This is a list of notable persons who were born or spent important time in the American state of Minnesota. People not born in Minnesota are marked with §.
A
Shit People from Minnesota Say - I'm from Minnesota, so I can do this. But seriously, don't take this seriously. INSTAGRAM: @ConnorFranta TWITTER: http://twitter.com/ConnorFranta SHIRTS: http://www.districtlines.com/ConnorFranta...
- Johan Arnd Aasgaard (1876â"1966) â" president, Concordia College; president, Norwegian Lutheran Church of America
- Walter Abel (1898â"1987) â" actor
- Anthony Adducci § (1937â"2006) â" builder of the first lithium-battery-powered pacemaker
- Peter Agre (born 1949) â" co-recipient, 2003 Nobel Prize in Chemistry (shared with Roderick MacKinnon)
- Faysal Ahmed (born 1985) â" actor
- Walden L. Ainsworth (1886â"1960) â" admiral, U.S. Navy
- Eddie Albert § (1906â"2005) â" actor, gardener and humanitarian activist
- Frank Albertson (1909â"1964) â" actor
- Grady Alderman § (born 1938) â" Minnesota Vikings football player
- Cole Aldrich (born 1988) â" Houston Rockets basketball player
- Cyrus Aldrich § (1808â"1871) â" member of U.S. Congress
- John G. Alexander § (1893â"1971) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Brother Ali (Ali Newman) § (born 1977) â" hip-hop artist
- Beau Allen â" NFL nose tackle
- Bob Allison § (1934â"1995) â" Minnesota Twins baseball player
- Luis Walter Alvarez § (1911â"1988) â" experimental physicist, Nobel Prize in Physics, 1968
- A. A. Ames § (1842â"1911) â" politician
- Elmer L. Andersen § (1909â"2004) â" 30th Governor of Minnesota, businessman, philanthropist
- Herman Carl Andersen § (1897â"1978) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Morten Andersen § (born 1960) â" Minnesota Vikings football player
- Alan Anderson (born 1982) â" basketball player
- Barry Anderson (born 1954) â" judge
- Brad Anderson (born 1969) â" wrestler
- Clyde Elmer Anderson (1912â"1998) â" 28th Governor of Minnesota; 30th and 33rd Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- Dan Anderson (1920â"2003) â" psychologist
- Eugenie Anderson (1909â"1997) â" U.S. Ambassador to Denmark and Bulgaria; first woman appointed U.S. ambassador
- Gary Anderson § (born 1959) â" Minnesota Vikings football player
- Gene Anderson (1933â"1991) â" wrestler
- Larry Anderson (born 1952) â" actor
- Liz Anderson (born 1930) â" songwriter
- Loni Anderson (born 1945) â" actress (WKRP in Cincinnati), former wife of Burt Reynolds
- Louie Anderson (born 1953) â" comedian, television personality (Life with Louie, Family Feud)
- Marc Anderson â" percussionist
- Ole Anderson (born 1942) â" wrestler
- Patricia Anderson (born 1966) â" politician, business owner, 17th state auditor
- Paul Anderson (born 1943) â" judge
- Richard Dean Anderson (born 1950) â" television actor (MacGyver, Stargate SG-1)
- Russell A. Anderson (born 1942) â" judge
- Scott D. Anderson (1965â"1999) â" canoeist, author, engineer, Cirrus Airframe Parachute System test pilot
- Sydney Anderson (1881â"1948) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Wendell Anderson (born 1933) â" 33rd Governor of Minnesota; U.S. Senator
- August H. Andresen § (1890â"1958) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Christopher Columbus Andrews § (1829â"1922) â" soldier, diplomat, and author
- LaVerne Andrews (1911â"1967) â" contralto singer of 1940s sister act The Andrews Sisters
- Maxene Andrews (1916â"1995) â" soprano singer of The Andrews Sisters
- Patty Andrews (born 1918) â" lead singer of The Andrews Sisters
- Ernest Angelo, Jr. (born 1934) â" Texas oilman and Republican politician
- Kofi Annan § (born 1938) â" 7th Secretary-General of the United Nations
- James Anton â" bass guitarist
- Henry M. Arens § (1873â"1963) â" member of U.S. Congress; 26th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- Richard Arlen (1899â"1976) â" actor
- Thomas H. Armstrong § (1826â"1891) â" banker, lawyer, legislator, 5th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- Dave Arneson (1955â"2009) â" game designer, co-creator of D&D, creator of the first fantasy RPG world (Blackmoor)
- James Arness (1923â"2011) â" actor (Gunsmoke)
- Dorothy Arnold (Olson) (1917â"1984) â" film actress, first wife of baseball star Joe DiMaggio
- Jeanne Arth (born 1935) â" tennis player
- Antoine Auguelle § â" explorer
- Horace Austin § (1831â"1905) â" 6th Governor of Minnesota
- Hy Averback (1920â"1997) â" director, producer, actor, and production manager
- John T. Averill § (1825â"1889) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Lew Ayres (1908â"1996) â" actor
B
- Tim M. Babcock (born 1919) â" politician
- Michele Bachmann § (born 1956) â" politician
- David Backes (born 1984) â" hockey player
- Tim Bagley (born 1957) â" character actor, Strip Mall, Will & Grace
- Bill Baker (born 1956) â" hockey player
- Jim Bakker § (born 1939) â" televangelist
- Melvin Baldwin § (1838â"1901) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Joseph H. Ball (1905â"1993) â" U.S. Senator
- Keith Ballard (born 1982) â" hockey player for the Vancouver Canucks
- Ann Bancroft (born 1955) â" polar explorer, first female to reach both the North and South Poles
- Dominique Barber (born 1986) â" Houston Texans football player
- Marion Barber III (born 1983) â" Dallas Cowboys football player
- Dean Barkley (born 1950) â" U.S. Senator
- Lynsey Bartilson (born 1983) â" actress
- Alphonso Barto â" 7th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- Carol Bartz (born 1948) â" president and chief executive officer of Yahoo!
- Earl Battey § (1935â"2003) â" Minnesota Twins baseball player
- Elgin Baylor § (born 1934) â" former basketball player
- Brian Baumgartner â" actor and comedian; former artistic director at the Hidden Theatre in Minneapolis
- Charles Baxter (born 1947) â" author
- John C. Beale (born 1948) â" EPA consultant, convicted felon
- Dick Beardsley (born 1956) - former world-class marathoner, motivational speaker
- Tracy Beckman (born 1945) â" government official, politician, business owner and manager
- James Bede § (1856â"1942) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Nicholas Joseph Begich (1932â"1972) â" politician
- James Ford Bell § (1879â"1961) â" business leader, philanthropist, founder of General Mills
- Troy Bell (born 1980) â" basketball player
- Clyde Bellecourt (born 1936) â" Native American civil rights organizer
- Nick Bellore (born 1989) â" San Francisco 49ers football player
- Sharon Sayles Belton (born 1951) â" first African-American mayor of Minneapolis
- Chief Bender (1884â"1954) â" Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher
- Dorothy Benham (born 1955) â" Miss America 1977
- Paris Bennett § (born 1988) â" singer
- Tony Benshoof (born 1975) â" luger, Olympian
- Elmer Austin Benson (1895â"1985) â" 24th Governor of Minnesota; U.S. Senator
- Joanne Benson (born 1943) â" 44th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- William Benton (1900â"1973) â" U.S. Senator
- Juan Berenguer § (born 1954) â" Minnesota Twins baseball player
- Patty Berg (1918â"2006) â" golfer, founding member of the LPGA
- Robert Bergland (born 1928) â" U.S. Secretary of Agriculture; member of U.S. Congress
- Tim Bergland (born 1965) â" hockey-player
- Jason Behr (born 1973) â" actor
- John Bernard § (1893â"1983) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Philip Berrigan (1923â"2002) â" peace activist, Christian anarchist, and Roman Catholic priest
- Bill Berry (born 1958) â" R.E.M. drummer
- Jessica Biel (born 1982) â" actress (7th Heaven), married to Justin Timberlake
- Bernie Bierman § (1894â"1977) â" college football coach
- Big Eagle (c. 1827â"1906) â" leader of a band of Mdewakanton Sioux Indians
- John Binkowski (born 1979) â" politician
- Matt Birk (born 1976) â" Baltimore Ravens football player
- Harry Blackmun § (1908â"1999) â" Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
- Matt Blair § (born 1950) â" Minnesota Vikings football player
- Jason Blake (born 1973) â" hockey player for the Anaheim Ducks
- John Blatnik (1911â"1991) â" member of the U.S. Congress
- Jerome Blatz â" politician
- Kathleen A. Blatz (born 1954) â" judge and politician
- Theodore C. Blegen (1891â"1969) â" historian and author
- Floyd E. Bloom (born 1936) â" medical researcher specializing in chemical neuroanatomy
- Josh Blue § (born 1978) â" comedian
- Carol Bly â" short story writer
- Bert Blyleven § (born 1951) â" Minnesota Twins baseball player
- Eduard Bøckmann (1849â"1927) â" ophthalmologist, physician and inventor
- Haldor Boen § (1846â"1936) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Roman Bohnen (1901â"1949) â" actor
- Greg Boll (born 1960) â" politician, activist
- Brian Bonin (born 1973) â" hockey player
- Jeremy Borash (born 1977) â" wrestling announcer
- Madeleine Bordallo (born 1933) â" politician
- Lorraine Borg (1923â"2006) â" All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
