Biographies

Bump Elliott — American college football player, coach and athletics administrator Bump Elliott Chalmers “Bump” Elliott (1925–2019) was a college halfback, head coach at Michigan, and long-serving athletic director at Iowa; a College Football Hall of Famer with lasting influe…

Bunichiro Abe — Japanese association footballer (born 1985) Bunichiro Abe Bunichiro Abe (阿部文一朗, b. 2 Apr 1985) is a Japanese association footballer. Public records on his playing career are limited—consult specialist sports databases or club sources for…

John 'Bunny' Breckinridge Bunny Breckinridge American actor and drag performer (1903–1996) best known for his role in Ed Wood's cult film Plan 9 from Outer Space and later portrayal in the 1994 biopic Ed Wood.

Bunny Carr Bernard "Bunny" Carr (1927–2018) was an Irish television presenter and communications pioneer who hosted popular RTÉ programmes and founded Carr Communications, a leading Irish PR…

Bunny Roser — American left fielder for the Boston Braves Bunny Roser Bunny Roser (1901–1979) was an American baseball left fielder who played for the Boston Braves. Born in St. Louis, he died in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, and is remembered as a member…

Bunny Rugs (William Clarke) — Jamaican reggae singer Bunny Rugs William Clarke, known as Bunny Rugs or Bunny Scott, was a Jamaican reggae vocalist best known as the lead singer of Third World and for a long solo career that helped popularize re…

Bunny Yeager: Model, Photographer, and Architect of Mid‑Century Pin‑Up Imagery Bunny Yeager Linnea “Bunny” Yeager (1929–2014) was an American pin‑up model turned photographer whose natural‑light swimwear and glamour images, including iconic Bettie Page portraits, shaped 1…

Burak Yılmaz Turkish striker born in 1985, known for prolific finishing and a long career with Turkey's major clubs, later playing for Beijing Guoan and Lille, and representing the Turkey natio…

Burgess Meredith American character actor and director whose six-decade career included stage, radio, film and television roles such as The Penguin on Batman and trainer Mickey Goldmill in the Rock…

Burhan Muhammad — Indonesian Diplomat and Ambassador to Pakistan Burhan Muhammad Indonesian diplomat Burhan Muhammad (1957–2015) served as ambassador to Pakistan from 2012 until his death after injuries sustained in a 2015 helicopter crash; born in Yogyakarta.

Burhanuddin Rabbani: Afghan Mujahideen Leader, President, and Peacemaker (1940–2011) Burhanuddin Rabbani Profile of Burhanuddin Rabbani, an Afghan mujahideen commander, head of Jamiat-e Islami, president (1992–1996), Northern Alliance leader, and chair of the High Peace Council until…

Burkhard Driest (1939–2020) Burkhard Driest German actor, writer and director best known for roles in Sam Peckinpah's Cross of Iron and Rainer Werner Fassbinder's Querelle; also worked as a novelist, screenwriter and theatre…

Burkhard Hirsch (1930–2020) Burkhard Hirsch German lawyer and Free Democratic Party politician; Interior Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia and long-serving member and Vice President of the Bundestag.

Burl Ives (American folk singer and actor) Burl Ives Burl Ives (1909–1995) was an American folk singer and actor who helped popularize traditional songs, recorded enduring holiday music, acted on stage and screen, and narrated the TV…

Burn Gorman — British actor and musician Burn Gorman Profile of Burn Gorman, an English actor and musician known for roles in Bleak House, Torchwood and The Dark Knight Rises, with an overview of his career, style and notable work.

Burrill B. Crohn — American gastroenterologist and namesake of Crohn's disease Burrill Bernard Crohn Overview of Burrill B. Crohn (1884–1983), his role in identifying regional ileitis (Crohn's disease), career highlights, clinical features of the disease, and his medical legacy.

Burt Bacharach (1928–2023) Burt Bacharach American composer and songwriter known for sophisticated pop melodies, collaborations with Hal David and Dionne Warwick, and hits like "I Say a Little Prayer" and "Raindrops Keep F…

Burt Kwouk: British actor best known as Cato in The Pink Panther films Burt Kwouk Encyclopaedic biography of Burt Kwouk (1930–2016), a British actor of Chinese heritage noted for his role as Cato in The Pink Panther series, his television work and his influence…

Burt Lancaster: Life, Career, and Legacy Burt Lancaster Overview of Burt Lancaster (1913–1994), the American film star known for athletic screen presence, dramatic range, a prolific career across five decades, and contributions as a pro…

Burt Reynolds: American actor, director and cultural figure Burt Reynolds Profile of Burt Reynolds (1936–2018), his career as an actor, director and producer, major films and television work, awards and cultural significance.

Burt Shotton American baseball player, manager, coach and scout. Led the Brooklyn Dodgers in the late 1940s and served as Jackie Robinson's first permanent Major League manager, helping the tea…

Burt Ward: The actor best known as Robin in the 1960s Batman series Burt Ward Overview of Burt Ward (born Bert John Gervis Jr.), the American television actor famous for playing Robin in the 1960s Batman series, his career, book, and later activities.

Burt Young (Gerald Tommaso DeLouise) — actor, painter and author Burt Young American character actor Burt Young (born Gerald Tommaso DeLouise) was best known for his Academy Award–nominated role as Paulie in Rocky. He also worked as a painter and author ac…

Burton Gilliam American character actor known for supporting roles in films such as Paper Moon, Blazing Saddles and Back to the Future Part III, and for numerous television appearances.

