Biographies

El Generico — the independent-era persona of Rami Sebei El Generico El Generico was the masked luchador-style ring persona used by Canadian wrestler Rami Sebei on the independent circuit, notable for high-flying offense, comedy, and a later reinven…

El Greco (Doménikos Theotokópoulos) — painter of Toledo and the Spanish Renaissance El Greco El Greco (1541–1614), born Doménikos Theotokópoulos in Crete, was a painter, sculptor and architect whose elongated figures, luminous color and spiritual intensity fused Byzantine…

El Hadji Diouf Senegalese footballer born 15 January 1981; forward/winger known for pace and flair. Played in France and the English Premier League, notably for Liverpool, Bolton and Blackburn; m…

El Lebrijano (Juan Peña Fernández): Spanish flamenco singer El Lebrijano Biography of Juan Peña 'El Lebrijano' (1941–2016), a Spanish flamenco cantaor noted for traditional cante, cross-cultural fusions, key recordings and collaborations including Paco…

El Príncipe Gitano (Enrique Castellón Vargas) El Príncipe Gitano Enrique Castellón Vargas (1928–2020), known as El Príncipe Gitano, was a Spanish flamenco singer, dancer and actor famed for "Obí, obá", film roles and eclectic popular adaptations…

Elaine Chao Elaine Chao (born 1953) is an American public official who served as U.S. Secretary of Labor (2001–2009) and U.S. Secretary of Transportation (2017–2021). She was the first Asian-A…

Elaine Duke (American civil servant) Elaine Duke Elaine Duke is a longtime U.S. federal official who served as Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security and briefly as Acting Secretary in 2017–2018, retiring after more than three dec…

Elaine Fantham — British classicist and scholar of Latin literature Elaine Fantham Elaine Fantham (1933–2016) was a British-born classicist, Giger Professor of Latin at Princeton, a scholar of Latin comedy, epic, rhetoric and Roman religion, and a public commenta…

Elaine Feinstein — English poet, novelist, biographer and translator Elaine Feinstein Elaine Feinstein (1930–2019) was an English writer known for poetry, novels, radio and TV drama, translations of Russian poetry and biographies of Marina Tsvetaeva, Alexander Pushk…

Elaine Hendrix American actress, model and activist best known for The Parent Trap (1998) remake; career spans film, television, stage, modeling and animal-welfare advocacy.

Elaine Lee (actress) South African–born Australian actress best known as Vera Collins on the 1970s soap Number 96. She later appeared in Australian television including Heartbreak High and Home and Awa…

Elaine May (American comedian, screenwriter, director and actress) Elaine May Elaine May is an influential American comedian, screenwriter, director and actress, known for the improvisational duo Nichols and May, landmark 1970s films, later stage work and ma…

Elaine Paige: Career and Contributions to Musical Theatre Elaine Paige Overview of Elaine Paige, the English singer and actress renowned for her West End musical roles, recordings and radio work; born Elaine Jill Bickerstaff in Barnet in 1948, honored…

Elaine Stritch Biography of Elaine Stritch (1925–2014), American stage and screen performer known for Broadway, cabaret, and her TV role on 30 Rock; noted for sharp delivery, awards, and a long c…

Elano (Elano Blumer) — Brazilian footballer and coach Elano Elano Blumer (born 14 June 1981) is a Brazilian attacking midfielder known for playmaking, set pieces, spells in Europe and Turkey, and appearances for the Brazil national team.

Elba de Pádua Lima Elba de Pádua Lima (born 20 February 1915) was a Brazilian footballer who represented the Brazil national team and played during the mid-20th century; records of his club career ar…

Elbert Howard (Big Man) — American activist and Black Panther Party co‑founder Elbert Howard Elbert 'Big Man' Howard (1938–2018) was a founding member of the Black Panther Party, an activist and author who later returned to Tennessee to work on education and community prog…

Elbridge Gerry: Revolutionary Leader, Governor, and Namesake of Gerrymandering Elbridge Gerry Elbridge Gerry (1744–1814) was an American statesman from Massachusetts: Continental Congress delegate, signer of the Declaration and Articles, governor, and U.S. vice president as…

Eldar Ryazanov: Soviet and Russian Film Director and Screenwriter Eldar Ryazanov Profile of Eldar Ryazanov (1927–2015), a leading Soviet-era director and screenwriter known for comic satirical films and romantic comedies such as The Irony of Fate and Office Rom…

Élder (footballer, born 1976) Élder (footballer) Élder (born 19 July 1976) is a Brazilian former professional footballer. This article presents an overview of his identity, typical development pathways for Brazilian players of hi…

Eldon A. Bargewell — U.S. Army Special Operations leader Eldon Bargewell Eldon A. Bargewell (1947–2019) was a U.S. Army major general and long-serving special operations commander, best known for leading Delta Force and participating in major late-20th-…

Eldon George — Nova Scotian fossil collector and museum founder Eldon George Eldon George (1931–2018), a self-taught Canadian fossil collector from Parrsboro, Nova Scotia, made significant Bay of Fundy discoveries, ran a local museum, and helped promote pub…

Eleanor Bron English actress and writer (born 1938) known for character roles on stage, screen and radio, including Ahme in the Beatles film Help! and Miss Minchin in A Little Princess (1995).

