See full bio
(1971-)
Ice Skater
-
Andrea Yates
Murderer / 1964 -
Andrea Yates was a mother of five from Houston, Texas who drowned her children.
See full bio
(1964-)
Murderer
-
Whitney Young Jr.
Civil Rights Activist / 1921 - 1971
Whitney Young Jr. was the head of the Urban League for 10 years and a lifelong advocate of civil and equal rights.
See full bio
(1921-1971)
Civil Rights Activist
z
-
Robert B. Zoellick
Business Leader, Government Official / 1953 -
Robert B. Zoellick was nominated by President George W. Bush as the eleventh president of the World Bank, replacing the unpopular Paul Wolfowitz.
See full bio
(1953-)
Business Leader, Government Official