Biographies

Colin McFarlane Colin McFarlane (born 1961) is a British actor known for film and television roles, stage and voice work, and for playing Commissioner Gillian B. Loeb in Christopher Nolan's Batman…

Colin McRae: Scottish World Rally Champion and Motorsport Icon Colin McRae Overview of Colin McRae, Scottish rally driver (1968–2007), his career highlights including the 1995 World Rally Championship, driving style, media impact, and his death in a helic…

Colin Meads — New Zealand rugby union icon Colin Meads Colin Meads (1936–2017) was a towering All Blacks lock, nicknamed 'Pinetree', who played 55 tests and 133 matches for New Zealand and later served as coach and manager. Widely rega…

Colin Mochrie Scottish-Canadian improvisational comedian, actor and writer, noted for deadpan delivery and quick thinking; best known for long-running appearances on the British and American edi…

Colin Montgomerie Colin Montgomery Colin Montgomerie (born 23 June 1963) is a Scottish professional golfer known for dominating the European Tour in the 1990s, long Ryder Cup involvement, and later roles as captain,…

Colin Pillinger: British planetary scientist and Beagle 2 lead Colin Pillinger Explore the career of Colin Pillinger (1943–2014), British planetary scientist and CBE, who led the Beagle 2 Mars lander at the Open University and advanced analysis of Martian met…

Colin Powell: U.S. General and Secretary of State Colin Powell Colin Powell (1937–2021) was an American four‑star general and statesman, National Security Advisor and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and the first African American U.S. Secretary…

Colin Richardson (British record producer, mixer and recording engineer) Colin Richardson British record producer, mixer and recording engineer born in London in 1936; credited on about eighty albums and most closely associated with hard rock and heavy metal recordings.

Colin Sylvia Australian rules footballer who played in the AFL for Melbourne and Fremantle; born in Mildura in 1985 and killed in a car crash in 2018.

Colin Thiele — Australian children's author and educator Colin Thiele Colin Thiele (1920–2006) was an Australian teacher and prolific writer of children’s fiction, poetry and educational material. He is best known for Storm Boy, Blue Fin and Sun on t…

Colin Trevorrow — American film director and screenwriter Colin Trevorrow Colin Trevorrow (born 1976) is an American filmmaker known for the indie Safety Not Guaranteed and for directing and co-writing Jurassic World (2015) and work on its sequels.

Colin Wilson: English writer, philosopher and chronicler of the occult Colin Wilson Overview of Colin Wilson (1931–2013), his philosophy of 'new existentialism', major works on crime, mysticism and the occult, and his influence as a prolific English author.

Colleen Camp — American actress and producer Colleen Camp Colleen Camp (born 1953) is an American film and television actress and producer. She began her career in the early 1970s, has appeared in notable supporting roles, and later moved…

Colleen Dewhurst — Canadian‑born stage and screen actress Colleen Dewhurst Colleen Dewhurst (1924–1991) was a Canadian‑born actress celebrated for commanding stage performances and memorable film and television supporting roles.

Colleen Fitzpatrick (Vitamin C) Colleen Fitzpatrick American pop singer and actress Colleen Fitzpatrick (born 1972), known professionally as Vitamin C; fronted alternative band Eve's Plum before a late-1990s solo pop career and acti…

Colleen Hanabusa: Hawaiian lawyer and former U.S. Representative Colleen Hanabusa Profile of Colleen W. Hanabusa, an American lawyer and Democratic politician from Hawaii who served in the state legislature and represented Hawaii's 1st congressional district in…

Colleen McCullough Australian novelist (1937–2015), former medical researcher and bestselling author of The Thorn Birds and the Masters of Rome historical series, noted for meticulous research and po…

Colleen Moore (1899–1988) Colleen Moore American silent-film actress and 1920s flapper icon, best known for Flaming Youth, popularizing the bob haircut, and for her detailed miniature 'Fairy Castle' donated to a Chicago…

Collins John (Dutch footballer) Collins John Overview of Collins John, a Dutch-born professional footballer (born 17 October 1985) known for his role as a forward and for appearances with the Netherlands national team.

Colm Meaney — Irish actor known for Miles O'Brien and film work Colm Meaney Colm Meaney (born 30 May 1953) is an Irish actor noted for his long-running role as Miles O'Brien on Star Trek, a body of film work in Irish and international cinema, and a career…

Colonel Harland Sanders Colonel Sanders American entrepreneur who founded Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC); known for his fried chicken recipe, franchising efforts, and the white‑suited brand persona that endured after his d…

Colonel Tom Parker: Manager of Elvis Presley Colonel Tom Parker Profile of Colonel Tom Parker (born Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk), the Dutch-born impresario who managed Elvis Presley, his methods, controversies, and lasting impact on popular musi…

Colt McCoy American football quarterback known for his collegiate career at the University of Texas and a lengthy NFL career as starter and veteran backup. He was a Heisman candidate and is a…

Columba (Saint Columba of Iona) Columba Irish missionary and abbot (c. 521–597) who founded the monastery on Iona and influenced the spread of Christianity in western Scotland and northern Britain.

