Biographies

Vince Naimoli American businessman and philanthropist; founding owner of the MLB expansion team the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, noted for bringing Major League Baseball to the Tampa Bay area.

Vince Wilfork (American football defensive tackle) Vince Wilfork Vince Wilfork is a retired NFL defensive tackle best known for anchoring the New England Patriots' interior defense, a two-time Super Bowl champion and noted run-stopper of the 200…

Vincent Canby Vincent Canby (1924–2000) was an American film critic and journalist best known for his long tenure at The New York Times and his influential, often wry reviews of mainstream and a…

Vincent Chalvon-Demersay — French animation producer and series creator Vincent Chalvon-Demersay Profile of Vincent Chalvon-Demersay, a French television producer and creator known for animated series like Totally Spies!, Martin Mystery, Team Galaxy and The Amazing Spiez!, and…

Vincent d'Indy: French composer, teacher and founder of the Schola Cantorum Vincent d'Indy Biography and assessment of Vincent d'Indy (1851–1931): his education, compositional style, role in reviving early music, founding of the Schola Cantorum, influence and controversi…

Vincent Matthew Darius (1955–2016): Bishop of Saint George's in Grenada Vincent Darius Vincent Matthew Darius (1955–2016), a Dominican priest, served as Bishop of Saint George's in Grenada from 2002 to 2016, overseeing pastoral programs and clergy formation; he died…

Vincent de Paul French Catholic priest (1581–1660) renowned for organizing service to the poor; founder of the Vincentian family and co‑founder of the Daughters of Charity, canonized in 1737.

Vincent du Vigneaud — American biochemist and oxytocin synthesis pioneer Vincent du Vigneaud Vincent du Vigneaud (1901–1978), Nobel laureate in Chemistry (1955), known for determining and synthesizing the peptide hormone oxytocin and advancing peptide and sulfur chemistry.

Vincent Marzello: American character and voice actor (1951–2020) Vincent Marzello Overview of Vincent Marzello’s life and career, notable screen and voice roles, his work in film and television, and later-life health issues and death.

Vincent Mhlanga Swazi civil servant and acting prime minister in 2018; longtime official at the King's Office who briefly led Eswatini’s government and died in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vincent R. Gray Vincent R. Gray (1922–2018) was a British-born New Zealand chemist known for his criticisms of mainstream climate science and for co-founding the New Zealand Climate Science Coalit…

Vincent Schiavelli: American character actor and memorable supporting player Vincent Schiavelli Profile of actor Vincent Schiavelli (1948–2005), known for distinctive supporting roles in major films and television, collaborations with Milos Forman, Sicilian roots, writing, an…

Vincent Scully: American Architectural Historian and Influential Teacher Vincent Scully Vincent Scully (1920–2017), Sterling Professor of the History of Art in Architecture at Yale, was a celebrated lecturer, author, and advocate for the humanistic study of architectu…

Vincent Tshabalala — South African professional golfer and pioneer Vincent Tshabalala Vincent Tshabalala (1942–2017) was a South African professional golfer who achieved international success during apartheid, becoming a respected competitor, coach and influential f…

Vincent van der Burg Dutch lawyer and politician (1945–2020), long-serving member of the House of Representatives with the KVP and later the CDA.

Vincenzo Bellini: life, music and legacy of the bel canto master Vincenzo Bellini Overview of Vincenzo Bellini (1801–1835), the Italian bel canto composer known for long-flowing melodies and operas such as Norma, La sonnambula and I puritani, and his influence o…

Vincenzo Cerundolo — immunologist and antigen presentation researcher Vincenzo Cerundolo Italian immunologist (1959–2020) who led Oxford's MRC Human Immunology Unit and advanced understanding of how peptides and lipids are presented to T cells, informing cancer and vir…

Vincenzo Irolli (1860–1949): Neapolitan painter of genre and portrait Vincenzo Irolli Vincenzo Irolli (30 Sept 1860–27 Nov 1949) was an Italian painter from Naples known for vivid genre scenes, portraits and intimate domestic subjects rooted in the Neapolitan realis…

Vincenzo Nibali — Italian professional road cyclist Vincenzo Nibali Vincenzo Nibali (born 1984) is an Italian road racer known for winning all three Grand Tours, including the 2014 Tour de France and two Giro d'Italia titles.

Gaius Julius Vindex: governor and leader of the 68 AD Gallic revolt Vindex Gaius Julius Vindex, a Roman provincial governor of Gallic descent, led a 68 AD uprising against Nero. His revolt helped trigger Nero's fall and influenced the ensuing Year of the…

Vinnie Jones: football enforcer turned screen actor Vinnie Jones Profile of Vinnie Jones, the former professional footballer known for his combative style, his role in Wimbledon’s 1988 FA Cup win, and his subsequent career as a film and televisi…

Vinnie Paul (Vincent Paul Abbott) Vinnie Paul American heavy metal drummer and producer, co-founder of Pantera and Damageplan, known for his powerful groove style and contributions to modern metal. Born in Abilene, Texas; died…

Vinny Testaverde — American football quarterback Vinny Testaverde Vinny Testaverde (born 1963) is a retired American football quarterback. He won the 1986 Heisman, was the No. 1 pick in 1987, played 21 NFL seasons for seven teams, and never won a…

Vinoba Bhave Indian social reformer, teacher and Gandhian activist (1895–1982) best known for the Bhoodan land-gift movement, advocacy of nonviolence and Sarvodaya ideals; posthumous Bharat Rat…

