Biographies

Jon Lord (1941–2012) — English keyboardist, composer and rock pioneer Jon Lord Jon Lord was an English keyboard player and composer best known for his Hammond-organ sound with Deep Purple, his orchestral-rock works and influence on hard rock and progressive m…

Jon Lovitz American comedian, actor and voice artist best known for his Saturday Night Live characters (1985–1990), animated voices and numerous film and TV guest roles. Born 1957 in Los Ange…

Jon Michelet: Norwegian novelist, journalist and editor Jon Michelet Overview of Jon Michelet (1944–2018), his major works, editorial career, themes and legacy, including Orion's Belt and his time at Klassekampen.

Jon Ola Norbom — Norwegian economist and Liberal Party politician Jon Ola Norbom Biography of Jon Ola Norbom (1923–2020), his wartime imprisonment, roles in Norway's Liberal Party, service as State Secretary and Minister of Finance, and his public-service legac…

Jon Østeng Hov Norwegian nature photographer and writer (1936–2019), known for evocative landscape and wildlife images, a long-running column in Adresseavisen, and recognition for conservation an…

Jon Pertwee English actor Jon Pertwee (1919–1996), best known as the Third Doctor on Doctor Who and as the scarecrow in Worzel Gummidge; a career spanning radio, television, stage and family a…

Jon Polito Jon Polito (1950–2016) was an American character actor noted for distinctive supporting roles in film and television, frequent collaborations with the Coen brothers, and memorable…

Jon Santacana Maiztegui — Spanish visually impaired alpine skier Jon Santacana Maiztegui Jon Santacana Maiztegui (b. 1980) is a Spanish visually impaired alpine skier who has won multiple Paralympic and World Championship medals while competing with guide Miguel Galind…

Jon Schnepp: Filmmaker, Animator, and Documentary Director Jon Schnepp American director, animator and producer Jon Schnepp (1967–2018) was known for his documentary on the canceled Superman Lives film, work on Metalocalypse, and regular appearances o…

Jon Shepodd American actor (1924–2017) best known for playing Paul Martin on the television series Lassie; active in mid-20th century film and television and later resident in London.

Jon Skolmen — Norwegian actor, comedian and television presenter Jon Skolmen Overview of the life and career of Jon Skolmen (1940–2019), a Norwegian actor and comedian known for Sällskapsresan, work with NRK and brief appearances on British children's telev…

Jon Stewart American comedian, writer, actor and producer known for hosting The Daily Show, shaping modern political satire, directing Rosewater, and his advocacy on behalf of first responders…

Jon Tester: U.S. Senator and Montana public official Jon Tester Profile of Jon Tester, Democratic U.S. Senator from Montana since 2007: background, career, elections, policy focuses, and role as the state's senior senator and delegation dean.

Jon van Rood — Dutch immunologist and founder of Eurotransplant Jon van Rood Jon van Rood (1926–2017) was a Dutch immunologist who advanced human histocompatibility testing and founded Eurotransplant, shaping modern organ-sharing and transplant matching acr…

Jon Vickers — Canadian Heldentenor (1926–2015) Jon Vickers Canadian dramatic tenor Jon Vickers was celebrated for his powerful, expressive voice and commanding interpretations of Wagner, Verdi and Beethoven roles. He sang at Covent Garden…

Jon Voight: American actor and career overview Jon Voight Jon Voight (born 1938) is an American actor whose career spans film, television and theatre. Known for dramatic lead roles, he won an Academy Award and has remained a prominent pub…

Jon Walker (American musician) Jon Walker Jon Walker (born 1985) is an American musician known for his work as bassist for Panic at the Disco, co‑founder of The Young Veins, and later as a solo folk‑pop artist and multi‑in…

Jona Lewie English singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist born John Lewis (1947). Known for the 1980 hits "You'll Always Find Me in the Kitchen at Parties" and the perennial Christmas fa…

Jonah Goldberg: American conservative commentator, writer, and podcaster Jonah Goldberg Profile of Jonah Goldberg, his career at National Review, founding of The Dispatch, books, podcasting and public role as a conservative writer and critic.

Jonah Hill American actor, comedian, writer and filmmaker. Known for Superbad, Moneyball, The Wolf of Wall Street and directing Mid90s; two-time Academy Award nominee for supporting acting.

Jonah Lomu: life, career and legacy of a rugby union icon Jonah Lomu Jonah Lomu (1975–2015), a New Zealand rugby union wing, transformed the sport with exceptional size, speed and global profile; his career, health battles and legacy reshaped modern…

Jonas Algirdas Antanaitis Lithuanian engineer and politician (1921–2018), deported to Siberia in 1944, returned in 1954, later served in the Seimas from 1995 and became a notable figure in post‑Soviet Lithu…

Jonas Björkman — Swedish tennis player, doubles specialist and former world No. 4 Jonas Björkman Jonas Björkman (born March 23, 1972) is a Swedish former professional tennis player noted for top-5 singles results, a career No. 1 doubles ranking, Grand Slam doubles titles and l…

Jonas Furrer — Swiss statesman and early Federal Councillor Jonas Furrer Jonas Furrer (1805–1861) was a Swiss lawyer and Radical politician, member of the first Federal Council (1848–1861) and the Confederation's first president, remembered as a founder…

Jonás Gómez Gallo (1923–2019): Chilean businessman and politician Jonás Gómez Gallo Overview of Jonás Gómez Gallo, a Chilean businessman and politician who served in the Chamber of Deputies and Senate, his party affiliations, context, and legacy.

