Biographies

Jay Inslee’s 2020 presidential campaign: a climate-focused Democratic bid Jay Inslee 2020 presidential campaign Overview of Governor Jay Inslee’s 2020 presidential campaign, its climate-centered agenda, timeline, context, and legacy in the Democratic primary.

Jay Lake: American Speculative Fiction Author and Community Figure Jay Lake Profile of Joseph Edward 'Joe' Lake Jr. (1964–2014), an American science fiction and fantasy novelist and short‑story writer known for works such as Mainspring and Trial of Flowers…

Jay Leggett: American actor and improvisational comedian Jay Leggett Profile of Jay Michael Leggett (1963–2013), an American actor, improviser, writer and filmmaker from Tomahawk, Wisconsin, summarizing his life, career, education and legacy.

Jay Leno Jay Leno (born 1950) is an American comedian, actor, writer and television host, best known for hosting NBC's The Tonight Show and for his automotive series Jay Leno's Garage.

Jay Lethal (Jamar Shipman) — American professional wrestler Jay Lethal Profile of Jay Lethal (Jamar Shipman), an American professional wrestler known for work in Ring of Honor and TNA, notable character work, in-ring style, championships and influence…

Jay Lynch American cartoonist Jay Lynch (1945–2017) was a central figure in the underground comix movement, creator of Nard n' Pat and editor of Bijou Funnies, and longtime writer of Bazooka…

Jay Mohr — American comedian, actor and media personality Jay Mohr Comedian and actor Jay Mohr (born 1970) is known for stand-up, film and television roles, voice work, and long-running interview and radio projects spanning the 1990s to present.

Jay Pritzker — American entrepreneur and co-founder of Hyatt Jay Pritzker Jay Pritzker (1922–1999) was an American businessman from the Chicago Pritzker family, co-founder of Hyatt Hotels, a conglomerate organizer and philanthropist who established the P…

Jay Roach: Filmmaker Behind Comedy Hits and Political Dramas Jay Roach American director, producer and screenwriter Jay Roach is known for the Austin Powers comedies and Meet the Parents, and for later directing acclaimed political films for HBO and t…

Jay Rockefeller: Governor and U.S. Senator from West Virginia Jay Rockefeller Profile of John D. “Jay” Rockefeller IV (born 1937), a Democratic politician from West Virginia who served as governor (1977–1985) and U.S. senator (1985–2015).

Jay Sean: British singer-songwriter and crossover pop artist Jay Sean Profile of Kamaljit 'Jay Sean' Jhooti — English singer-songwriter, producer and arranger known for UK R&B and pop hits and a 2009 international crossover single.

Jay Thomas: American Actor, Comedian, and Radio Personality Jay Thomas An overview of Jay Thomas (born Jon Thomas Terrell), his career in television, film and radio, notable roles and awards, and his influence on American comedy and broadcasting.

Jay Van Andel — American businessman and co‑founder of Amway Jay Van Andel Biography of Jay Van Andel (1924–2004), co‑founder of Amway, business leader, philanthropist and civic figure from Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Jay Weatherill: Australian politician and 45th Premier of South Australia Jay Weatherill Jay Weatherill (born 1964) is an Australian Labor politician who served as the 45th Premier of South Australia from 2011 to 2018, noted for leading the state through a period of en…

Jay-Jay Okocha Augustine 'Jay-Jay' Okocha, Nigerian attacking midfielder born 1973, famed for dribbling, creativity and long-range shooting; a key figure for Nigeria and clubs including Eintracht…

Jay-Z (Shawn Corey Carter): Rapper, Entrepreneur, and Cultural Influencer Jay-Z Encyclopedic entry on Jay-Z (Shawn Corey Carter): his life, music career, business ventures, cultural influence, philanthropy, and legacy.

Jayakanthan — Tamil Writer, Critic and Filmmaker Jayakanthan Jayakanthan (1934–2015) was a major Tamil writer, critic, journalist and filmmaker known for realist portrayals of marginalized lives; winner of Jnanpith and Sahitya Akademi awards…

Jayalath Manoratne (1948–2020) — Sri Lankan actor and stage artist Jayalath Manoratne Jayalath Manoratne was a prominent Sri Lankan actor known for his work on stage, in film and on television. Born in Nuwara Eliya (1948), he died of brain cancer on 12 January 2020…

Jayantha Jayasuriya, Chief Justice of Sri Lanka Jayantha Jayasuriya Jayantha Chandrasiri Jayasuriya PC is a Sri Lankan jurist who has served as the 47th Chief Justice since April 2019; he previously served as Attorney General and holds the title of…

Jayendra Saraswathi — 69th Shankaracharya of Kanchi Jayendra Saraswathi Indian Hindu cleric (1935–2018), head of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, known for religious leadership, social service initiatives and a high‑profile legal controversy in the 2000s.

Jayma Mays: American actress known for Glee, film and voice work Jayma Mays Profile of Jayma Mays, an American film, television, stage and voice actress notable for Emma Pillsbury on Glee and roles in Ugly Betty, Paul Blart: Mall Cop and The Smurfs.

Jayne Mansfield: American actress, model, and 1950s sex symbol Jayne Mansfield Overview of Jayne Mansfield (1933–1967), her career on stage, screen and television, her public image as a blonde bombshell, and her cultural legacy.

