Columbia Encyclopedia

(Encyclopedia) Marshall, Kerry James, 1955–, American painter, b. Birmingham, Ala., B.F.A. Otis Art Institute (now Otis College of Art and Design), Los Angeles, 1978. A figurative and narrative artist whose subjec...

(Encyclopedia) Dickey, Eric Jerome, 1961- 2021, African-American author, b. Memphis, TN, Memphis State Univ. (BS, 1983). Dickey studied engineering and, after completi...

(Encyclopedia) Dürrenmatt, Friedrich frēˈdrĭkh dürˈənmät [key], 1921–90, Swiss playwright and novelist. Dürrenmatt's writings depict a world both comic and grotesque. As a young German-speaking playwright...

(Encyclopedia) Hansberry, Lorraine, 1930–65, American playwright, b. Chicago, studied Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, the New School, New York City. She grew up in a middle-class family on Chicago's South Side. In 19...

(Encyclopedia) Hephaestus hĕfĕsˈtəs [key], in Greek religion and mythology, Olympian god. According to Homer he was the son of Hera and Zeus, but Hesiod states that he was conceived and borne by Hera alone. Orig...

(Encyclopedia) Wallack, James William wŏlˈək [key], c.1795–1864, Anglo-American actor and manager. Of a theatrical family, he was a leading actor (1812–32) in both comedy and melodrama at Drury Lane. After 18...

(Encyclopedia)  Beatty, Ned Thomas, 1937-2021, American television and film actor, b. Louisville, Ky. Beatty began his career in regional theater, beginning in ...

(Encyclopedia) Spillane, Mickey (Frank Morrison Spillane), 1918–2006, American mystery writer, b. Brooklyn, N.Y. After contributing stories to comic books and pulp magazines, Spillane wrote his first novel, I, the...

(Encyclopedia) Fredro, Alexander äˌlĕksänˈdĕr frĕˈdrô [key], 1793–1876, Polish comic dramatist. From 1809 to 1814, Fredro served in the Polish regiments of Napoleon I's army, taking part in the invasion o...

(Encyclopedia) Molise mōlēˈzā [key], region (1991 pop. 330,900), 1,714 sq mi (4,439 sq km), S central Italy, bordering on the Adriatic Sea in the east. Campobasso is the capital of the region, which is divided i...