Eleanor Catton — New Zealand novelist and Man Booker Prize winner Eleanor Catton Eleanor Catton (born 1985) is a novelist from New Zealand, best known for The Luminaries, which won the 2013 Man Booker Prize. Her work is noted for intricate structures, theatrica…

Eleanor Clifford, Countess of Cumberland Tudor noblewoman (c.1519–1547), daughter of Mary Tudor and Charles Brandon, wife of Henry Clifford and aunt of Lady Jane Grey; a link between the Tudor dynasty and northern English…

Eleanor Holmes Norton — Delegate for the District of Columbia Eleanor Holmes Norton Eleanor Holmes Norton (born 1937) is a longtime Democratic Delegate to the U.S. House for the District of Columbia, a non-voting member who advocates for DC self-governance and sta…

Eleanor Marx: socialist activist, writer, and translator Eleanor Marx Eleanor Marx (1855–1898), daughter of Karl Marx, was a British socialist organizer, trade-union activist, writer and literary translator who campaigned for workers' and women's rig…

Eleanor Mondale Eleanor Mondale (1960–2011) was an American radio personality, television host and actress, daughter of politician Walter Mondale and artist Joan Mondale. She worked in broadcast m…

Eleanor of Aquitaine: Duchess and Queen in Twelfth-Century Europe Eleanor of Aquitaine Powerful medieval ruler (c.1122–1204), Duchess of Aquitaine in her own right, queen consort of France and England, patron of the arts and influential political actor whose marriage…

Eleanor of Castile (1241–1290), Queen of England and Countess of Ponthieu Eleanor of Castile Eleanor of Castile (1241–1290) was the Castilian-born queen consort of Edward I. She accompanied him on crusade, held the county of Ponthieu, and was commemorated by the famous Ele…

Eleanor of Provence (c. 1223–1291) Eleanor of Provence Queen consort of England as the wife of Henry III, influential in 13th‑century court politics, mother of Edward I, and a figure of cultural and dynastic importance in medieval Euro…

Eleanor Parker: American actress known for film roles and range Eleanor Parker Eleanor Parker (1922–2013) was an American film, television and stage actress noted for her range and dramatic presence. She appeared in studio-era films, received Academy Award re…

Eleanor Roosevelt: First Lady, activist, and human rights leader Eleanor Roosevelt Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962), longest-serving U.S. First Lady (1933–1945), reshaped the role into an active political and humanitarian office and helped draft the Universal D…

Eleanor, the Fair Maid of Brittany Eleanor, Fair Maid of Brittany Eleanor of Brittany (c.1184–1241), granddaughter of Henry II, spent most of her life in English custody as a potential claimant to the throne; she was never allowed to marry or to…

Eleftherios Venizelos Greek statesman (1864–1936), dominant political leader of early 20th-century Greece; prime minister who led modernization, territorial expansion, and shaped Greece’s role in the Ba…

Elemér Hankiss: Hungarian Sociologist, Author and Media Leader Elemér Hankiss Elemér Hankiss (1928–2015), Hungarian sociologist and public intellectual; professor at institutions including Stanford and Central European University; author of over ten books an…

Elena Anaya Spanish actress noted for her work in contemporary Spanish cinema and international films, winner of a Goya Award for Best Actress and known for roles in The Skin I Live In and Won…

Elena Baltacha — British professional tennis player (1983–2014) Elena Baltacha Profile of Elena Baltacha, a Ukrainian-born British tennis player who was British No.1 intermittently from 2002–2012, retired in 2013 and died of liver cancer in 2014.

Elena Bovina — Russian professional tennis player Elena Bovina Profile of Elena Bovina, Russian tennis player (born 1983), career overview, key achievements including the 2004 Australian Open mixed doubles title, peak ranking, playing style an…

Elena Kagan — U.S. Supreme Court Justice and former Solicitor General Elena Kagan Overview of Elena Kagan (b. 1960), appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court in 2010. Summary of her background, career in government and academia, notable distinctions, and public role.

Elena Lucena (1914–2015) — Argentine actress of the Golden Age Elena Lucena Argentine film and stage actress known for comic roles in the 1940s–1950s, winner of a critics' prize for La Rubia Mireya and a noted centenarian figure in Argentine cinema.

Elena Milashina — Russian investigative journalist and human rights reporter Elena Milashina Profile of Elena Milashina, a Russian investigative journalist for Novaya Gazeta known for reporting on human rights abuses, threats she faced, and international recognition for he…

Elena Obraztsova: Life and Career of a Russian Mezzo-Soprano Elena Obraztsova Overview of Elena Obraztsova (1939–2015), a prominent Russian mezzo-soprano: early life, career highlights, signature roles, recordings, awards and legacy.

Elena Paparizou — Greek‑Swedish singer and Eurovision winner Elena Paparizou Elena (Helena) Paparizou is a Greek‑Swedish pop singer born in Borås, Sweden, best known for winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2005 for Greece with the song "My Number One."

Elena Poniatowska: Mexican Journalist, Novelist, and Social Commentator Elena Poniatowska Elena Poniatowska, French-born Mexican journalist, novelist and social commentator, known for decades of reporting, essays and fiction that have shaped Mexico’s cultural and politi…

Elena V. Pitjeva — Russian astronomer and ephemeris specialist Elena V. Pitjeva Russian astronomer Elena Vladimirovna Pitjeva is notable for developing high-precision planetary ephemerides and for long-term work in solar-system dynamics at the Institute of App…

Elena Varzi — Italian film actress (1926–2014) Elena Varzi Italian actress Elena Varzi (1926–2014) appeared in important post‑war Italian films of the early 1950s. She married actor Raf Vallone, largely retired to family life, and made occ…

Elena Verdugo American actress whose career spanned film, radio and television from 1931 to 1985; best known for Nurse Consuelo Lopez on Marcus Welby, M.D., two-time Emmy nominee and a Hollywood…