Sir Colville Norbert Young Colville Young Belizean educator, scholar and cultural leader who served as the second Governor‑General of Belize from 1993 to 2021; noted for contributions to education, language and the arts.

Comedian: Roles, Forms, History and Cultural Significance Comedian An overview of comedians: who they are, common styles and venues, a brief history, social roles and notable distinctions in language and performance.

Comenius (Jan Amos Komenský): Pioneer of Modern Education Comenius Jan Amos Comenius, a 17th-century Czech educator and church leader, developed systematic teaching methods, championed universal literacy, and created illustrated textbooks that sha…

Commins Menapi — Solomon Islands striker and coach Commins Menapi Commins Menapi (1977–2017) was a leading Solomon Islands striker and coach, record goalscorer for his country and manager who led Western United to the 2014–15 Telekom S-League tit…

Commodore Nutt (George Washington Morrison Nutt) Commodore Nutt Commodore Nutt was a 19th-century American entertainer and performer with P.T. Barnum, known for his stage persona, international tours with the Thumbs, and later theatrical and bu…

Common (rapper) — Chicago-born artist, actor, and songwriter Common (rapper) Overview of Lonnie Rashid Lynn (Common): his Chicago roots, musical and acting career, major works and awards, artistic style, collaborations and social engagement.

Compton Mackenzie: novelist, memoirist and Scottish nationalist Compton Mackenzie British writer (1883–1972) known for novels such as Whisky Galore, extensive memoirs and biographies, and a public role in Scottish cultural life and nationalist politics.

Con de Lange: South African–born cricketer who represented Scotland Con de Lange Con de Lange (1981–2019) was a left-arm orthodox spin all-rounder born in South Africa who qualified to play international cricket for Scotland; he later served as vice-captain and…

Con Sciacca Italian-born Australian politician Con Sciacca served as a Labor member of the House of Representatives for Bowman (Queensland) in two periods between 1987 and 2004; he remained ac…

Concepción Picciotto — longtime White House peace vigil activist Concepcion Picciotto Spanish-born activist Concepción Picciotto maintained a continuous peace vigil opposite the White House from 1981 until 2016, protesting nuclear weapons and advocating nonviolent d…

Concha García Campoy — Spanish radio and television journalist Concha García Campoy Concepción 'Concha' García Campoy (1958–2013) was a prominent Spanish radio and television journalist and presenter, known for a long career in broadcast media and her public battl…

Conchata Ferrell American character actress (1943–2020), best known as Berta on Two and a Half Men; two-time Emmy nominee with a long career in stage, film and television.

Conchita Wurst (Thomas Neuwirth) — Austrian drag singer and Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst Conchita Wurst is the drag persona of Austrian singer Thomas Neuwirth, who won the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 with "Rise Like a Phoenix" and became a visible symbol in discussion…

Condoleezza Rice American political scientist and diplomat; National Security Advisor (2001–2005) and U.S. Secretary of State (2005–2009); first African American woman to hold the office.

Connie Booth: actress, writer and psychotherapist Connie Booth Connie Booth (born 1940) is an American actress and writer best known as Polly Sherman in Fawlty Towers; she later left acting to practise as a psychotherapist and has maintained a…

Connie Britton American actress and producer best known for television roles in Friday Night Lights, American Horror Story, Nashville and Spin City; noted for stage background and multiple Emmy n…

Connie Broden Canadian ice hockey forward who played for the Montreal Canadiens and was a two-time Stanley Cup winner in the late 1950s.

Connie Chung — American Television Journalist Connie Chung Connie Chung (born 1946) is an American television journalist and anchor who worked for major networks including NBC, MSNBC, CBS and CNN. She was among the first Asian-American wom…

Connie Dion (Joseph Conrad Étienne Dion) Connie Dion Connie Dion (1918–2014) was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who appeared in 38 NHL games with the Detroit Red Wings and had a long career in senior and minor leagues.

Connie Francis — American pop singer and 1950s–60s recording star Connie Francis Connie Francis, born Concetta Franconero, is an American pop singer who rose to fame in the late 1950s and 1960s with emotional ballads, multilingual recordings and the hit "Who's…

Connie Hawkins — Cornelius 'The Hawk', American basketball player Connie Hawkins Connie Hawkins (1942–2017), nicknamed "The Hawk", was a celebrated playground and professional basketball star, known for acrobatic play, a contested ban from the NBA, later reinst…

Connie Jones (1934–2019) — New Orleans Jazz Trumpeter and Cornetist Connie Jones American New Orleans trumpeter and cornetist celebrated for traditional jazz, band leadership, television work, and the 2008 album Creole Nocturne; active until retirement in 2016.

Connie Madigan Canadian ice hockey defenceman known as the NHL’s oldest rookie; long minor‑league career with Portland and Fort Wayne, noted for physical play and later a film cameo in Slap Shot.

Connie Marrero — Cuban Major League Pitcher and Centenarian Connie Marrero Conrado 'Connie' Marrero (1911–2014) was a Cuban-born professional baseball pitcher who played for the Washington Senators (1950–1954) and became notable for his late MLB debut and…