- Norman Borlaug § (born 1914) â" agricultural scientist; recipient, 1970 Nobel Peace Prize
- Rudy Boschwitz § (born 1930) â" U.S. Senator
- Lyman Bostock § (1950â"1978) â" baseball player
- Todd Bouman (born 1972) â" quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars
- Lloyd Wheaton Bowers § (1859â"1910) â" Solicitor General
- Gregory A. Boyd (born 1957) â" pastor, theologian, author
- Joe Brinkman (born 1944) â" umpire
- Ivar Brogger (born 1947) â" actor, The Bold and the Beautiful and Invasion
- Herb Brooks (1937â"2003) â" 1980 Olympics ice hockey coach, Minnesota Golden Gophers coach, Minnesota North Stars coach
- Neal Broten (born 1959) â" Minnesota North Stars ice-hockey player
- Jim Brower (born 1972) â" baseball player
- Aaron Brown (born 1948) â" broadcast journalist
- Bill Brown § (born 1938) â" Minnesota Vikings football player
- Brianna Brown (born 1979) â" actress
- Joey Browner § (born 1960) â" football player
- Brownmark (Brown Mark or Mark Brown) (born 1962) â" musician and producer
- Bob Bruer § (born 1953) â" football player and coach
- Tom Brunansky § (born 1960) â" Minnesota Twins baseball player
- Bobby Bryant § (born 1944) â" Minnesota Vikings football player
- Rich T. Buckler § (1865â"1950) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Clarence Buckman § (1851â"1917) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Warren E. Burger (1907â"1995) â" Chief Justice of the United States
- Michael C. Burgess (born 1950) â" physician and politician
- Tom Burgmeier (born 1943) â" baseball player
- Joseph A. A. Burnquist § (1879â"1961) â" 19th Governor of Minnesota; 20th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- Jerry Burns (born 1927) â" Minnesota Vikings football coach
- Tom Burnett (1963â"2001) â" passenger on United Airlines Flight 93
- Pierce Butler (1866â"1939) â" Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
- Dominique Byrd (born 1984) â" football player for the Arizona Cardinals
- Thomas R. Byrne â" politician
C
- Melvin Calvin (1911â"1997) â" reipient, 1961 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
- Karlyn Kohrs Campbell (born 1937) â" academic
- Gino Cappelletti (born 1934) â" former collegiate, AFL and NFL wide receiver
- Rod Carew § (born 1945) â" Minnesota Twins baseball player
- Ron Carey â" politician
- Arne Carlson § (born 1934) â" 37th Governor of Minnesota
- Bruce A. Carlson (born 1971) â" Commander, Air Force Materiel Command
- Casey Carlson (born 1989) â" semi-finalist of American Idol Season 8
- Curt Carlson (1914â"1999) â" businessperson (Carlson Companies, Radisson Hotels)
- Gretchen Carlson â" beauty queen, anchor
- John Carlson (born 1984) â" tight end for the Arizona Cardinals
- Kelly Carlson (born 1976) â" actor
- Kyle and Lane Carlson (born 1978) â" models
- Richard Carlson (1912â"1977) â" actor
- Herb Carneal (1923â"2007) â" Minnesota Twins baseball announcer
- David Carr (born 1956) â" journalist for The New York Times
- William Leighton Carss § (1865â"1931) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Anthony Carter § (born 1975) â" Minnesota Timberwolves basketball player
- Kiki Carter (Kimberli Wilson) § (born 1957) â" environmental activist, organizer, musician, songwriter, and columnist
- Ryan Carter (born 1983) â" hockey player for the New Jersey Devils
- Jonathan Carver § (1710â"1780) â" explorer
- Bob Casey (1925â"2004) â" Minnesota Twins public-address announcer
- Patrick Casey (born 1978) â" writer and actor
- Dave Casper (born 1951) â" Hall of Fame NFL offensive lineman and tight end, primarily with the Oakland Raiders
- James Castle § (1836â"1903) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Tracy Caulkins (born 1963) â" swimmer
- James M. Cavanaugh § (1823â"1879) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Chelsea Charms (born 1976) â" model
- Sam Childers § (born 1962) â" former gang biker, founder of Angels of East Africa located in Sudan
- Leeann Chin â" founder of the Leeann Chin Chinese restaurant chain
- Tom Chorske (born 1966) â" hockey player
- Chief Chouneau (William Cadreau) (1888â"1946) â" baseball player
- Victor Christgau (1894â"1991) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Theodore Christianson (1883â"1948) â" 21st Governor of Minnesota; member of U.S. Congress
- Charles A. Christopherson (1871â"1951) â" politician
- Nick Ciola (Dominic Ciola or Caesar) â" musician
- Moses E. Clapp (1851â"1929) â" U.S. Senator
- Frank Clague § (1865â"1952) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Harlan Cleveland (1918â"2008) â" Club of Rome member, founding dean for the H. H. Humphrey Institute, politician
- Elizabeth Close (1912â"2011) â" pioneering female architect in Minneapolis
- David Marston Clough § (1846â"1924) â" 13th Governor of Minnesota; 12th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- Ben Clymer (born 1978) â" hockey player
- Cobi (born 1986) - musician
- Eddie Cochran (1938â"1960) â" musician
- Diablo Cody § (born 1978) â" screenwriter
- Ethan Coen (born 1957) â" screenwriter, director, producer
- Joel Coen (born 1954) â" screenwriter, director, producer
- William Colby (1920â"1996) â" director of the CIA
- Chris Coleman (born 1961) â" politician
- Nick Coleman (born 1950) â" columnist
- Nick Coleman (1925â"1981) â" politician
- Norm Coleman § (born 1949) â" U.S. Senator, Mayor of Saint Paul
- Louis L. Collins â" 23rd Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- Mo Collins (born 1965) â" comedic actor
- Tom Compton (born 1989) â" Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle
- Solomon Comstock § (1842â"1933) â" member of the U.S. Congress
- Chester Adgate Congdon § (1853â"1916) â" lawyer and capitalist
- George Contant (1864 â" date of death unknown) â" train robber; later lectured against crime
- Rachael Leigh Cook (born 1979) â" actor, model
- Roger Cooper (born 1944) â" teacher, politician
- Marisa Coughlan (born 1974) â" model and actor
- Gratia Countryman (1866â"1953) â" influential librarian
- Christopher Cox (born 1952) â" chairman, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; U.S. representative
- Fred Cox § â" Minnesota Vikings football player, inventor of Nerf football
- Brian Coyle (1944â"1991) â" openly gay politician
- Seymour Cray § (1925â"1996) â" founder Cray Research, supercomputer architect, inventor
- Joseph Crétin § (1799â"1857) â" first Roman Catholic bishop of Saint Paul
- David Crittenden § (born 1960) â" classical guitarist
- Ward Cuff (1914â"2002) â" NFL running back and placekicker
- Daunte Culpepper § (born 1977) â" former Minnesota Vikings football player
- Randall Cunningham § (born 1963) â" former Minnesota Vikings football player
- Robert E. Cushman, Jr. (1914â"1985) â" Commandant of the Marine Corps
D
- Arlene Dahl (born 1925) â" actress
- Nicole, Erica and Jaclyn Dahm (born 1977) â" models
- Craig Dahl (born 1985) â" New York Giants football player
- Cathee Dahmen (born 1946) â" supermodel in the 1960s and 1970s
- Shawn Daivari (born 1984) â" wrestler
- Ian Anthony Dale (born 1978) â" actor
- Sean Daley (born 1972) â" hip-hop artist
- Wayne Dalglish (born 1990) â" actor, The O.C.
- Teresa Daly (born 1956) â" politician
- Billy Dankert â" singer-songwriter, drummer
- Barry Darsow (born 1959) â" wrestler
- Charles Russell Davis § (1849â"1930) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Cushman Davis (1838â"1900) â" 7th Governor of Minnesota; U.S. Senator
- Ike Davis (born 1987) â" first baseman for the Oakland A's
- Joan Davis (1907â"1961) â" comedic actress
- Stuart Davis § (born 1971) â" musician and songwriter
- Frank A. Day â" 13th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- Morris Day (born 1957) â" musician and composer
- George Dayton (1857â"1938) â" banker, businessperson
- Mark Dayton (born 1947) â" former U.S. Senator, 40th Governor of Minnesota
- Julia Dean (1878â"1952) â" actress
- Gary DeCramer (born 1944) â" politician, educator
- Eric Decker, (born 1987) - football player
- Midge Decter (born 1927) â" neoconservative journalist
- Marguerite De La Motte (1902â"1950) â" silent film actress
- William Demarest (1892â"1983) â" film and television actor
- Dr. Demento (born 1941) â" radio personality (aka Barret Eugene Hansen)
- Carol Dempster (1901â"1991) â" actor
- Tony Denman (born 1979) â" actor
- John Denver § â" musician; lived in Edina, Minnesota (1968â"1971)
- Jessica Dereschuk (born 1982) â" 2004 Miss Minnesota
- Edward Devitt (1911â"1992) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Kate DiCamillo (born 1964) â" children's author
- Dez Dickerson (born 1955) â" guitarist and singer
- Gordon R. Dickson (1923â"2001) â" author
- Alan Dinehart (1889â"1944) â" actor
- Richard Dix (1893â"1949) â" actor
- Gil Dobie (1878â"1948) â" college football coach
- Farrell Dobbs (1907â"1983) â" Trotskyist politician, trade unionist
- Tod Dockstader (born 1932) â" composer of electronic music
- Pete Docter (born 1968) â" director, writer, animator, Up, WALL-E, Monsters, Inc.
