Biographies

Akira Nishino — Japanese football player and manager Akira Nishino Akira Nishino (born 1955) is a Japanese former footballer and manager, known for a long domestic career as a player and for leading Japan's national team at the 2018 FIFA World Cup…

Akira Nozawa Japanese footballer who represented the Japan national team. Records are limited; remembered for his role in early national-team history and for his family connection to fellow int…

Akira Takarada — Japanese actor best known for Godzilla and Toho science-fiction films Akira Takarada Profile of Akira Takarada (1934–2022), a leading actor at Toho noted for the original Godzilla (1954) and numerous kaiju and science-fiction films; later reunited with the franchis…

Akira Toriyama Japanese manga artist and character designer best known for creating Dragon Ball and Dr. Slump; influential in manga, anime adaptations and video game character design worldwide.

Akira Yoshino — developer of the modern lithium‑ion battery Akira Yoshino Japanese chemist Akira Yoshino developed the first commercially viable lithium‑ion battery, transforming portable electronics and electric transport. He shared the 2019 Nobel Prize…

Akiyoshi Yoshida A Japanese former football player best known from brief biographical records; detailed public information about his club career is limited in widely available English sources.

Akkineni Nageswara Rao Prominent Telugu film actor and producer whose career began on stage; a central figure in Telugu cinema and founder of Annapurna Studios, active across much of the 20th century.

Akmal Shaikh — British citizen executed in China (1956–2009) Akmal Shaikh Profile of Akmal Shaikh, a British citizen of Pakistani origin executed in China in 2009 after a drug-trafficking conviction; the case prompted diplomatic appeals and debate over m…

AKMU (Akdong Musician) — South Korean sibling music duo AKMU AKMU (Akdong Musician) is a South Korean brother–sister duo known for original songwriting, close vocal harmonies and a folk‑pop sound. They rose to prominence after winning a tele…

Akon: Singer, Producer and Entrepreneur Akon Encyclopedic profile of Akon (Aliaune Thiam): his origins, musical career, style, collaborations, business ventures including Akon Lighting Africa and Akon City, philanthropy and p…

Akshay Kumar: Career, Roles, and Public Profile Akshay Kumar Overview of Akshay Kumar, an Indian film actor and producer known for action and comedy roles, notable films, awards, voice work, production ventures, and public image.

Al Alvarez Al Alvarez (1929–2019) was an English poet, critic and writer who edited The New Poetry, wrote influential essays on suicide, and produced notable books on poker and mountaineering…

Al Arbour Canadian ice hockey defenceman, coach and executive best known for leading the New York Islanders to a dynasty and later being honored in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Al Bianchi: American basketball player, coach and executive Al Bianchi Overview of Al Bianchi (1932–2019), his playing career with Syracuse/Philadelphia, coaching with Seattle, front-office work with the Knicks, and later roles as scout and consultant…

Al Brady, 1930s American armed robber and 'Public Enemy' Al Brady Al Brady (1910–1937) led a Depression-era gang of armed robbers and was listed among the FBI's Public Enemies. He died in a notorious 1937 shootout with federal agents in Bangor, M…

Al Capone: Prohibition-era gangster and Chicago mob boss Al Capone Alphonse 'Al' Capone (1899–1947) led a Chicago crime organization during Prohibition, famed for bootlegging and violence, convicted of tax evasion in 1931 and later debilitated by…

Al Carmichael: American Football Player and Hollywood Stuntman Al Carmichael Profile of Al Carmichael (1928–2019), who played professional football with the Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos and worked as a stuntman in over 50 films and TV shows.

Al Edwards (Texas politician) Al Edwards (politician) Texas Democratic legislator and businessman who served in the Texas House (1978–2007, 2009–2011) and sponsored legislation recognizing Juneteenth as a state holiday.

Al Feldstein — Editor, Writer, and Painter Al Feldstein Al Feldstein (1925–2014) was an American writer, editor, and artist best known for editing Mad magazine (1956–1985) and for earlier work at EC Comics; later he became a painter of…

Al Franken Al Franken is an American comedian, author and former U.S. Senator from Minnesota known for his work on television, progressive political commentary, books, and his 2008 Senate vic…

Al Gore: American politician, vice president, and climate advocate Al Gore Biography of Al Gore, covering his political career, 2000 presidential campaign, climate activism, major works and awards, and his lasting influence on public debate about global w…

Al Green: soul singer, songwriter and pastor Al Green Al Green is an American soul singer-songwriter and record producer, famed for early-1970s hits, a distinctive vocal style, and later work as a minister and gospel performer.

Al Greene — American baseball outfielder (Detroit Tigers, 1979) Al Greene Al Greene (1954–2014) was an American baseball outfielder who reached the Major Leagues with the Detroit Tigers in 1979. Born and raised in Detroit, he later died in his hometown.

Al Hirschfeld Al Hirschfeld (1903–2003) was an American caricaturist and illustrator celebrated for his elegant line drawings of actors and public figures and for hiding the name “NINA” in many…

Al Howie: Canadian ultramarathoner and Trans-Canada record holder Al Howie Profile of Al Howie (1945–2016), a Canadian long-distance and ultramarathon runner known for winning dozens of multiday events and setting a record on the 1991 Trans‑Canada run.

