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M. Ward
Songwriter, Guitarist, Singer / 1973 -
M. Ward is a critically acclaimed singer, songwriter and musician known for his solo albums as well as his work with Zooey Deschanel in the duo She & Him.
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(1973-)
Songwriter, Guitarist, Singer
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Mia Wasikowska
Film Actress, Television Actress / 1989 -
Mia Wasikowska is an Australian actress best known for her role on the HBO drama In Treatment.
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(1989-)
Film Actress, Television Actress
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Wendy Wasserstein
Playwright / 1950 - 2006
Wendy Wasserstein was an award-winning playwright of such works as The Sisters Rosensweig and An American Daughter.
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(1950-2006)
Playwright
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Antoine Watteau
Painter / 1684 - 1721
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.
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(1684-1721)
Painter
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Naomi Watts
Film Actress / 1968 -
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.
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(1968-)
Film Actress
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George Weah
Anti-War Activist, Soccer Player / 1966 -
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.
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(1966-)
Anti-War Activist, Soccer Player
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Sigourney Weaver
Film Actress / 1949 -
Actress Sigourney Weaver is best known for her roles in films since the 1980s, including Ghost Busters, Working Girl and Alien.
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(1949-)
Film Actress
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Noah Webster
Academic, Journalist / 1758 - 1843
Noah Webster documented American spelling and grammar in his two major publications, the American Spelling Book and the American Dictionary of the English Language.
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(1758-1843)
Academic, Journalist
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Cynthia Weil
Songwriter / 1940 -
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.
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(1940-)
Songwriter
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Bob Weir
Environmental Activist, Guitarist / 1947 -
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.
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(1947-)
Environmental Activist, Guitarist
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Benjamin West
Painter / 1783 - 1820
Benjamin West was an American born painter of historic and religious subjects, including King George III of England.
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(1783-1820)
Painter
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Dottie West
Songwriter, Singer / 1932 - 1991
Dottie West was a country music singer/songwriter known for such hist as "Rings of Gold" and "Would You Hold It Against Me."
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(1932-1991)
Songwriter, Singer
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Fred West
Murderer / 1941 - 1995
Fred West is best known for the gruesome murders and brutal sexual assaults in 1960's and 1970's England.
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(1941-1995)
Murderer
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George Westinghouse
Inventor, Scientist / 1846 - 1914
George Westinghouse is best known for his inventions and the development of his company, Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing.
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(1846-1914)
Inventor, Scientist
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Ben Whishaw
Actor / 1980 -
British actor Ben Whishaw is best known for playing Freddie Lyon on the television series The Hour and Q in the 2012 film Skyfall.
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(1980-)
Actor
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Michelle Wie
Golfer / 1989 -
Michelle Wie was the youngest player to qualify for a USGA amateur golf championship. At age 13, she became the youngest player ever to win a USGA adult event.
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(1989-)
Golfer
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Elie Wiesel
Writer / 1928 -
Elie Wiesel is a Nobel-Prize winning writer, teacher and activist known for the memoir Night, in which he recounts his experiences surviving the Holocaust.
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(1928-)
Writer
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Oscar Wilde
Writer / 1854 - 1900
Author Oscar Wilde published several acclaimed works, including The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Importance of Being Earnest.
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(1854-1900)
Writer
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Harvey Washington Wiley
Activist, Chemist, Writer / 1844 - 1930
Harvey Washington Wiley was an American chemist known as the "Father of the FDA." Throughout much of his career, Wiley campaigned for reforms in food manufacturing and in food labeling.
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(1844-1930)
Activist, Chemist, Writer
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Eric Williams
Prime Minister / 1911 - 1981
Eric Williams formed the People's National Movement for an independent Trinidad and Tobago, and served as that country's first prime minister.
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(1911-1981)
Prime Minister
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George Washington Williams
Scholar, Lawyer, Pastor, Journalist / 1849 - 1891
Civil War veteran George Washington Williams is best known as the author of History of the Negro Race in America, widely considered the first objective history of African Americans.
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(1849-1891)
Scholar, Lawyer, Pastor, Journalist
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Jody Williams
Educator, Activist, Philanthropist / 1950 -
American activist Jody Williams helped found the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL). In 1997 she and the campaign won the Nobel Prize for Peace.
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(1950-)
Educator, Activist, Philanthropist
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Serena Williams
Tennis Player / 1981 -
American professional tennis player Serena Williams has won 27 Grand Slam titles, including five Wimbledon and five Australian Open championships, and several Olympic gold medals.
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(1981-)
Tennis Player
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Edith Wilson
U.S. First Lady / 1872 - 1961
Edith Wilson was Woodrow Wilson's second First Lady. When Woodrow suffered a stroke, Edith kept it a secret so he wouldn't lose his position.
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(1872-1961)
U.S. First Lady
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Kate Winslet
Film Actress / 1975 -
Oscar winner Kate Winslet has starred in a number of acclaimed dramas and comedies. She first gained fame in the blockbuster Titanic.
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(1975-)
Film Actress
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P. G. Wodehouse
Author, Playwright, Screenwriter / 1881 - 1975
Author P. G. Wodehouse, the creator of Bertie Wooster and his manservant Jeeves, wrote more than 90 books during his career.
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(1881-1975)
Author, Playwright, Screenwriter
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Thomas Wolfe
Author, Playwright / 1900 - 1938
Thomas Wolfe was a major American novelist of the early 20th century, notable for his first book, 1929's Look Homeward, Angel.
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(1900-1938)
Author, Playwright
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Ed Wood
Director / 1924 - 1978
Filmmaker and novelist Ed Wood is famous for his low-budget films of the 1950s like Plan 9 From Outer Space, which are celebrated today as sheer camp.
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(1924-1978)
Director
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Leonard Wood
Doctor, Military Leader, Political Leader / 1860 - 1927
Leonard Wood was a medical officer who became chief of staff of the U.S. Army and governor general of the Philippine Islands (1921–27).
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(1860-1927)
Doctor, Military Leader, Political Leader
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Victoria Woodhull
Women's Rights Activist, Editor, Publisher / 1838 - 1927
Victoria Woodhull was a spiritualist, activist, politician and author who was the first woman to run for the presidency of the United States.
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(1838-1927)
Women's Rights Activist, Editor, Publisher
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N. C. Wyeth
Illustrator / 1882 - 1945
Illustrator and muralist N.C. Wyeth depicted the American West and provided illustrations to many children's books. His son was painter Andrew Wyeth.
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(1882-1945)
Illustrator
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Thom Yorke
Environmental Activist, Songwriter, Guitarist, Singer / 1968 -
Thom Yorke is the lead singer and songwriter of the English alternative rock band Radiohead, whose hit albums include OK Computer and The Bends.
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(1968-)
Environmental Activist, Songwriter, Guitarist, Singer
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Benh Zeitlin
Director, Screenwriter / 1982 -
Benh Zeitlin is an American filmmaker best known for his critically-acclaimed 2012 film, Beasts of the Southern Wild.
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(1982-)
Director, Screenwriter
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Catherine Zeta-Jones
Actress / 1969 -
Catherine Zeta-Jones is a Tony Award-winning Welsh actress who's married to actor Michael Douglas.
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(1969-)
Actress
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Zhao Ziyang
Political Leader / 1919 - 2005
Zhao Ziyang was a Chinese politician and prime minister best known for introducing radical and successful market-oriented rural reforms during his service.
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(1919-2005)
Political Leader