Historical figure.
Complex? In short, yes

 

In short (5-5-1821), it was too easy, I'll leave it to the others.

 

I’m totally lost on this one! Please explain.

 

Hint. The Kung Fu Panda's name is Po, so in the first clue you have:

Activity?
Name (Po)
Name?
Name?

The sound of the names will give you the subject's given name which should be enough to figure the rest.

 

That seems simple now that you have explained it to me. Duh!

 

A lot of history would be better if he’d napped more, I’m sure

 

Star for @JimInOz, with honourable mentions.
Well played, all.

 

^^^
Dropped a clanger on the above.
It’s not what I was thinking. I’ll leave it up on the off chance that someone twigs it.

Note to self; A large Merlot before posting

 

The Flight of the Condor?

 

Too hard for me Nemo.

I'll let someone else solve it.

 

C’mon @JimInOz . You know you nailed it! You’re too modest!

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

 

Yay.

It was supposed to be the Simon & Garfunkel track, then realised I was thinking of El Condor Pasa. I thought it didn’t matter as it’s also the name of a film - then realised I was thinking of Three Days of the Condor!

I was having a senior moment

Turned alright(ish) in the end.

 

Well done, that man.

 

Subject Rudyard Kipling. Beyond that, I’m lost.

 

add a chapter name ‘the white seal’ and I think we have the rebus!

 

The White (rhino) Seal, Rudyard Kipling.

 

A good team effort. Well played!