List of people from Minnesota

A

Johan Arnd Aasgaard (1876–1966) – president, Concordia College; president, Norwegian Lutheran Church of America

Barkhad Abdi § (born 1985) – actor

Walter Abel (1898–1987) – actor

Martin Abern § (1898–1949) – Trotskyist politician

Charles Edward Adams (1867–1936) – 25th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

Anthony Adducci § (1937–2006) – builder of the first lithium-battery-powered pacemaker

Peter Agre (born 1949) – co-recipient, 2003 Nobel Prize in Chemistry (shared with Roderick MacKinnon)

Faysal Ahmed (born 1985) – actor

Walden L. Ainsworth (1886–1960) – admiral, U.S. Navy

Eddie Albert § (1906–2005) – actor, gardener and humanitarian activist

Frank Albertson (1909–1964) – actor

Grady Alderman § (born 1938) – Minnesota Vikings football player

Cole Aldrich (born 1988) – Houston Rockets basketball player

Cyrus Aldrich § (1808–1871) – member of U.S. Congress

John G. Alexander § (1893–1971) – member of U.S. Congress

Brother Ali (Ali Newman) § (born 1977) – hip-hop artist

Beau Allen – NFL nose tackle

Bob Allison § (1934–1995) – Minnesota Twins baseball player

Luis Walter Alvarez § (1911–1988) – experimental physicist, Nobel Prize in Physics, 1968

A. A. Ames § (1842–1911) – politician

Elmer L. Andersen § (1909–2004) – 30th Governor of Minnesota, businessman, philanthropist

Herman Carl Andersen § (1897–1978) – member of U.S. Congress

Morten Andersen § (born 1960) – Minnesota Vikings football player

Alan Anderson (born 1982) – basketball player

Barry Anderson (born 1954) – judge

Brad Anderson (born 1969) – wrestler

Clyde Elmer Anderson (1912–1998) – 28th Governor of Minnesota; 30th and 33rd Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

Dan Anderson (1920–2003) – psychologist

Eugenie Anderson (1909–1997) – U.S. Ambassador to Denmark and Bulgaria; first woman appointed U.S. ambassador

Gary Anderson § (born 1959) – Minnesota Vikings football player

Gene Anderson (1933–1991) – wrestler

Larry Anderson (born 1952) – actor

Liz Anderson (born 1930) – songwriter

Loni Anderson (born 1945) – actress (WKRP in Cincinnati), former wife of Burt Reynolds

Louie Anderson (born 1953) – comedian, television personality (Life with Louie, Family Feud)

Marc Anderson – percussionist

Ole Anderson (born 1942) – wrestler

Patricia Anderson (born 1966) – politician, business owner, 17th state auditor

Paul Anderson (born 1943) – judge

Richard Dean Anderson (born 1950) – television actor (MacGyver, Stargate SG-1)

Russell A. Anderson (born 1942) – judge

Scott D. Anderson (1965–1999) – canoeist, author, engineer, Cirrus Airframe Parachute System test pilot

Sydney Anderson (1881–1948) – member of U.S. Congress

Wendell Anderson (born 1933) – 33rd Governor of Minnesota; U.S. Senator

August H. Andresen § (1890–1958) – member of U.S. Congress

Christopher Columbus Andrews § (1829–1922) – soldier, diplomat, and author

LaVerne Andrews (1911–1967) – contralto singer of 1940s sister act The Andrews Sisters

Maxene Andrews (1916–1995) – soprano singer of The Andrews Sisters

Patty Andrews (born 1918) – lead singer of The Andrews Sisters

Ernest Angelo, Jr. (born 1934) – Texas oilman and Republican politician

Kofi Annan § (born 1938) – 7th Secretary-General of the United Nations

James Anton – bass guitarist

Henry M. Arens § (1873–1963) – member of U.S. Congress; 26th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

Richard Arlen (1899–1976) – actor

Thomas H. Armstrong § (1826–1891) – banker, lawyer, legislator, 5th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

Dave Arneson (1955–2009) – game designer, co-creator of D&D, creator of the first fantasy RPG world (Blackmoor)

James Arness (1923–2011) – actor (Gunsmoke)

Dorothy Arnold (Olson) (1917–1984) – film actress, first wife of baseball star Joe DiMaggio