- William Dodd â" historian, American ambassador to Nazi Germany
- Chris Doleman (born 1961) â" Minnesota Vikings football player
- Ignatius L. Donnelly (1831â"1901) â" member of U.S. Congress, 2nd Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota, author
- Frank Doran â" politician
- Kelly Doran (born 1957) â" businessperson
- Michael Doran (Minnesota politician) § (1827â"1915) â" politician
- Joanne Dorian (born 1942) â" actress, One Life to Live
- Marjory Stoneman Douglas (1890â"1998) â" journalist, writer, feminist, and environmentalist
- William O. Douglas (1898â"1980) â" Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
- Jeffrey Douma â" choir director
- Julia Duffy (born 1951) â" comedic actor
- John Lewis Dyer (1812â"1901) â" pioneering Methodist circuit rider; left Minnesota in 1861 for Colorado
- Daniel Greysolon, Sieur du Lhut § (1639â"1710) â" French explorer
- Ryan Dungey (born 1989) â" supercross and motorcross racer
- Mark H. Dunnell § (1823â"1904) â" member of the U.S. Congress
- David Durenberger (born 1934) â" U.S. Senator
- Richard Dworsky (born 1953) â" pianist and composer
- Sally Dworsky â" singer-songwriter
- Bob Dylan (born 1941) â" singer-songwriter, musician, poet
- Joanell Dyrstad (born 1942) â" 43rd Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
E
- Patrick Eaves § (born 1984) â" professional hockey player
- Charles Eastman § (1858â"1939) â" Dakota writer, doctor, lobbyist, co-founder of Boy Scouts of America
- Adolph Olson Eberhart § (1870â"1944) â" 17th Governor of Minnesota; 17th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- Richard Eberhart (1904â"2005) â" poet
- Tony Eckstein (1923â"2009) â" politician, veterinarian, veteran
- Frank Eddy (1856â"1929) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Linda Eder § (born 1961) â" Broadway star and recording artist
- Alonzo J. Edgerton § (1827â"1896) â" U.S. Senator
- Jim Eisenreich (born 1959) â" Minnesota Twins player
- Christian Elder (born 1968) â" stock-car driver
- Kimberly Elise (born 1967) â" actor
- David Ellefson (born 1964) â" musician
- Paul Ellering (born 1953) â" wrestler
- Carl Eller § (born 1942) â" Minnesota Vikings football player
- John F. Elliott (1920â"1991) â" professor of metallurgy
- Keith Maurice Ellison § (born 1963) â" politician
- Franklin Ellsworth (1879â"1942) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Gil Elvgren (1914â"1980) â" American pin-up artist
- LaFayette Emmett â" politician
- Jonette Engan (born 1951) â" politician, activist
- Siri Engberg â" curator of visual arts, Walker Art Center
- Ralph Engelstad (1930â"2002) â" businessperson
- Leif Enger â" author
- Elmer William Engstrom (1901â"1984) â" engineer
- Fred Enke (1897â"1985) â" college basketball coach
- Mike Enos (born 1963) â" wrestler
- Eric Enstrom â" photographer
- Matt Entenza (born 1960) â" politician, former gubernatorial candidate
- Arlen Erdahl (born 1931) â" member of the U.S. Congress
- Louise Erdrich (born 1954) â" novelist, poet, children's author
- Bryan Erickson (born 1960) â" hockey player
- Ethan Erickson (born 1973) â" actor, Fashion House
- Scott Erickson (born 1968) â" Minnesota Twins baseball player
- Wendell Erickson (born 1925) â" politician, educator, veteran
- Mike Erlandson â" politician, corporate executive
- Gilbert Esau (born 1919) â" politician, veteran
- Helga Estby (1860â"1942) â" noted for her walk across the United States during 1896
- John O. Evjen (1874â"1942) â" author, church historian and professor of theology
- Douglas Ewart § (born 1946) â" instrument builder and musician
- Eyedea (Mike Averill or Oliver Hart) (1982â"2010) â" underground rapper
F
- Clifford Fagan (1911â"1995) â" high school basketball referee
- Mike Farrell (born 1939) â" actor (M*A*S*H)
- Mike Farrell (born 1978) â" hockey player
- Ciatrick Fason § (born 1982) â" Minnesota Vikings football player
- Chris Faust § (born 1955) â" photographer
- Tammy Faye Messner (1942â"2007) â" televangelist, singer
- George William Featherstonhaugh § (born 1780) â" explorer
- Jay Feely (born 1976) â" placekicker for the New York Jets
- Trevor Fehrman (born 1981) â" actor
- Jim Finks § (1927â"1994) â" Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears executive
- David Fischer (born 1988) â" hockey player
- Mardy Fish (born 1981) â" tennis player
- F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896â"1940) â" novelist, short story writer
- Frances Scott Fitzgerald (1921â"1986) â" writer, journalist
- Larry Fitzgerald (born 1983) â" football player
- Marcus Fitzgerald (born 1985) â" football player
- David Flair (born 1979) â" wrestler
- Ric Flair § (born 1949) â" wrestler
- Richard E. Fleming (1917â"1942) â" sailor
- Loren Fletcher § (1833â"1919) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Michael Floyd (born 1989) â" football player
- Patrick Flueger (born 1983) â" actor, The 4400
- Thomas Fluharty â" illustrator
- Harry Flynn § (born 1933) â" Roman Catholic archbishop
- Vince Flynn â" author
- John R. Foley (1917â"2001) â" politician
- Steve Foley (1959â"2008) â" drummer, member of The Replacements
- Henry Fonda § â" actor, attended the University of Minnesota; born in Nebraska
- John M. Ford § (died 2006) â" science-fiction author and poet
- Al Franken § (born 1951) â" political humorist, author, radio commentator, U.S. Senator
- Thomas Frankson (1869â"1939) â" lawyer, real estate developer, politician; 22nd Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- Donald M. Fraser (born 1924) â" mayor of Minneapolis, member of U.S. Congress
- James Earle Fraser (1876â"1953) â" sculptor
- Jeff Frazee (born 1987) â" hockey player
- David Frederickson (born 1944) â" politician, farmer, former president of National Farmers Union
- Dennis Frederickson (born 1939) â" politician, farmer, veteran
- Orville Freeman (1918â"2003) â" 29th Governor of Minnesota, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
- Frederick William Freking (1911â"1998) â" shaman
- Bill Frenzel (born 1928) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Thomas Friedman (born 1953) â" journalist, columnist, author
- Lindsay Frost (born 1962) â" actor
- Daniel Fry (1908â"1992) â" alien-spaceship passenger
- Allen J. Furlow (1890â"1954) â" member of U.S. Congress
G
- Wanda Gág (1893â"1946) â" author, illustrator
- John Gagliardi § (born 1926) â" St. John's College football coach
- Greg Gagne § (born 1961) â" baseball player
- Greg Gagne (born 1948) â" wrestler
- Verne Gagne (born 1923) â" wrestler, founder of American Wrestling Association
- Neil Gaiman § (born 1960) â" British-born author
- Daniele Gaither (born 1972) â" comic actor
- Thomas J. Galbraith â" politician
- Richard Pillsbury Gale (1900â"1973) â" member of U.S. Congress
- William Gallagher (1875â"1946) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Jane Gallop (born 1952) â" professor, feminist
- Chick Gandil (1887â"1970) â" baseball player
- Roy Alexander Gano (1902â"1971) â" Vice Admiral, U.S. Navy
- Ron Gardenhire § (born 1957) â" manager of the Minnesota Twins
- Judy Garland (1922â"1969) â" singer, actor
- Lorraine Garland â" folk singer and fiddler
- Edward R. Garvey § â" activist, lawyer, and politician
- Mike Garvey (born 1962) â" stock-car driver
- Charles Gilbert Gates â" owned first home air conditioner in the United States in 1914
- Larry Gates (1915â"1996) â" actor
- Herbjørn Gausta (1854â"1924) â" landscape artist
- Ron "Boogiemonster" Gerber (born 1968) â" disc jockey, pop music historian, and engineer
- J. Paul Getty (1892â"1976) â" entrepreneur, philanthropist, founder of Getty Oil Company
- John L. Gibbs â" 14th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- Tom Gibis (born 1965) â" voice actor
- Cass Gilbert § (1859â"1934) â" architect
- Tom Gilbert â" hockey player
- Stan Gilbertson (born 1944) â" hockey player
- John Gilfillan § (1835â"1924) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Guy Gillette (1922â"2013) â" photographer
- Terry Gilliam (born 1940) â" actor (Monty Python), writer, director
- Sid Gillman (1911â"2003) â" American football coach
- Charles A. Gilman â" 9th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- Robert R. Gilruth (1913â"2000) â" aviation and space pioneer
- Dan Gladden (born 1957) â" Minnesota Twins baseball player
- Billy Glaze (1944-2015) â" serial killer
- Arne Glimcher (born 1938) â" art dealer, founder of Pace Gallery, film producer and director
- James B. Goetz § (born 1936) â" radio executive and the 38th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- William H. Goetzmann § (1930â"2010) â" historian
- Godfrey G. Goodwin (1873â"1933) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Genevieve Gorder (born 1974) â" designer, television personality (Trading Spaces)
- Samuel Y. Gordon â" 19th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- Willis Arnold Gorman § (1816â"1876) â" lawyer, soldier, politician
- Irving I. Gottesman § (born 1930) â" behavior geneticist, psychologist
- Billy Graham § (1918â"2018) â" evangelist, former president of Northwestern College
- Moonlight Graham § (1876â"1965) â" doctor, baseball player
- Kelsey Grammer § (born 1955) â" actor; Guthrie Theater alumnus
- Rod Grams (born 1948) â" U.S. Senator; member of U.S. Congress
- Mary GrandPré â" illustrator (Harry Potter books)
- Bud Grant § (born 1927) â" former Minnesota Vikings football coach
- Jim "Mudcat" Grant § (born 1935) â" Minnesota Twins baseball player
- Peter Graves (Peter Aurness) (1926â"2010) â" actor (Mission: Impossible television series, Airplane!, 7th Heaven)
- Dennis Green (born 1949) â" Minnesota Vikings football coach
- Lauren Green (born 1963) beauty queen, anchor
- Steven Greenberg (born 1950) â" musician ("Funkytown"), record producer
- Robert Grenier (born 1941) â" poet
- Ingebrikt Grose (1862â"1939) â" founding president of Concordia College
- Joan Growe (born 1935) â" former Minnesota Secretary of State
- Ann Morgan Guilbert (born 1928) â" actress, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Nanny
- Bill Gullickson (born 1959) â" baseball player
- Gil Gutknecht § (born 1951) â" former member of U.S. Congress
- Joe Guyon (1892â"1971) â" Hall of Fame NFL player
- Cristian Guzmán § (born 1978) â" Minnesota Twins baseball player
H
- Tom Hagedorn (born 1943) â" member of the U.S. Congress
- Ra'Shede Hageman § (born 1990) â" football player
- Gulbrand Hagen (1864 to 1919) â" newspaper editor and publisher
- Harold Hagen (1901â"2012) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Molly Hagan (born 1961) â" actress
- Darwin Hall § (1844â"1919) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Osee M. Hall § (1847â"1914) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Camilla Hall (1945-1974) - artist, college trained member of the Symbionese Liberation Army
- Philo Hall (1865â"1938) â" politician
- Walter Halloran (1921â"2005) â" priest, chaplain
- Kittel Halvorson § (1846â"1936) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Trina Hamlin â" singer-songwriter
- Winfield Scott Hammond § (1863â"1915) â" 18th Governor of Minnesota; member of U.S. Congress
- Greg Handevidt § (born 1965) â" musician, attorney
- Alan Hangsleben (born 1953) â" hockey player
- Dick Hanley (1894â"1970) â" football player and head coach
- Jack Hannahan (born 1980) â" third baseman for the Cleveland Indians
- Ben Hanowski (born 1990) â" professional hockey player
- Courtney Hansen (born 1975) â" television host and personality, syndicated columnist, author, and actress
- Duane Hanson (1925â"1996) â" post-modern sculptor
- Jeff Hanson § (born 1978) â" singer-songwriter, guitarist, and multi-instrumentalist
- Arthur Harkins § (born 20th century) â" co-founder of the World Future Society's Minnesota Futurists Chapter
- Poppy Harlow (born 1982) â" news anchor, reporter and journalist for Forbes.com and CNN
- Brian Harper § (born 1959) â" baseball player
- Har Mar Superstar (Sean Tillmann) (born 1978) â" entertainer
- Donald Harris (born 1931) â" composer and music teacher
- Irving Harris (1910â"2004) â" businessperson
- William H. Harries § (1843â"1921) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Napoleon Harris § (born 1979) â" football player
- Ryan Harris (born 1985) â" football player
- Samantha Harris (born 1973) â" television hostess, Dancing with the Stars, Entertainment Tonight
- Ellen Hart § (born 1949) â" mystery novelist
- Grant Hart (born 1961) â" musician
- Brynn Hartman (Vicki Omdahl) (1958â"1998) â" actor
- Josh Hartnett (born 1978) â" actor
- Sid Hartman (born 1920) â" sports writer
- Jon Hassler (born 1933) â" author
- Mike Hatch (born 1948) â" attorney general