Burton Richter (American experimental physicist) Burton Richter American experimental physicist who co-discovered the J/ψ meson, shared the 1976 Nobel Prize in Physics, and directed SLAC from 1984–1999.

Burton Watson — American translator of Chinese and Japanese literature Burton Watson Scholar and translator Burton Watson (1925–2017) rendered classical Chinese and Japanese poetry and prose into clear English; celebrated for awards, collaborations, and a long care…

busbee (Michael James Ryan) — American songwriter, producer and music executive Busbee busbee (Michael James Ryan, 1976–2019) was an American songwriter, record producer, publisher and multi‑instrumentalist known for cross‑genre work in pop, country and adult contemp…

Busby Berkeley: Hollywood choreographer and film director Busby Berkeley Innovative American film choreographer and director (1895–1976) known for kaleidoscopic overhead shots, geometric patterns, and large-scale musical production numbers in 1930s Holl…

Bushido (German rapper) Bushido (rapper) An overview of Bushido, a prominent German rapper born Anis Ferchichi: his background, musical style, career milestones, controversies, and notable releases and awards.

Bushranger (Australian bush outlaw) Bushranger Bushrangers were outlaws in colonial Australia who used remote country to avoid capture; active mainly in the 19th century and remembered in crime history and folklore.

Bushwick Bill — rapper, Geto Boys member and cultural figure Bushwick Bill Overview of Bushwick Bill (Richard Shaw), his origins, role in Geto Boys, musical style, notable incidents, solo work and legacy in hip hop.

Businessperson: roles, types, dress, history and economic importance Businessperson A clear, concise overview of what a businessperson is: roles and sectors, common distinctions, historical development, customary dress and how culture affects it, with examples and…

Busta Rhymes (Trevor Smith Jr.) Busta Rhymes American rapper and producer noted for a rapid, animated delivery. Born in New York to Jamaican parents, he rose from 1990s hip-hop beginnings to a long solo career with major coll…

Buster Crabbe: Olympic Champion and Pulp-Serial Film Star Buster Crabbe Clarence "Buster" Crabbe (1908–1983), American Olympic swimmer turned actor, won Olympic swimming medals and became famous for playing Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers and Tarzan in 1930s…

Buster Edwards: British criminal and member of the Great Train Robbery gang Buster Edwards Ronald 'Buster' Edwards (1931–1994) was a British criminal known for his role in the 1963 Great Train Robbery, a former boxer and nightclub owner whose life inspired media portraya…

Buster Jones (American voice actor and radio personality) Buster Jones Edward L. "Buster" Jones was an American voice actor and radio personality, known for roles in Super Friends, The Transformers, G.I. Joe and The Real Ghostbusters. Born in Paris, T…

Buster Keaton: silent-era comedian, director, and master of physical comedy Buster Keaton Overview of Joseph 'Buster' Keaton (1895–1966): his life in vaudeville, landmark silent films, trademark deadpan and stunt work, career arc, critical legacy and notable movies.

Buster Merryfield English actor (1920–1999) best known as Albert ‘Uncle Albert’ Trotter in Only Fools and Horses; a late-start television star who had served in WWII and worked outside show business…

Buster Posey: American Baseball Catcher and Giants Stalwart Buster Posey A concise encyclopedia entry on Buster Posey, covering his early life, college career, MLB achievements with the San Francisco Giants, playing style, honors and legacy.

Busy Philipps: American actress, writer and television personality Busy Philipps Profile of Busy Philipps — her early life, breakthrough roles in television and film, writing and hosting work, and her broader cultural impact as a public figure and creative prof…

Butch Goring — Canadian NHL center and four-time Stanley Cup winner Butch Goring Overview of Robert 'Butch' Goring, a Canadian NHL center who played 16 seasons, won four consecutive Stanley Cups with the New York Islanders, and later worked as a coach and broad…

Butch Hartman — American animator and television creator Butch Hartman Profile of Butch Hartman, an American animator known for creating popular animated series, his career with major studios, creative style, public activities, and notable works.

Butch Huskey American former Major League Baseball player who debuted in 1993. Known for his time with the New York Mets, a powerful corner hitter from Anadarko, Oklahoma, noted for size and ve…

Butch Otter — Governor and Idaho Republican leader Butch Otter Clement "Butch" Otter (born 1942) is an American Republican politician who served as Idaho governor (2007–2019), previously as lieutenant governor and U.S. representative and a lon…

Butch Trucks: founding drummer of The Allman Brothers Band Butch Trucks Profile of Claude 'Butch' Trucks (1947–2017), founding drummer of The Allman Brothers Band, his musical role, career, recognition and legacy, plus brief account of his life and dea…

Butch Walker Butch Walker (born Bradley Glenn Walker, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, musician and record producer known for rock and power-pop songwriting, fronting bands and producin…

Butcher: roles, techniques, tools and cultural history Butcher A butcher is a skilled meat professional who prepares, sells and sometimes slaughters animals. This article describes duties, tools, history, and the different kinds of butchers in…

Butler Derrick — U.S. Representative from South Carolina (1975–1995) Butler Derrick Butler Derrick (1936–2014) was a Democratic U.S. Representative for South Carolina's 3rd district, serving ten terms from 1975 to 1995. He represented Upstate South Carolina and wa…