Viola Harris (1926–2017) — American character actress Viola Harris Viola Harris was an American actress whose long career in film, television and theatre spanned from the 1950s into the 2010s, noted for versatile supporting and character roles in…

Violante Beatrice of Bavaria Bavarian princess who became Grand Princess of Tuscany by marriage to Ferdinando de' Medici; later governor of Siena and an influential patron and administrator in early 18th-centu…

Violeta Chamorro Nicaraguan newspaper editor and politician who served as president from 1990–1996, known for leading a coalition that ended Sandinista rule and for post-conflict reconciliation and…

Violeta Rivas — Argentine singer and actress Violeta Rivas Violeta Rivas (Ana María Adinolfi, 1937–2018) was an Argentine singer and actress known for El Club del Clan, the hit ¡Qué Suerte!, tours across Latin America and a long career in…

Violette Szabo — SOE agent and Second World War heroine Violette Szabo Profile of Violette Szabo (1921–c.1945), a bilingual British–French Special Operations Executive agent, her missions in occupied France, capture, death, and posthumous honours and…

Vipsania Agrippina (36 BC – AD 20) Vipsania Agrippina Roman noblewoman, first wife of Tiberius and daughter of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa; remembered for her forced divorce and her place in the Julio-Claudian family network.

Virat Kohli: Profile, Playing Style, Career Highlights and Legacy Virat Kohli Virat Kohli (born 5 November 1988, Delhi) is an Indian international cricketer known for prolific batting, intense leadership and fitness advocacy. Overview, style, achievements an…

Virender Sehwag — Aggressive Indian Opening Batsman and Record-Holder Virender Sehwag Profile of Virender Sehwag, Indian international cricketer famed for explosive batting, multiple Test records including India's first Test triple century, and his influence on mode…

Virgil (Publius Vergilius Maro) — Roman poet and author of the Aeneid Virgil Roman poet Publius Vergilius Maro (Virgil) wrote the Eclogues, Georgics and the Aeneid; his verse shaped Latin literature, Augustan ideology, and later European literary tradition.

Virgil Trucks (1917–2013) Virgil Trucks American Major League Baseball starting pitcher best known for two no-hitters in 1952 and a long career primarily with the Detroit Tigers.

Virgilio Caballero Pedraza (1942–2019) Virgilio Caballero Pedraza Mexican journalist, media researcher and politician known for work on public communication, who served as a federal deputy and as a deputy in Mexico City. Born in Tampico; died in…

Virginia Bruce (1910–1982) Virginia Bruce American film and television actress born in Minneapolis; a Hollywood performer of the 1930s and later TV guest; she died of cancer in California in 1982.

Virginia Field (British film and television actress) Virginia Field British-born actress Virginia Field (1917–1992) worked on stage, in films and on television from the 1930s onward, appearing in titles such as Ladies in Love and The Primrose Path…

Virginia Hamilton Virginia Hamilton (1934–2002) was a pioneering African-American writer of children's and young adult literature, noted for her use of folklore, rich characterization, and for winni…

Virginia Woolf: Life, Work, and Influence Virginia Woolf Concise encyclopedia entry on Virginia Woolf (1882–1941): biography, major works, stylistic innovations, feminist essays, and her influence on modernist literature and later critic…

Virginie Korte-van Hemel — Dutch politician and State Secretary for Justice Virginie Korte-van Hemel Biography of Virginie Korte-van Hemel (1929–2014), Dutch Christian Democratic politician who served in local and national government, including as State Secretary for Justice in th…

Viriato Clemente da Cruz: Angolan Poet and Political Exile Viriato Clemente da Cruz Angolan poet and activist Viriato da Cruz (1928–1973) blended nationalist themes and African oral influences. He played a leading role in Angola’s anti‑colonial movement and died i…

Virisila Buadromo — Fijian human rights activist and 2008 award recipient Virisila Buadromo Virisila Buadromo (born 1972) is a Fijian human rights and women's rights advocate, noted for her public opposition to military rule and for receiving the 2008 International Women…

Viscera (Nelson Frazier Jr.), American professional wrestler and entertainer Viscera (wrestler) Biography of Nelson Frazier Jr., known as Mabel/Viscera/Big Daddy V: his wrestling persona, career highlights including King of the Ring, film appearances, health issues and legacy…

Vishvamitra: Vedic sage, legendary rishi and teacher Vishvamitra Vishvamitra was a prominent Vedic rishi—often depicted as a former king turned ascetic—credited with many hymns in the Rigveda and Atharvaveda and prominent in later epic and Puran…

Vishwesha Teertha: Pejavara Swamiji and Dvaita Leader Vishwesha Teertha Biography of Sri Vishwesha Tirtharu (1931–2019), the Pejavara Swamiji of the Dvaita tradition: lineage, teachings, public work and legacy in Udupi and beyond.

Visitor A visitor is a person present in a place where they do not permanently live. The term covers guests, tourists, temporary professionals, and other non-residents and has legal, socia…

Vitaliano Brancati: Italian novelist and playwright Vitaliano Brancati Vitaliano Brancati (1907–1954) was an influential Italian novelist, playwright and journalist known for satirical, psychologically acute depictions of Sicilian life and Italian mas…

Vitaliy Boiko (1937–2020) Vitaliy Boiko Ukrainian lawyer, jurist and public official; Minister of Justice (1990–1992), Ambassador to Moldova (1993–1994), and Chairman of the Supreme Court of Ukraine (1994–2002).