- Brenton G. Hayden â" entrepreneur
- Bernt B. Haugan (born 1862) â" minister, politician, and temperance leader
- Randolph E. Haugan (1902â"1985) â" editor, author and publisher
- Louis J. Hauge, Jr. (1924â"1945) â" sailor
- Marty Haugen (born 1950) â" composer
- Pete Hautman § (born 1952) â" novelist
- John Hawkes (born 1959) â" actor
- Joel Heatwole § (1856â"1910) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Mitch Hedberg (1968â"2005) â" absurdist comic
- Bret Hedican (born 1970) â" hockey player
- Garrett Hedlund (born 1984) â" actor
- Tippi Hedren (born 1930) â" actor
- William Heffelfinger (1867â"1954) â" football player and coach, College Football Hall of Famer
- Michael Hegstrand (1957â"2003) â" wrestler
- Raina Hein (born 1987) â" runner-up of America's Next Top Model Cycle 14
- Lawrence Heinemi (born 1943) â" wrestler
- Luke Helder (born 1981) â" pipe bomber
- E. J. Henderson â" football player
- Seantrel Henderson â" football player
- Skitch Henderson (Lyle Russell Cedric Henderson) (1918â"2005) â" pianist, conductor, and composer
- Ben Hendrickson (born 1981) â" baseball player
- Darby Hendrickson (born 1972) â" hockey player
- Curt Hennig (1958â"2003) â" wrestler
- Joseph Curtis Hennig â" wrestler
- Larry Hennig â" wrestler
- Father Hennepin § (1626â"1705) â" explorer
- Abigail and Brittany Hensel (born 1990) â" conjoined twins
- Barton Hepburn (1906â"1955) â" actor
- Don Herbert (1917â"2007) â" television host
- Maureen Herman § (born 1966) â" musician
- Bryan Hickerson (born 1963) â" baseball player
- Wally Hilgenberg â" football player
- George Roy Hill (1921â"2002) â" film director
- James J. Hill § (1838â"1916) â" railroad tycoon, founder of Great Northern Railway
- Peter Himmelman (born 1960) â" songwriter
- John H. Hinderaker (born 1950) â" lawyer, blogger
- Larry Hisle § (born 1947) â" baseball player
- Charles Hoag § (1808â"1888) â" scholar
- Tami Hoag â" novelist
- Leroy Hoard § (born 1968) â" football player
- Jamie Hoffmann â" baseball player
- Tobias Hogan â" politician
- Einar Hoidale § â" member of U.S. Congress
- Mary Liz Holberg â" politician
- William Holcombe § (1804â"1870) â" 1st Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- Perry Greeley Holden (1865â"1959) â" professor of agronomy
- Bill Holm â" poet
- Paul Holmgren (born 1955) â" hockey player
- James Hong (born 1929) â" actor
- Townsend Hoopes (1922â"2004) â" soldier
- Eric Hoplin â" Deputy Chairman of the Republican Party of Minnesota
- George A. Hormel § (1860â"1946) â" founder of Hormel Foods
- George "Geordie" Hormel (1928â"2006) â" musician and recording-studio proprietor
- James Hormel (born 1931) â" philanthropist
- Jay Catherwood Hormel (1892â"1954) â" businessman
- Aaron Hosack § â" football player
- Harold Hotelling (1895â"1973) â" statistician and economist
- David Housewright (born 1955) â" novelist
- Phil Housley (born 1964) â" hockey player
- Guy V. Howard (1879â"1954) â" U.S. Senator
- Kent Hrbek (born 1960) â" baseball player
- Lucius Frederick Hubbard § (1836â"1913) â" 9th Governor of Minnesota
- Don Hultz â" football player
- Ramon Humber â" football player
- Oliver Humperdink (born 1949) â" wrestling manager
- Hubert Humphrey § (1911â"1978) â" U.S. Senator, Vice President, and presidential candidate
- Muriel Humphrey § (1912â"1998) â" U.S. Senator
- Skip Humphrey (born 1942) â" Minnesota attorney general
- Kris Humphries (born 1985) â" power forward for the New Jersey Nets
- Torii Hunter § (born 1975) â" baseball player
- Leonid Hurwicz § (1917â"2008) â" economist, Nobel laureate
- Lloyd Hustvedt (1922â"2002) â" professor, Norwegian-American scholar
- Siri Hustvedt (born 1955) â" novelist
- Peter Hutchinson (born 1949) â" politician and businessperson
I
- Sherwood B. Idso â" climatologist, ecologist, soil scientist
- Tim Irwin â" football player
- Bill Irwin â" wrestler
- Scott Irwin (born 1952) â" wrestler
- Doran Isackson (1938â"1989) â" politician, farmer
- Sharon Isbin (born 1956) â" classical guitarist
- Dan Israel â" musician
- I Self Devine (born 1972) â" musician
- Ishtakhaba â" Lakota chief
- Gideon S. Ives â" 11th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
J
- Carl Richard Jacobi (1908â"1997) â" author
- Sam Jacobson (born 1975) â" basketball player
- Jimmy Jam (born 1959) â" songwriter, co-founder of Flyte Tyme Productions
- Erasmus James (born 1982) â" football player
- Harry August Jansen § (1883â"1955) â" professional magician
- Lee Janzen (born 1964) â" golfer
- Kenny Jay (Kenny Benkowski) (born 1937) wrestler
- Sue Jeffers â" political activist, radio commentator, businessperson
- Claudia Jennings (Mary Eileen Chesterton) (1949â"1979) â" model and actor
- Mason Jennings (born 1975) â" pop-folk singer-songwriter
- Carl Jensen (1920â"1988) â" politician, attorney, veteran
- Doron Jensen (born 1957) â" businessperson
- Jim Jensen (1926â"1999) â" sportswriter
- Richard A. Jensen (born 1934) â" author
- Diane Jergens (born 1935) - actor
- Herb Joesting (1905â"1963) â" college and professional American football player
- Bob Johnson (1931â"1991) â" hockey coach
- Brad Johnson § (born 1968) â" football player
- Craig Johnson (born 1972) â" hockey player
- Dan Johnson (born 1979) â" baseball player
- Dean Johnson (born 1947) â" politician
- Dewey Johnson (1899â"1941) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Earl V. Johnson (1913â"1942) â" aviator
- Erik Johnson (born 1988) â" hockey player
- Gordon Johnson (born 1952) â" bass guitarist
- Jellybean Johnson (Garry George Johnson) (born 1956) â" songwriter, producer and musician
- Jim Johnson (born 1962) â" hockey player
- John Albert Johnson (1861â"1909) â" 16th Governor of Minnesota
- Josh Johnson (born 1984) â" baseball player
- Magnus Johnson § (1871â"1936) â" U.S. Senator; member of U.S. Congress
- Marcus Johnson (born 1981) â" football player
- Mark Johnson (born 1957) â" hockey player
- Mark Steven Johnson (born 1964) â" director and screenwriter, Ghost Rider, Daredevil
- Marlene Johnson (born 1946) â" 42nd Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- Paul Johnson (born 1935) â" hockey player
- Reynold B. Johnson (1906â"1998) â" inventor and computer pioneer
- Ron Johnson â" U.S. Senator for Wisconsin
- Scott W. Johnson (born 1940) â" lawyer, blogger
- Spencer Johnson â" football player
- Lance Johnstone (born 1973) â" football player
- Joshua Jolly (born 1986) â" LGBT activist
- Frederick McKinley Jones (1893â"1961) â" inventor, cofounder of Thermo King
- Jacques Jones (born 1975) â" baseball player
- Ray W. Jones â" 16th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- Tyus Jones - NBA Basketball Player
- Bennie Joppru (born 1980) â" football player
- Cameron Jordan (born 1989) â" football player
- Steve Jordan § (born 1961) â" football player
- Carl O. Jorgenson (1881â"1951) â" politician
- Bradley Joseph (born 1965) â" composer, pianist, keyboardist
- Walter Judd § (1898â"1994) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Jerry Juhl (1938â"2005) â" television and movie writer, puppeteer
- Dan Jurgens (born 1959) â" writer and illustrator
K
- Jim Kaat (born 1938) â" baseball player
- John Anthony Kaiser (1932â"2000) â" Roman Catholic priest killed in Kenya
- Henry Kalis (born 1937) â" politician, farmer, veteran
- Rick Kamla â" NBA TV broadcaster
- Joe Kapp (born 1939) â" football player
- Rich Karlis (born 1959) â" football player
- Joseph Karth (1922â"2005) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Vincent Kartheiser (born 1979) â" actor
- Evan Kaufmann (born 1984) â" professional ice hockey player in Germany
- Maude Kegg (Ojibwa name Naawakamigookwe) (1904â"1996) â" writer, folk artist, and cultural interpreter
- Tim Kehoe (born 1970) â" inventor and author
- Garrison Keillor (born 1942) â" radio humorist and author (A Prairie Home Companion)
- Alexander M. Keith (born 1928) â" judge, politician; 37th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- James "J.R." Keller (1907â"1972) â" politician, farmer, contractor
- Melissa Keller (born 1979) â" model and actress
- Oscar Keller (1878â"1927) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Rachel Keller (born 1991) â" actress, Fargo
- Wade Keller â" columnist
- Devin Kelley â" actress, The Chicago Code
- John Edward Kelley § (1853â"1941) â" South Dakota politician
- Steve Kelley (born 1953) â" politician
- Frank Kellogg § (1856â"1937) â" U.S. Senator, U.S. secretary of state, Kellogg-Briand Pact
- Randy Kelly (born 1950) â" politician
- Tom Kelly (born 1950) â" baseball coach
- Linda Kelsey (born 1946) â" actor
- Mark Kennedy (born 1957) â" former member of U.S. Congress
- Elizabeth Kenny § (1880â"1952) â" nurse, discovered revolutionary treatment for polio
- George Keogan (1890â"1943) â" basketball coach
- Ancel Keys (1904â"2004) â" nutritionist
- Leonard Kibrick (1924â"1993) â" child actor
- Sidney Kibrick (born 1928) â" child actor
- Jefferson P. Kidder § (1815â"1883) â" lawyer and jurist
- Dana Kiecker (born 1961) â" baseball player
- Andrew Kiefer § (1832â"1904) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Mary Kiffmeyer (born 1946) â" Minnesota Secretary of State
- Craig Kilborn (born 1962) â" television personality
- John N. Kildahl (1857â"1920) â" Lutheran church minister, author and educator
- Harmon Killebrew § (1936â"2011) â" baseball player
- Ward Kimball (1914â"2002) â" animator, musician
- Charles Kimbrough (born 1936) â" actor
- William S. King § (1828â"1900) â" member of U.S. Congress
- William W. Kingsbury § (1828â"1892) â" politician
- Sheila Kiscaden â" politician
- Jeremy James Kissner (born 1985) â" actor
- Norman Kittson § (1814â"1888) â" businessperson, politician
- Trent Klatt (born 1971) â" hockey player
- Kurt Kleinendorst (born 1960) â" hockey coach
- Scot Kleinendorst (born 1960) â" hockey player
- Jim Kleinsasser § (born 1977) â" football player
- John Kline § (born 1947) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Amy Klobuchar (born 1960) â" U.S. Senator
- Chuck Klosterman (born 1972) â" writer
- Chris Kluwe § (born 1981) â" football player
- T. R. Knight (born 1973) â" actor
- Chuck Knoblauch § (born 1968) â" baseball player
- Coya Knutson § (1912â"1996) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Harold Knutson § (1880â"1953) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Paul Koering (born 1964) â" politician; rare openly gay Republican
- Nikita Koloff (born 1959) â" wrestler
- Jerry Koosman (born 1942) â" baseball player
- Charlie Korsmo § (born 1978) â" actor
- Corey Koskie § (born 1973) â" baseball player
- Kristina Koznick â" downhill skier, Olympian
- Tommy Kramer § (born 1955) â" football player
- Herbert Arthur Krause (1905â"1976) â" American historian
- Paul Krause § (born 1942) â" football player
- Peter Krause (born 1965) â" actor
- Richard E. Kraus § (1925â"1944) â" sailor
- Mitch Krebs â" anchor
- Joan B. Kroc (1928â"2003) â" philanthropist
- Pat Kronebusch (1927â"2004) â" politician, educator
- Helen Barbara Kruger (1913â"2006) â" entrepreneur
- Robert T. Kuhn (born 1937) â" shaman
- Bernie Kukar â" National Football League referee
- William F. Kunze (1872â"1962) â" banker, politician
- Tom Kurvers (born 1962) â" hockey player
- Ole J. Kvale § (1869â"1929) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Paul John Kvale § (1896â"1940) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Ben Kyle § (born 1981) â" musician, songwriter
L
- James D. La Belle (1924â"1945) â" sailor
- Manuel Lagos (born 1971) â" soccer player
- Ann Landers â" (1918â"2002) columnist for Minneapolis Star Tribune; birth name Eppie Lederer
- Lenny Lane (born 1970) â" wrestler
- Odin Langen (1913â"1976) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Jessica Lange (born 1949) â" actor
- Jim Lange (1932â"2014) â" television host
- Jamie Langenbrunner (born 1975) â" hockey player
- Josh Langfeld (born 1977) â" hockey player
- Katherine Lanpher (born 1959) â" radio personality, journalist
- Gene Larkin (born 1962) â" baseball player
- Erik Larsen (born 1962) â" comic-book writer, artist, and publisher
- Gary Larsen (born 1942) â" football player
- Oscar Larson § (1871â"1957) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Reed Larson (born 1956) â" hockey player
- George Latimer § (born 1935) â" politician
- Roger Laufenburger (1921â"2001) â" politician, radio announcer, insurance agent
- Tom Laughlin (born 1931) â" actor
- James Laurinaitis (born 1986) â" football player
- Trevor Laws § (born 1985) â" football player
- Matt Lawton § (born 1971) â" baseball player
- Bernie Leadon (born 1947) â" musician
- Carrie Lee â" beauty queen
- Carl Lee â" football player
- Katie Lee - Enough said.