Jayne Meadows American actress Jayne Meadows (1919–2015) worked in film, stage and television. Born to Americans in China, she was sister to Audrey Meadows, married to Steve Allen and earned mul…

Jazz (wrestler) Carlene 'Jazz' Moore-Begnaud (born 1973) is an American professional wrestler best known for her stints in ECW and WWE; a two-time WWE Women's Champion and long-time veteran of the…

Jazze Pha: American producer, singer-songwriter, and southern hip-hop figure Jazze Pha Profile of Phalon 'Jazze Pha' Alexander—his roles as a producer, artist, label executive, notable collaborations, production style, and influence on Southern R&B and hip-hop.

JC Chasez — American singer, songwriter and producer JC Chasez Profile of JC Chasez, known as a lead vocalist of NSYNC, his early career, solo album Schizophrenic, production work and contributions to pop music.

JD McCrary — American child actor, singer and dancer JD McCrary JD McCrary (born 2007) is an American performer from Los Angeles known for acting, voice work and music; notable roles include Kenny Payne on Tyler Perry's The Paynes and Young Sim…

Jean Alexander — English actress best known as Hilda Ogden and Auntie Wainwright Jean Alexander Biography of Jean Alexander (1926–2016), covering her life, major television roles in Coronation Street and Last of the Summer Wine, career highlights, style and legacy.

Jean Arthur Jean Arthur (1900–1991) was an American film actress best known for her comic timing and husky voice in 1930s–40s Hollywood, starring in classics by Frank Capra and others.

Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres French Neoclassical painter (1780–1867) known for precise draftsmanship, polished surfaces and portraits; a self-styled history painter whose drawings and portraits secured his las…

Jean Baptiste Charbonneau Son of Sacagawea and Toussaint Charbonneau, explorer and frontiersman who grew up during the Lewis and Clark era, later worked as a fur trapper, guide and interpreter in the expand…

Jean Baptiste Point du Sable — founder of Chicago Jean Baptiste Point du Sable Jean Baptiste Point du Sable (before 1750–1818) was an 18th-century trader and pioneer credited as the first permanent non‑Indigenous settler at the site of Chicago and a foundatio…

Jean Beaudin (1939–2019), Canadian film director and screenwriter Jean Beaudin Overview of Jean Beaudin, a Quebecois film director and screenwriter known for character-driven French-language films such as J.A. Martin Photographer and Being at Home with Claude…

Jean Béliveau: Montreal Canadiens Legend and Hockey Statesman Jean Béliveau Comprehensive overview of Jean Béliveau, the Hall of Fame Canadian centre who starred for the Montreal Canadiens, his playing style, achievements, leadership, and lasting legacy.

Jean Bourgain — Belgian mathematician and influential analyst (1954–2018) Jean Bourgain Jean Bourgain was a Belgian mathematician known for deep contributions to analysis, partial differential equations, ergodic theory and combinatorics; Fields Medalist (1994) and lon…

Jean Burns (Australian aviator and parachutist) Jean Burns Jean Ethel Burns (December 1919–25 May 2019) was an Australian aviator, the first woman to parachute from an aeroplane over Australia and the country's youngest female pilot for 15…

Jean Carnahan American politician and writer; First Lady of Missouri (1993–2000); appointed U.S. Senator 2001–2002 after her husband Mel Carnahan's posthumous election; first woman to represent…

Jean Casimir-Perier (1847–1907) — President of the French Third Republic Jean Casimir-Perier French politician who served briefly as President of the Third Republic (1894–1895); earlier speaker of the Chamber, short-lived prime minister, later a businessman whose testimony…

Jean Chatillon: Canadian Composer and Music Educator Jean Chatillon Overview of Jean Chatillon (1937–2019), a Quebec composer and educator who produced over 300 musical and literary works and served as an Associate Composer of the Canadian Music Ce…

Jean Chrétien Canadian politician who served as the 20th Prime Minister (1993–2003); long-time Liberal MP known for federalism, fiscal reform, and plain-spoken style.

Jean Cocteau: French poet, playwright, filmmaker and multidisciplinary artist Jean Cocteau Jean Cocteau (1889–1963) was a French modernist creator whose work in poetry, theatre, design, and film brought avant‑garde ideas into European culture and influenced later cinema…

Jean Coralli: French dancer and choreographer of the Romantic era Jean Coralli Jean Coralli (1779–1854) was a French dancer and choreographer of Italian origin, noted for his role at the Paris Opéra and as co-creator of the Romantic ballet Giselle (1841). Thi…

Jean d'Ormesson (1925–2017): French novelist, Académie française member and dean Jean d'Ormesson Jean d'Ormesson (1925–2017) was a French novelist, essayist and public intellectual, noted for elegant autobiographical prose, long service at the Académie française and major nati…

Jean Darling: American child actress of the silent era Jean Darling Overview of Jean Darling (1922–2015), a child actress in the Our Gang silent comedies who later worked as a singer and author and spent later years in Ireland and Germany.

Jean Dausset: French immunologist who identified the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system Jean Dausset French immunologist Jean Dausset identified the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system, revealing genetic control of immune responses and transforming tissue-typing, transplantation…

Jean de La Fontaine: French fabulist and poet (1621–1695) Jean de La Fontaine Jean de La Fontaine (1621–1695), renowned French poet and fabulist, authored Les Fables and shaped the fable genre with concise verse, ironic moral insight and broad influence acro…

Jean Doré — Mayor of Montreal (1986–1994), municipal reformer Jean Doré Jean Doré (1944–2015) was a Canadian politician who served as mayor of Montreal from 1986 to 1994, known for municipal reform, openness initiatives and promotion of the city's cult…

Jean Douchet: French critic, teacher, director and New Wave figure Jean Douchet Profile of Jean Douchet (1929–2019), French film critic, historian, teacher and filmmaker associated with Cahiers du Cinéma and the French New Wave, outlining his career, influence…