Jonás Gutiérrez — Argentine midfielder and winger Jonás Gutiérrez Profile of Jonás Gutiérrez (born 5 July 1983), an Argentine footballer known for his pace, versatility and long spell with Newcastle United and appearances for the Argentina nation…

Jonas Salk: developer of the first effective polio vaccine and founder of the Salk Institute Jonas Salk American medical researcher Jonas Salk developed the first widely used inactivated polio vaccine, led large-scale field trials in the 1950s, and later founded the Salk Institute fo…

Jonas Savimbi Angolan political and military leader who founded and led UNITA and played a central role in the Angolan Civil War and Cold War-era regional politics.

Jonathan and Martha Kent — Superman’s adoptive parents Jonathan and Martha Kent Jonathan and Martha Kent are the rural couple who adopt and raise Kal-El/Clark Kent. They ground Superman’s moral code, shape his identity, and appear in many comics, films and tel…

Jonathan Banks (American character actor) Jonathan Banks Jonathan Banks is an American character actor noted for tough, laconic roles across film, television and video games, best known as Mike Ehrmantraut in Breaking Bad and Better Call…

Jonathan Bartley: British Green Party politician and local councillor Jonathan Bartley Profile of Jonathan Bartley, former co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, his political priorities, roles in Lambeth council, public profile and key themes of his work…

Jonathan Borwein: Life, Work, and Influence in Experimental Mathematics Jonathan Borwein Scottish-born mathematician Jonathan Borwein (1951–2016) was a leading advocate of experimental and computational approaches in mathematics, a prolific researcher, and an influenti…

Jonathan Brandis (1976–2003) Jonathan Brandis Overview of the life and career of Jonathan Brandis, American actor and 1990s teen idol; early work, major roles, later struggles, and legacy.

Jonathan Cainer: British newspaper astrologer and popular horoscopes writer Jonathan Cainer Overview of Jonathan Cainer (1957–2016), his newspaper horoscopes, readership, style and legacy as a widely read British astrologer.

Jonathan Cantwell: Australian Professional Road Cyclist (1982–2018) Jonathan Cantwell Jonathan Cantwell was an Australian professional road cyclist known for sprinting and his 2012 Tour de France debut. He rode for the Drapac Cannondale team and died in 2018 at age…

Jonathan R. Cohen (American diplomat) Jonathan Cohen (diplomat) Career American diplomat who served as Acting U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations in 2019 and as U.S. Deputy Representative to the UN; experienced in European/Eurasian affairs an…

Jonathan Coulton American singer-songwriter known for geek-culture songs, internet-era distribution, and hits like “Code Monkey” and the album Artificial Heart.

Jonathan Crombie Canadian actor Jonathan Crombie (1966–2015) was best known for portraying Gilbert Blythe in the CBC adaptations of Anne of Green Gables and its sequels; he had a varied stage and s…

Jonathan de Guzmán — Dutch professional football midfielder Jonathan de Guzmán Profile of Jonathan de Guzmán, a Canadian-born Dutch footballer: early life, club career across Europe, international choices, playing style and notable facts.

Jonathan Demme (1944–2017) Jonathan Demme American film director and producer Jonathan Demme is known for The Silence of the Lambs, Stop Making Sense, Philadelphia and a humanistic visual style that bridged mainstream dram…

Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758) — American preacher, theologian, and revivalist Jonathan Edwards Jonathan Edwards was an 18th‑century New England Congregationalist preacher and theologian whose sermons and writings shaped the First Great Awakening and American Reformed theolog…

Jonathan Edwards (British triple jumper and athletics commentator) Jonathan Edwards (athlete) British former triple jumper, 2000 Olympic champion and long-standing world record-holder (1995). Later a BBC commentator and presenter, member of the London 2012 committee and Pre…

Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758): American Congregationalist theologian and preacher Jonathan Edwards (theologian) Jonathan Edwards was a leading colonial American preacher, theologian, and missionary associated with the Great Awakening. He wrote major theological works and is remembered for re…

Jonathan Frakes: actor, director and longtime Star Trek figure Jonathan Frakes Jonathan Frakes (born 1952) is an American actor and director best known for playing Commander William T. Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation and for directing Star Trek featur…

Jonathan Frid (1924–2012): Canadian actor best known as Barnabas Collins Jonathan Frid Jonathan Frid was a Canadian stage, radio, voice, television and film actor, celebrated for originating the vampire Barnabas Collins on Dark Shadows. He kept a private life and ret…

Jonathan Gold (1960–2018) — Influential American Food Critic Jonathan Gold Profile of Jonathan Gold, the Los Angeles–based food critic known for celebrating immigrant and neighborhood restaurants; first food critic to win the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.

Jonathan Hardy: New Zealand–Australian actor, writer and director Jonathan Hardy Jonathan Hardy (1940–2012) was a New Zealand–Australian actor, comedian, writer and director who worked across film, television, stage and voice roles, appearing in films such as T…

Jonathan Harris (American actor) Jonathan Harris Jonathan Harris (1914–2002) was an American character actor best known as Dr. Zachary Smith on the TV series Lost in Space; he worked in film, radio, stage, television and voice ac…