- Tammy Lee (born 1971) â" businessperson and politician
- Pinky Lee (1907â"1993) â" actor and star of The Pinky Lee Show
- James LeGros (born 1962) â" actor
- Tom Lehman (born 1959) â" golfer
- John D. LeMay (born 1962) â" actor
- Greg LeMond (born 1961) â" Tour de France winner
- Brock Lesnar § (born 1977) â" wrestler
- Meridel Le Sueur § (1900â"1996) â" writer
- Jon Leuer (born 1989) â" basketball player for the Detroit Pistons
- Harold LeVander § (1910â"1992) â" 32nd Governor of Minnesota
- David Levin â" singer-songwriter
- Mark LeVoir (born 1982) â" offensive tackle for the New England Patriots
- Len Levy (1921â"1999) â" American football player and professional wrestler
- Bob Lewis (1924â"2006) â" businessperson, champion race horse owner
- Sinclair Lewis (1885â"1951) â" Nobel Prize-winning novelist
- Terry Lewis § (born 1956) â" songwriter, co-founder of Flyte Tyme Productions
- Walter Liggett (1886â"1935) â" journalist, newspaper editor
- C. Walton Lillehei (1918â"1999) â" doctor who performed first open heart surgery
- John Lind § (1854â"1930) â" 14th Governor of Minnesota; member of U.S. Congress
- Bruce Lindahl (1919â"2014) â" Minnesota legislator
- Terrance Lindall (born 1944) â" artist
- Charles August Lindbergh, Sr. § (1859â"1924) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Charles Lindbergh § (1902â"1974) â" aviator, first non-stop solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean
- Gottfrid Lindsten 29th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- Chris Liwienski â" football player
- Charles M. Loring (1833â"1922) â" Minneapolis businessman, civic leader, "Father of Park System"
- Maud Hart Lovelace (1892â"1980) â" author
- Kirk Lowdermilk â" football player
- Cal Ludeman (born 1951) â" politician, state commissioner, farmer
- Ernest Lundeen § (1878â"1940) â" U.S. Senator; member of U.S. Congress
- Bob Lurtsema â" football player
- Bill Luther (born 1945) â" member of U.S. Congress
- David Lykken (1928â"2006) â" behavioral geneticist and Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Psychiatry
- Joseph Lykken (born 1957) â" physicist
- Dorothy Lyman (born 1947) â" actor, director, and producer
- Kelly Lynch (born 1959) â" actor
- Audra Lynn (born 1980) â" model and actor
- Jerry Lynn (born 1963) â" wrestler
M
- Melvin Maas (1898â"1964) â" member of U.S. Congress
- John L. MacDonald § (1838â"1903) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Clark MacGregor (1922â"2003) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Catharine MacKinnon (born 1946) â" legal scholar
- George MacKinnon (1906â"1995) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Cornell MacNeil â" singer
- Myles Mace (1911â"2000) â" Harvard Business School Professor
- Shane Mack § (born 1963) â" baseball player
- John Madden (born 1936) â" football coach and commentator
- Clarence R. Magney (1883â"1962) â" judge
- Warren G. Magnuson (1905â"1989) â" politician
- Tom Malchow (born 1976) â" swimmer
- Mark Mallman (born 1973) â" musician
- George Mann (1918â"1984) â" politician, farmer
- Paul Manship (1885â"1966) â" sculptor
- John Mariucci (1916â"1987) â" hockey coach
- Roger Maris (1934â"1985) â" baseball player
- Sharon Marko â" politician
- June Marlowe (1903â"1984) â" actor
- Kelli Maroney â" actress, Ryan's Hope, One Life to Live
- Forrest Mars, Sr. (1904â"1999) â" CEO, Mars, Inc., creator of M&M's
- Frank Mars (1883â"1934) â" founder of Mars, Inc., creator of Milky Way candy bar
- E. G. Marshall (1914â"1998) â" actor
- Fred Marshall (1906â"1985) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Jim Marshall § (born 1937) â" football player
- William Rainey Marshall § (1825â"1896) â" 5th Governor of Minnesota
- Theodore Marston (1868â"1920) â" film director and writer
- Billy Martin § (1928â"1989) â" baseball coach
- Homer Dodge Martin § (1836â"1897) â" painter
- Paul Martin (born 1981) â" hockey player
- John Marty â" politician
- Brownie Mary (Mary Jane Rathbun) (1922â"1999) â" baker
- Bob Mason (born 1961) â" hockey player
- Shirley Ardell Mason (1923â"1998) â" abuse victim
- Tommy Mason (born 1939) â" football player
- Bethanie Mattek (born 1985) â" professional tennis-player
- Gene Mauch § (1925â"2005) â" baseball manager
- Joe Mauer (born 1983) â" Minnesota Twins baseball player
- John Mayasich (born 1933) â" hockey player
- Charles Horace Mayo (1865â"1939) â" doctor, co-founder of the Mayo Clinic
- William J. Mayo (1861â"1939) â" doctor, co-founder of the Mayo Clinic
- William Worrall Mayo § (1819â"1911) â" doctor, head of St. Mary's Hospital
- Joe Mays (born 1975) â" baseball player
- Eugene McCarthy (1916â"2005) â" U.S. Senator; presidential candidate; member of U.S. Congress
- Kevin McCarthy (1914â"2010) â" actor
- James McCleary § (1853â"1924) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Betty McCollum (born 1954) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Ed McDaniel â" football player
- Randall McDaniel (born 1964) â" football player
- James E. McDonald (1920â"1971) â" physicist
- Denis McDonough (born 1969) â" White House Chief of Staff
- Heather McElhatton â" writer, reporter, and radio host
- Hugh McElhenny § (born 1928) â" football player
- Bobby McFerrin § (born 1950) â" jazz singer
- Andrew Ryan McGill § (1840â"1905) â" 10th Governor of Minnesota
- Kevin McHale (born 1957) â" basketball player
- Bethany McLean (born 1971) â" author
- John McMartin (born 1929) â" actor
- Samuel J. R. McMillan § (1826â"1897) â" judge, U.S. Senator
- Audray McMillian â" football player
- Lesley J. McNair (1883â"1944) â" soldier
- Graham McNamee (1888â"1942) â" broadcaster
- Dugan McNeill â" guitarist
- Pamela McNeill â" singer-songwriter
- Marcia McNutt â" geophysicist, National Academy of Sciences president
- Samuel Medary § (1801â"1864) â" politician, 3rd Governor of Minnesota Territory
- Ralph Meeker (Ralph Rathgeber) (1920â"1988) â" actor
- Mike Menning (born 1945) â" politician, businessman, minister
- William Rush Merriam § (1849â"1931) â" 11th Governor of Minnesota
- Jeremy Messersmith § â" musician
- James Metzen (born 1943) â" politician
- Breckin Meyer (born 1974) â" actor
- Joe Micheletti (born 1954) â" hockey player
- Doug Mientkiewicz (born 1974) â" baseball player
- Boris MikÅ¡iÄ (born 1948) â" Croatian-born businessman and politician
- Keith Millard (born 1962) â" football player
- Archie H. Miller â" 32nd Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- Clarence B. Miller (1872â"1922) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Joey Miller (born 1985) â" stock-car driver
- Stephen Miller § (1816â"1881) â" 4th Governor of Minnesota
- Worm Miller (born 1978) â" writer, director, and actor
- Kate Millett (born 1934) â" feminist and writer
- Larry Millett (born 1947) â" journalist and author
- Tommy Milton (1893â"1962) â" race car driver
- Don Mincher (1938â"2012) â" baseball player
- David Minge (born 1942) â" former member of U.S. Congress, state appeals court judge
- William D. Mitchell (1874â"1955) â" U.S. Attorney General
- Roger Moe (born 1944) â" politician.