Al Hunter Ashton Al Hunter Ashton (born Alan Hunter, 1957–2007) was an English actor and script writer who worked across stage, television and film, known for realistic dialogue and portrayals of w…

Al Hurricane Alberto 'Al Hurricane' Sánchez (1936–2017), American singer-songwriter known as the 'Godfather of New Mexico music' for his decades-long influence on the region’s bilingual, genre-…

Al Jackson (American left‑handed pitcher) Al Jackson Alvin N. Jackson (1935–2019) was a left‑handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1959–1969, notably for the New York Mets where he held a franchise wins record for seve…

Al Jaffee — Mad magazine cartoonist and creator of the Fold-In Al Jaffee Al Jaffee (1921–2023), American cartoonist famed for decades of work in Mad magazine and creator of the magazine’s signature Fold-In, noted for intricate ink work and visual wordpl…

Al Jardine Al Jardine (born 1942) is an American musician, co‑founder and long‑time guitarist of the Beach Boys, noted for harmony vocals, several lead performances, songwriting and later sol…

Al Jarreau (1940–2017) Al Jarreau Profile of Al Jarreau, American jazz and pop vocalist known for vocal inventiveness, seven Grammy Awards, the album Breakin' Away, the Moonlighting theme and participation in We Ar…

Al Jean — American television comedy writer and long‑running showrunner Al Jean Al Jean (born 1961) is an American television comedy writer and producer, best known for decades of work on The Simpsons as a writer, producer and showrunner, and as co‑creator of…

Al Jolson: Entertainer, Early Sound-Film Star, and Controversial Figure Al Jolson Al Jolson (1886–1950) was a Lithuanian-born American singer and actor, a leading vaudeville and film star known for emotive performances, The Jazz Singer, troop shows, influence on…

Al Kaline — 'Mr. Tiger', Detroit Tigers outfielder and Hall of Famer Al Kaline Profile of Al Kaline, longtime Detroit Tigers right fielder nicknamed 'Mr. Tiger'. Overview of his career, achievements (18 All-Star selections, 10 Gold Gloves, 1968 World Series),…

Al Mahmud — Bangladeshi poet, novelist and short-story writer Al Mahmud Mir Abdus Shukur Al Mahmud (1936–2019) was a major Bengali-language poet and writer celebrated for rural imagery, regional dialects and politically engaged work tied to the Languag…

Al Matthews (1942–2018) — American actor, singer and Marine veteran Al Matthews Al Matthews was an American actor and singer, best known as Gunnery Sergeant Apone in Aliens (1986). A Vietnam veteran, he later lived and worked in Europe before his death in Spai…

Al McCandless (1927–2017) Al McCandless Al McCandless was a Republican politician and businessman from California who served on the Riverside County Board of Supervisors and represented a California district in the U.S.…

Al Michaels Veteran American sportscaster known for decades of NFL play-by-play, the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey call, long ABC tenure and as the voice of NBC Sunday Night Football.

Al Molinaro American character actor (1919–2015) best known as Al Delvecchio on Happy Days; longtime television performer and commercial actor who worked from mid-20th century until retirement…

Al Neuharth — Founder of USA Today and Newspaper Executive Al Neuharth Al Neuharth (1924–2013) was an American newspaper executive, founder of USA Today, author and media innovator who reshaped national newspaper design and distribution.

Al Pacino: Career, Style, and Cultural Impact Al Pacino Comprehensive encyclopedia entry on Al Pacino, covering his life, major film and stage roles, acting style, awards, collaborations, and role at the Actors Studio.

Al Renfrew — American college hockey player, coach and administrator Al Renfrew Al Renfrew (c.1924–2014) was a collegiate hockey left wing, long‑time coach at Michigan Tech, North Dakota and Michigan, and a University of Michigan athletic honoree.

Al Roker — American television weather presenter and media personality Al Roker Al Roker (born 1954) is an American television weather presenter, author and actor best known for his long tenure on NBC's Today show. He has written books, appeared on film and ad…

Al Rollins: Canadian NHL goaltender, 1951 Stanley Cup champion and coach Al Rollins Profile of Elwin “Al” Rollins (1926–1996), a Canadian NHL goaltender who won the 1951 Stanley Cup and major individual awards, later becoming a successful coach at club and univers…

Al Rosen — American third baseman and 1953 American League MVP Al Rosen Al Rosen (1924–2015) was an American Major League third baseman who spent his entire big-league career with the Cleveland Indians (1947–1956), won the 1953 AL MVP and became a prom…

Al Sharpton: American Baptist Minister, Civil Rights Activist and Media Figure Al Sharpton Profile of Alfred C. "Al" Sharpton: his background, ministry, activism, media career, political involvement and the controversies and influence that have defined his public life.

Al Smith (1873–1944) — New York governor and 1928 Democratic nominee Al Smith Al Smith (1873–1944) was a four-term New York governor and the 1928 Democratic presidential nominee. A progressive reformer linked to Tammany Hall, he opposed Prohibition and helpe…

Al Snow (Allen Ray Sarven) — Wrestler, Trainer and Actor Al Snow Al Snow (Allen Ray Sarven) is an American professional wrestler, trainer and actor, known for his 'Head' mannequin gimmick, notable runs in ECW and WWF/E, and later work as a train…