- Don Moen (born 1950) â" worship leader and president of Hosanna! Music
- Mother Alfred Moes § (1828â"1899) â" founder of St. Mary's Hospital
- Paul Molitor (born 1956) â" baseball player, manager
- Carol Molnau (born 1949) â" 46th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- Dorothy Molter (1907â"1986) â" entrepreneur
- Eleanor Mondale (born 1960) â" television host, daughter of Walter Mondale
- Joan Mondale § (born 1930) â" second lady of the United States
- Walter Mondale (born 1928) â" Vice President of the United States, U.S. Senator
- Robert Mondavi (1913â"2008) â" winemaker
- Warren Moon (born 1956) â" football player
- Freddy Moore (born 1950) â" songwriter,
- Mewelde Moore (born 1982) â" football player
- Tom Moore (born 1938) â" senior offensive assistant for the Indianapolis Colts
- Mike Morin (born 1991) â" baseball player
- Jack Morris (born 1955) â" baseball player
- Robert P. Morris § (1853â"1924) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Dorilus Morrison § (1814â"1898) â" politician
- Scott Mortensen â" politician
- Greg Mortenson â" activist
- Marnie Mosiman â" actor, singer
- Randy Moss § (born 1977) â" football player
- Mee Moua § (born 1969) â" politician
- Bob Mould § (born 1960) â" musician
- John Edward Mower § (1815â"1879) â" businessperson, politician
- Karl Mueller (1963â"2005) â" musician
- Peter Mueller (born 1988) â" hockey player
- Mark Mullaney â" football player
- Biggie Munn (1908â"1975) â" football player and coach
- Adolph Murie (1899â"1974) â" biologist, author
- Diana E. Murphy (born 1934) â" judge
- Rick Mystrom â" politician
N
- Arthur Naftalin § (1917â"2005) â" politician
- Bronko Nagurski § (1908â"1990) â" football player, wrestler
- Peter Najarian § (born 1963) â" options trader, television personality for CNBC
- Joe Nathan (born 1974) â" baseball player
- Noel Neill (born 1920) â" actor
- LeRoy Neiman (born 1921) â" sports artist
- Ancher Nelsen (1904â"1992) â" 34th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota; member of U.S. Congress
- Arthur E. Nelson (1892â"1955) â" U.S. Senator
- Cindy Nelson (born 1955) â" alpine skier
- Darrin Nelson (born 1959) â" football player
- George Nelson § (born 1950) â" astronaut
- Holly Nelson â" poet, politician
- Knute Nelson § (1843â"1923) â" 12th Governor of Minnesota; U.S. Senator; member of U.S. Congress
- Prince (full name Prince Rogers Nelson) (1958-2016) â" singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, and actor
- Roy Nelson (1905â"1956) â" cartoonist
- Steve Nelson (born 1951) â" football player for the New England Patriots
- Pat Neshek § (born 1980) â" relief pitcher for the Minnesota Twins
- Tom Netherton (born 1947) â" singer
- Graig Nettles § (born 1944) â" baseball player
- Ernie Nevers (1902â"1976) â" Hall of Fame football player
- Walter Newton (1880â"1941) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Joseph Nicollet § (1786â"1843) â" explorer
- Tom Niedenfuer (born 1959) â" baseball player
- Matt Niskanen (born 1986) â" hockey player
- Richard Nolan (born 1943) â" member of U.S. Congress
- William I. Nolan (1874â"1943) â" 24th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota; member of U.S. Congress
- Gena Lee Nolin (born 1971) â" actress and model, Baywatch, Sheena
- John Nord (born 1959) â" wrestler
- Michele Norris â" radio journalist
- William Norris § (1911â"2006) â" CEO Control Data
- Lauris Norstad (1907â"1988) â" general, commander of NATO forces
- Daniel S. Norton § (1829â"1870) â" U.S. Senator
- Eunice Norton (1908â"2005) â" pianist
- Greg Norton (born 1959) â" musician, chef
- Scott Norton (born 1958) â" wrestler
- Frank Nye § (1852â"1935) â" member of U.S. Congress
O
- Tim O'Brien (born 1946) â" author
- Mac O'Grady (born 1951) â" golfer
- Joseph P. O'Hara (1895â"1975) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Michael O'Leary (born 1958) â" actor
- Jim Oberstar (born 1934) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Tim Ocel â" director
- Willie Offord (born 1978) â" football player
- "Mean Gene" Okerlund (born 1942) â" professional wrestling interviewer and announcer
- Kyle Okposo (born 1988) â" hockey player
- Tony Oliva § (born 1938) â" baseball player
- Alec G. Olson (born 1930) â" member of U.S. Congress; 40th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- Earl B. Olson (1915â"2006) â" founder of the Jennie-O Turkey company
- Floyd B. Olson (1891â"1936) â" 22nd Governor of Minnesota
- Greg Olson (born 1960) â" baseball player
- Howard Olson (1937â"1996) â" politician, farmer
- John Olson (1906â"1981) â" politician, farmer
- Katy Olson (born 1928) â" politician, farmer
- Kenneth L. Olson (1945â"1968) â" Vietnam War veteran
- Mark Olson (born 1943) â" member of the Board of Governors of the U.S. Federal Reserve
- Sigurd Olson (1899â"1982) â" environmentalist
- Norman J. Ornstein â" political scientist
- Dave Osborn â" football player
- T.J. Oshie § â" hockey player
- Laura Osnes (born 1985) â" actor, singer
- Peter Ostroushko (born 1953) â" violinist
- Rebecca Otto (born 1963) â" politician, 18th state auditor
P
- Alan Page § (born 1945) â" football player and Minnesota Supreme Court justice
- John U. D. Page (1903â"1950) â" soldier
- Doug Pagitt â" religion author
- Floyd Palmer (born 1943) â" businessperson
- Carl Panzram (1891â"1930) â" serial killer, author
- George Andreas Papandreou (born 1952) â" Greek politician
- Bob Paradise (born 1944) â" hockey player
- Zach Parise (born 1984) â" hockey player
- Robert Ezra Park § (1864â"1944) â" urban sociologist
- Bradford Parkinson (born 1935) â" father of the Global Positioning System
- Gordon Parks § (1912â"2006) â" photographer
- Emory Parnell (1892â"1979) â" actor
- Nancy Parsons (1942â"2001) â" actor
- Camilo Pascual (born 1934) â" baseball player
- Gary Paulsen (born 1939) â" author
- Jeno Paulucci â" founder of Jeno's Frozen Pizza, Chun King Corporation, and Luigino's
- Mary Pawlenty â" judge, first lady of the state
- Tim Pawlenty (born 1960) â" 39th Governor of Minnesota
- Barbara Payton (1927-1967) - actor
- Pat Peake (born 1973) â" hockey player
- Westbrook Pegler (1894â"1969) â" journalist and writer
- Mary Jo Pehl â" actor, broadcaster, and writer
- Tim Penny (born 1951) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Glen Perkins (born 1983) â" baseball player
- Rudy Perpich (1928â"1995) â" 34th and 36th Governor of Minnesota; 39th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- Jim Perry § (born 1935) â" baseball player
- Melissa Peterman (born 1970) â" actor
- Hjalmar Petersen § (1890â"1968) â" 23rd Governor of Minnesota; 28th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- Aaron Peterson â" politician
- Barbara Peterson â" Miss USA 1976
- Collin Peterson (born 1944) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Darrel Peterson (1939â"1994) â" politician, farmer
- Paul Peterson (St. Paul) â" musician
- Wayne Peterson (born 1925) â" composer, Pulitzer Prize winner
- Jake Petricka (born 1988) â" baseball player
- Brittany Petros (born 1974) â" actor
- William Wallace Phelps § (1826â"1873) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Reynold Philipsek (born 1952) â" musician
- Arthur Phillips (born 1969) â" author
- Don Piccard (born 1926) â" balloonist
- Jean Piccard § (1884â"1963) â" organic chemist, balloonist
- Jeannette Piccard § (1895â"1981) â" teacher, balloonist, priest
- Justin Pierre (born 1976) â" musician
- Janelle Pierzina (born 1980) â" actor, model
- Bernard Pietenpol (1901â"1984) â" mechanic, aircraft designer
- Zebulon Montgomery Pike § (1779â"1813) â" explorer
- John S. Pillsbury § (1828â"1901) â" founder of Pillsbury, 8th Governor of Minnesota
- Chellie Pingree (born 1955) â" politician
- Robert M. Pirsig § (born 1928) â" author, philosopher
- William Pittenger § (1885â"1951) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Mike Ploog (born 1942) â" storyboard and comic-book artist
- Henry Stanley Plummer (1874â"1937) â" physician
- Mortimer Plumtree (born 1969) â" wrestler
- Shjon Podein (born 1968) â" hockey player
- Henry Poehler § (1833â"1912) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Carl Pohlad § (born 1915) â" billionaire, baseball owner and philanthropist
- Joe Polo (born 1982) â" curler and Olympic bronze medalist
- Olivia Poole (1889â"1975) â" inventor
- P.O.S â" rapper
- Vic Power § (1927â"2005) â" baseball player
- Chris Pratt (born 1979) â" actor, Everwood, Parks and Recreation
- Tom Preissing § (born 1978) â" hockey player
- Jacob Aall Ottesen Preus § (1883â"1961) â" 20th Governor of Minnesota
- Jacob Aall Ottesen Preus II (1920â"1994) â" shaman
- Prince (1958-2016) â" singer-songwriter, actor, composer
- Pat Proft (born 1947) â" comedy writer and actor
- Joel Przybilla (born 1979) â" basketball player
- Kirby Puckett § (1960â"2006) â" Baseball Hall of Famer
- George Putnam (born 1914) â" television host
- Herbert Putnam § (1861â"1955) Librarian of Congress
- William S. Pye (1880â"1959) â" Admiral in the U.S. Navy
Q
- Becky Quick (born 1972) â" co-anchorwoman of CNBC's Squawk Box
- Al Quie (born 1923) â" 35th Governor of Minnesota; member of U.S. Congress
- Frank Quilici § (born 1939) â" baseball player
- Robb Quinlan (born 1977) â" baseball player
R
- Brian Raabe (born 1967) â" baseball player
- Brad Radke (born 1972) â" baseball player
- Pedro Ramos (born 1935) â" baseball player
- Alexander Ramsey § (1815â"1903) â" 2nd Governor of Minnesota; U.S. Senator
- Jim Ramstad § (born 1946) â" member of U.S. Congress
- John Randle (born 1967) â" football player
- Ralph Rapson § (1914â"2008) â" architect
- Baron von Raschke § (born 1940) â" professional wrestler
- Ahmad RashÄd (born 1949) â" football player
- Erik Rasmussen (born 1977) â" hockey player
- Edwin W. Rawlings (1904â"1997) â" chief executive officer, General Mills; USAF General (Ret.)
- Jeff Reardon (born 1955) â" baseball player
- Harry Reasoner § (1923â"1991) â" television journalist
- Jake Reed (born 1967) â" football player
- Oscar Reed â" football player
- Rich Reese (born 1941) â" baseball player
- Olli Rehn (born 1962) â" European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy
- Ember Reichgott Junge â" attorney, radio host, and politician
- Chris Reitsma (born 1977) â" baseball player
- Earl Renneke (born 1928) â" politician, farmer
- Rip Repulski (1927â"1993) â" baseball player
- Michael Restovich (born 1979) â" baseball player
- Patrick Reusse â" sports writer
- Albert E. Rice (1845â"1921) â" banker, newspaperman, legislator, and the 10th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- Edmund Rice § (1819â"1889) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Henry Mower Rice § (1816â"1894) â" U.S. Senator
- Todd Richards â" head coach of the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets
- Kaylin Richardson â" downhill skier, Olympian, Nor-Am Champion, US National Champion, World Champion
- William B. Richardson â" acting Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota (1936â"1937)
- Nate Richert (born 1978) â" actor
- Carl W. Riddick (born 1872) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Beth Riesgraf (born 1978) â" actress
- Martha Ripley § (1843â"1912) â" physician; founder, Maternity Hospital in Minneapolis
- Mark Ritchie (born 1951) â" Minnesota Secretary of State
- Laila Robins (born 1959) â" actress
- Koren Robinson â" football player
- Marcus Robinson (born 1975) â" football player
- Robyne Robinson â" newscaster
- Stacy Robinson â" football player
- Svend Robinson (born 1952) â" Canadian politician
- Rafael Rodriguez â" boxer
- Brian Rogowski (born 1970) â" wrestler
- Todd Rohloff (born 1974) â" hockey player
- Rich Rollins (born 1938) â" baseball player
- Karl Rolvaag (1913â"1990) â" 31st Governor of Minnesota; 36th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- Ole Rolvaag § (1876â"1931) â" novelist
- Richard Rood (1958â"1999) â" wrestler, best known by his ringname "Ravishing" Rick Rude
- Mike Rosenthal â" football player
- Marion Ross (born 1928) â" actor
- Coleen Rowley (born 1954) â" former FBI agent and whistleblower; candidate for Congress in the 2nd District of Minnesota
- Dwayne Rudd (born 1976) â" football player
- Donald Eugene Rudolph, Sr. (c. 1921â"2006) â" soldier
- Jane Russell (1921â"2011) â" film actress
- Elmer Ryan (1907â"1958) â" member of U.S. Congress
- R. T. Rybak (born 1955) â" politician, newspaper editor
- Winona Ryder (born 1971) â" actor
S
- Dwight M. Sabin § (1843â"1902) â" U.S. Senator
- Martin Olav Sabo § (1938â"2016) â" former member of U.S. Congress
- Saint Dog (Steven Thronson) â" rapper from Chisholm, Minnesota; member of the hip-hop group Kottonmouth Kings
- Harrison Salisbury (1908â"1993) â" journalist
- Zak Sally â" musician
- Ralph Samuelson (1903â"1977) â" inventor of water skiing, first water-ski jumper and speed skier
- John B. Sanborn (1826â"1904) â" Union Army General, state legislator
- John B. Sanborn, Jr. (1883â"1964) â" Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge
- Michael J. Sandel (born 1953) â" political philosopher, Harvard professor
- Charlie Sanders (born 1979) â" actor
- Tony Sanneh (born 1971) â" soccer player
- Johan Santana (born 1979) â" baseball player
- Gary Sargent (born 1954) â" hockey player
- Gloria Sawai (Gloria Ruth Ostrem) (born 1932) â" author of fiction
- Thomas D. Schall § (1878â"1935) â" U.S. Senator; member of U.S. Congress
- Bruce Schneier (born 1963) â" founder and chief technology officer, Counterpane Internet Security
- Henry Schoolcraft § (1793â"1864) â" explorer
- Charles M. Schulz (1922â"2000) â" cartoonist
- Richard M. Schulze (born 1941) â" founder and chairman, Best Buy
- Mae Schunk § (born 1934) â" 45th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- Kathryn Leigh Scott (Kathryn Kringstad) (born 1945) â" author, actor
- Seann William Scott (born 1976) â" actor
- Todd Scott â" football player
- Briana Scurry (born 1971) â" soccer player
- Richard Warren Sears (1863â"1914) â" co-founder, Sears, Roebuck and Company
- Mitch Seavey â" dog musher
- Jerry Seeman â" NFL referee and Director of Officiating
- Robert Seguso (born 1963) â" tennis player
- Aaron Sele (born 1970) â" baseball player
- Conrad Selvig (1877â"1953) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Lyle Sendlein (born 1984) â" football player
- Joe Senser â" football player
- Marty Sertich (born 1982) â" hockey player
- Brian Setzer § â" musician
- Eric Sevareid § (1912â"1992) â" television journalist
- Stephen Shadegg (1909â"1990) â" political consultant in Phoenix, Arizona; born in Minneapolis
- Kyle Shanahan (born 1979) â" football coach
- Rob Shanahan (born 1966) - photographer
- Eddie Sharkey â" wrestling coach
- Darren Sharper (born 1975) â" football player
- Clark Shaughnessy (1892â"1970) â" football coach
- Sam Shepard â" actor and playwright; lived in Stillwater, Minnesota, with partner Jessica Lange
- Marcus Sherels â" football player
- Charles D. Sherwood â" 4th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- James Shields § (1810â"1879) â" U.S. Senator
- Henrik Shipstead (1881â"1960) â" U.S. Senator
- Francis Shoemaker (1889â"1958) â" member of U.S. Congress
- BeBe Shopp (born 1930) â" Miss America 1948
- Bob Short (1917â"1982) â" owner of sports teams and politician
- Henry Hastings Sibley § (1811â"1891) â" 1st Governor of Minnesota
- Christopher Sieber (born 1969) â" actor
- Dick Siebert § (1912â"1978) â" college baseball coach
- Gerry Sikorski (born 1948) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Clifford D. Simak § (1904â"1988) â" science-fiction writer
- Richard Simmons (1913â"2003) â" actor
- George Sitts â" convicted murderer
- Slug (born 1973) â" rapper
- Roy Smalley § (born 1952) â" baseball player
- Jack Smight (1925â"2003) â" film director
- Bruce Smith (1920â"1967) â" football player; winner, Heisman Trophy
- Chad Smith (born 1961) â" drummer, Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Edward Everett Smith â" 18th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- George Ross Smith (1864â"1952) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Larry H. Smith (1939â"2002) â" hockey player
- Lyndon Ambrose Smith â" 15th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- Onterrio Smith § (born 1980) â" football player
- Phillips Waller Smith (1906â"1963) â" U.S. Air Force Major General
- Raonall Smith (born 1978) â" football player
- Robert Smith § (born 1972) â" football player
- Wyatt Smith (born 1977) â" hockey player
- Fred Smoot § (born 1979) â" football player
- Josiah Snelling § (1782â"1828) â" first commander of Fort Snelling
- Samuel Snider § (1845â"1928) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Zach Sobiech (1995â"2013) â" musician
- Ben Sobieski (born 1979) â" football player
- Konrad K. Solberg â" 27th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- Kathleen Soliah § (born 1947) â" member of the Symbionese Liberation Army
- Gordon Solie (Francis Jonard Labiak) (1929â"2000) â" wrestling announcer
- Sammy Solis â" baseball player
- Jesse Solomon â" football player
- Spenser J. Somers § (1972â"1990) â" author
- Rich Sommer § (born 1978) â" actor
- Stephen Sommers § (born 1962) â" director
- Gale Sondergaard (1899â"1985) â" Academy Award-winning actress (1936)
- John Sontag (1861â"1893) â" outlaw, born in Mankato
- Kevin Sorbo (born 1958) â" actor
- Richard K. Sorenson (1924â"2004) â" sailor
- Alec Soth (born 1969) â" photographer
- Ann Sothern (1909â"2001) â" actress
- Matt Spaeth â" football player
- Allan Spear § (1937â"2008) â" state legislator and president of the Minnesota Senate
- LaVyrle Spencer â" romance novelist
- Lili St. Cyr (Willis Marie Van Schaack) (1918â"1999) â" ecdysiast
- Paul St. Peter (also known as George C. Cole and Francis C. Cole) (born 1958) â" voice actor
- Joan Staley (born 1940) - actor
- Arlan Stangeland § (born 1930) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Maurice Stans (1908â"1998) â" U.S. secretary of commerce
- Frank Starkey (1892â"1968) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Harold Stassen (1907â"2001) â" 25th Governor of Minnesota
- Ozora P. Stearns § (1831â"1896) â" U.S. Senator
- Franklin Steele § (1813â"1880) â" early settler of St. Anthony, Minnesota
- Halvor Steenerson § (1852â"1926) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Andy Steensma (born 1942) â" farmer, mayor, politician
- Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper (born 1963) â" astronaut
- Will Steger (born 1943) â" polar explorer
- Terry Steinbach (born 1962) â" Major League Baseball player
- Helen Stenborg (born 1925) â" actor
- Phil Sterner (born 1960) â" politician
- Cliff Sterrett â" cartoonist
- Todd Steussie â" football player
- Frederick Stevens § (1861â"1923) â" member of U.S. Congress
- John H. Stevens â" § (1820â"1900) first civilian (non-indigenous) resident of Minneapolis
- Jacob H. Stewart § (1829â"1884) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Kenny Stills (born 1992) â" wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins
- Bob Stinson (Robert Neil Stinson) (1959â"1995) â" musician
- Tommy Stinson (born 1966) â" musician
- Carl Stockdale (1874â"1953) â" actor
- Cal Stoll (1923â"2000) â" former coach, Wake Forest, University of Minnesota football
- Erik Stolhanske (born 1968) â" comedian
- Horace B. Strait § (1835â"1894) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Korey Stringer § (1974â"2001) â" football player
- Eric Strobel (born 1958) â" hockey player; 1980 Miracle on Ice hockey-team member
- Mike Stuart (born 1980) â" hockey player
- Scott Studwell â" football player
- John Stumpf â" chairman and chief executive officer, Wells Fargo
- Terrell Suggs â" football player
- George H. Sullivan â" 21st Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- Clinton Sundberg â" actor
- Milt Sunde â" football player
- David C. Sutherland III (1949â"2005) â" Dungeons & Dragons artist
- Steve Sviggum â" politician
- Curt Swan (1920â"1996) â" comic book artist
- Lori Swanson (born 1966) â" Minnesota Attorney General
- Nick Swardson (born 1977) â" stand-up comedian, actor
- Henry Adoniram Swift § (1823â"1869) â" 3rd Governor of Minnesota and 3rd Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- William Irvin Swoope § (1862â"1930) â" lawyer and politician
T
- Taoyateduta (c. 1810â"1863) â" chief of the Mdewakanton Sioux tribe
- Kevin Tapani § (born 1964) â" baseball player
- Thomas Tapeh § (born 1980) â" football player
- Fran Tarkenton § (born 1940) â" football player
- A. J. Tarpley (born 1992) â" football player
- John Tate (born 1925) â" mathematician; winner, Wolf Prize in Mathematics and the Abel Prize
- James Albertus Tawney § (1855â"1919) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Glen Taylor â" businessperson
- Travis Taylor § (born 1978) â" football player
- Maureen Teefy (born 1953) â" musical-theatre vocalist and actor
- Henry Teigan § (1881â"1941) â" politician
- Wayne Terwilliger § (born 1925) â" baseball coach
- Dontarrious Thomas § (born 1980) â" football player
- George Thomas (born 1937) â" baseball player
- Henry Thomas § (born 1965) â" football player
- Butch Thompson (born 1943) â" jazz pianist and clarinetist
- Lea Thompson (born 1961) â" actor, dancer
- Stew Thornley (born 1955) â" author of books on sports history
- Edward John Thye § (1896â"1969) â" 26th Governor of Minnesota; 31st Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota; U.S. Senator
- Steve Tibbetts § (born 1954) â" guitarist
- Mike Tice § (born 1959) â" football coach
- Cheryl Tiegs (born 1947) â" model
- Mick Tingelhoff § (born 1940) â" football player
- Tiny Tim (Herbert Buckingham Khaury) § (1932â"1996) â" musician
- Analeigh Tipton (born 1988) â" third place, America's Next Top Model Cycle 11
- Mike Todd (1909â"1958) â" movie producer
- César Tovar § (1940â"1994) â" baseball player
- Charles A. Towne (1858â"1928) â" U.S. Senator; member of U.S. Congress
- A. C. Townley § (1880â"1959) â" socialist
- Jayne Trcka â" bodybuilder and actress
- Martin Edward Trench (1869â"1927) â" sailor, politician
- Billy Turner (born 1991) â" football player
- W. D. Twichell (1864â"1959) â" Texas surveyor; born in Hastings
- Anne Tyler (born 1941) â" novelist
U
- Kenechi Udeze § (born 1983) â" football player
- Brenda Ueland (1891â"1985) â" journalist
- Lenore Ulric (born 1892) â" actor
- Bob Ulrich (born 1944) â" businessperson
- Jay Underwood (born 1968) â" actor
- Jordis Unga § (born 1982) â" singer
- Anne Ursu â" journalist, novelist, blogger
V
- John Vachon (1914â"1975) â" photographer
- Norm Van Brocklin § (1926â"1983) â" NFL quarterback and Minnesota Vikings coach
- Carl Van Dyke (1881â"1919) â" member of U.S. Congress
- John Van Dyke § (1807â"1878) â" politician
- Samuel Rinnah Van Sant § (1844â"1936) â" 15th Governor of Minnesota
- Shantel VanSanten (born 1985) â" actress, model, One Tree Hill
- Sofia Vassilieva (born 1992) â" child actor
- Vince Vaughn (born 1970) â" actor
- Thorstein Veblen § (1857â"1929) â" economist, sociologist, author
- Bruce Vento (1940â"2000) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Jesse Ventura (born 1951) â" wrestler; 38th Governor of Minnesota
- Zoilo Versalles § (1939â"1995) â" baseball player
- John William Vessey, Jr. (born 1922) â" Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
- Jim Vickerman (born 1931) â" politician, senator
- Frank Viola § (born 1960) â" baseball player
- Pamela Vitale § (1953â"2005) â" murder victim
- Andrew Volstead (1860â"1947) â" member of U.S. Congress; author of the 1919 National Prohibition Act (known informally as the Volstead Act)
- Lindsey Vonn (born 1984) â" Olympic and world champion skier
- Ana Clara Voog (Rachael Olson) (born 1966) â" singer-songwriter, musician, performance artist, visual artist, and writer
W
- Kevin Wacholz (born 1958) â" wrestler
- James Wakefield § (1825â"1910) â" 8th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota; member of U.S. Congress
- Harriet G. Walker § (1841â"1917) â" president, Northwestern Hospital
- T. B. Walker § (1840â"1928) â" lumberman; founder of Minneapolis Public Library; founder of Walker Art Center
- DeWitt Wallace (1889â"1981) â" publisher; founder of Reader's Digest; philanthropist
- Steve Walsh (born 1966) â" football player
- Sean Waltman (born 1972) â" wrestler
- Tim Walz â" politician
- Lou Wangberg (born 1941) â" 41st Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- John Warne (born 1979) â" musician
- Lonnie Warwick â" football player
- Cadwallader Washburn § (1818â"1882) â" businessperson; founder of Washburn Mills
- William D. Washburn § (1831â"1912) â" U.S. Senator; member of U.S. Congress
- Gene Washington § (born 1947) â" football player
- Vin Weber (born 1952) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Jon Wefald (born 1937) â" educator
- Knud Wefald § (1869â"1936) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Mark Weigle (born 1967) â" singer-songwriter
- Chris Weinke (born 1972) â" football player
- Jeff Weise (1988â"2005) â" high school student who committed murder/suicide
- Paul Wellstone § (1944â"2002) â" U.S. Senator
- Sheila Wellstone (1944â"2002) â" advocate for human rights, the environment, and peace; wife of Paul Wellstone
- Carl L. Weschcke (born 1930) â" businessperson; president and owner, Llewellyn Worldwide
- Paul Westerberg (born 1959) â" musician
- Wes Westrum (1922â"2002) â" baseball player
- Jacob Wetterling (1978-1989) â" kidnapped, abused, and murdered in 1989; missing until remains were discovered in 2016
- Patty Wetterling § (born 1949) â" politician, advocate of children's safety
- Friedrich Weyerhäuser â" businessperson
- Lindsay Whalen (born 1982) â" WNBA player
- David Wheaton (born 1969) â" tennis player
- Blake Wheeler (born 1986) â" hockey player
- Ed White â" football player
- Milo White § (1833â"1912) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Minor White (1908â"1976) â" photographer
- Sammy White § (born 1954) â" football player
- Benson Whitney â" U.S. Ambassador to Norway
- Richard Widmark (1914â"2008) â" actor
- Roy Wier § (1888â"1963) â" member of U.S. Congress
- James Russell Wiggins (1903â"2000) â" editor; U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
- Jermaine Wiggins (born 1975) â" football player
- Laura Ingalls Wilder § (1867â"1957) â" novelist
- Zygi Wilf § (born 1950) â" football team owner
- Roy Wilkins § (1901â"1981) â" civil rights leader
- Bud Wilkinson (1916â"1994) â" football player, coach, and broadcaster
- Morton S. Wilkinson § (1819â"1894) â" U.S. Senator; member of U.S. Congress
- Warren William (Warren William Krech) (1894â"1948) â" actor
- Auburn Williams (born 1990) â" singer
- Brian Williams (born 1979) â" football player
- Kevin Williams (born 1980) â" football player
- Moe Williams (born 1974) â" football player
- Pat Williams (born 1972) â" football player
- Stokley Williams (born 1967) â" musician
- Tom Williams (1940â"1992) â" hockey player
- Troy Williamson (born 1983) â" football player
- Paul Willson (born 1945) â" actor
- August Wilson § (1945â"2005) â" Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright
- Dan Wilson â" musician
- Dorothy Wilson (1909â"1998) â" actress
- Eugene McLanahan Wilson § (1833â"1890) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Rainn Wilson § (born 1966) â" actor; Guthrie Theater alumnus
- Sheree J. Wilson (born 1958) â" actor
- Thomas Wilson § (1827â"1910) â" member of U.S. Congress
- Wade Wilson § (born 1959) â" football player
- Harold Windingstad (1929â"2006) â" political activist, farmer
- William Windom § (1827â"1891) â" U.S. Senator, member of U.S. Congress
- Antoine Winfield (born 1977) â" football player
- Dave Winfield (born 1951) â" Baseball Hall of Fame player
- Eliza Winston § (born 1830) â" freed slave
- Roy Winston â" football player
- Max Winter § (1903â"1996) â" football team owner
- Ted Winter (born 1949) â" politician, farmer, insurance agent
- Theodore Wirth § (1863â"1949) â" horticulturalist, Minneapolis Superintendent of Parks; civic planner
- Cory Withrow â" football player
- Wally Wood (1927â"1981) â" comic-book writer, artist, and independent publisher
- Wolfman Jack (Robert Weston Smith) § â" radio personality
- Jerome J. Workman, Jr. (born 1952) â" spectroscopist, editor, author
- Bryan Thao Worra (born 1973) â" poet, writer, and journalist
- Al Worthington § (born 1929) â" baseball player
- John Wozniak (born 1971) â" musician
- Donald O. Wright (1892â"1985) â" 35th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- Michael Wuertz (born 1978) â" baseball player
- Irma Wyman § (born 20th century) â" first chief information officer, Honeywell
Y
- Cedric Yarbrough (born 1968) â" actor, Reno 911!
- Adam Young (born 1986) â" musician
Z
- Steve Zabel (born 1948) â" football player
- Steve Zahn (born 1967) â" actor
- Martin Zellar â" musician
- Kurt Zellers § (born 1969) â" state representative
- Tom Zenk (born 1958) â" wrestler
- Gary Zimmerman § (born 1961) â" football player
- Robert Zimmerman (see Bob Dylan)
- Andrew Zimmern (born 1961) â" television personality, chef, food writer
- Cat Zingano (born 1982) â" UFC mixed martial artist
- Doug Zmolek (born 1970) â" hockey player
- Fred Zollner (1901â"1982) â" basketball-team owner
- Tay Zonday (born 1982) â" musician, prominent YouTuber
- Buck Zumhofe â" wrestler
- John M. Zwach (1907â"1990) â" member of U.S. Congress
Fictional characters
- Paul Bunyan, folklore logger, voyageur
- Betty Crocker, food brand character
- Marshall Eriksen, character from the television sitcom How I Met Your Mother
- Henry Gale, character from the television series Lost
- Marge Gunderson, from the film Fargo
- Jolly Green Giant, food brand character
- Juno MacGuff, character from the film Juno
- Angus MacGyver, main character of the 1980s television series MacGyver
- Minnehaha, Native American maiden from Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's poem "Song of Hiawatha"
- Lester Nygaard, character from the first season of Fargo
- Rose Nylund, character from the television sitcomThe Golden Girls
- Pillsbury Doughboy, food brand character
- Candy Quackenbush, from Clive Barker's The Books of Abarat novel series
- Mary Richards, main character of the television sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show
- Rocky and Bullwinkle, cartoon characters
- Lou Solverson, character from the TV show, Fargo
- Molly Solverson, character from the TV show, Fargo
See also
- Lists of Americans