Jeanne Arth (born 1935) – tennis player

Antoine Auguelle § – explorer

Horace Austin § (1831–1905) – 6th Governor of Minnesota

Hy Averback (1920–1997) – director, producer, actor, and production manager

John T. Averill § (1825–1889) – member of U.S. Congress

Lew Ayres (1908–1996) – actor

B

Tim M. Babcock (born 1919) – politician

Michele Bachmann § (born 1956) – politician

David Backes (born 1984) – hockey player

Tim Bagley (born 1957) – character actor, Strip Mall, Will & Grace

Bill Baker (born 1956) – hockey player

Jim Bakker § (born 1939) – televangelist

Melvin Baldwin § (1838–1901) – member of U.S. Congress

Joseph H. Ball (1905–1993) – U.S. Senator

Keith Ballard (born 1982) – hockey player for the Vancouver Canucks

Ann Bancroft (born 1955) – polar explorer, first female to reach both the North and South Poles

Dominique Barber (born 1986) – Houston Texans football player

Marion Barber III (born 1983) – Dallas Cowboys football player

Dean Barkley (born 1950) – U.S. Senator

Lynsey Bartilson (born 1983) – actor

Alphonso Barto – 7th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

Carol Bartz (born 1948) – president and chief executive officer of Yahoo!

Earl Battey § (1935–2003) – Minnesota Twins baseball player

Elgin Baylor § (born 1934) – former basketball player

Brian Baumgartner – actor and comedian; former artistic director at the Hidden Theatre in Minneapolis

Charles Baxter (born 1947) – author

John C. Beale (born 1948) – EPA consultant, convicted felon

Tracy Beckman (born 1945) – government official, politician, business owner and manager

James Bede § (1856–1942) – member of U.S. Congress

Nicholas Joseph Begich (1932–1972) – politician

James Ford Bell § (1879–1961) – business leader, philanthropist, founder of General Mills

Troy Bell (born 1980) – basketball player

Clyde Bellecourt (born 1936) – Native American civil rights organizer

Nick Bellore (born 1989) – San Francisco 49ers football player

Sharon Sayles Belton (born 1951) – first African-American mayor of Minneapolis

Chief Bender (1884–1954) – Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher

Dorothy Benham (born 1955) – Miss America 1977

Paris Bennett § (born 1988) – singer

Tony Benshoof (born 1975) – luger, Olympian

Elmer Austin Benson (1895–1985) – 24th Governor of Minnesota; U.S. Senator

Joanne Benson (born 1943) – 44th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

William Benton (1900–1973) – U.S. Senator

Juan Berenguer § (born 1954) – Minnesota Twins baseball player

Patty Berg (1918–2006) – golfer, founding member of the LPGA

Robert Bergland (born 1928) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture; member of U.S. Congress

Tim Bergland (born 1965) – hockey-player

Jason Behr (born 1973) – actor

John Bernard § (1893–1983) – member of U.S. Congress

Philip Berrigan (1923–2002) – peace activist, Christian anarchist, and Roman Catholic priest

Bill Berry (born 1958) – R.E.M. drummer

Jessica Biel (born 1982) – actress (7th Heaven), married to Justin Timberlake

Bernie Bierman § (1894–1977) – college football coach

Big Eagle (c. 1827–1906) – leader of a band of Mdewakanton Sioux Indians

John Binkowski (born 1979) – politician

Matt Birk (born 1976) – Baltimore Ravens football player

Harry Blackmun § (1908–1999) – Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States

Matt Blair § (born 1950) – Minnesota Vikings football player

Jason Blake (born 1973) – hockey player for the Anaheim Ducks

John Blatnik (1911–1991) – member of the U.S. Congress

Jerome Blatz – politician

Kathleen A. Blatz (born 1954) – judge and politician

Theodore C. Blegen (1891–1969) – historian and author

Floyd E. Bloom (born 1936) – medical researcher specializing in chemical neuroanatomy

Josh Blue § (born 1978) – comedian

Carol Bly – short story writer

Bert Blyleven § (born 1951) – Minnesota Twins baseball player

Eduard Bøckmann (1849–1927) – ophthalmologist, physician and inventor

Haldor Boen § (1846–1936) – member of U.S. Congress

Roman Bohnen (1901–1949) – actor

Greg Boll (born 1960) – politician, activist

Brian Bonin (born 1973) – hockey player

Jeremy Borash (born 1977) – wrestling announcer

Madeleine Bordallo (born 1933) – politician

Lorraine Borg (1923–2006) – All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player

Norman Borlaug § (born 1914) – agricultural scientist; recipient, 1970 Nobel Peace Prize

Rudy Boschwitz § (born 1930) – U.S. Senator

Lyman Bostock § (1950–1978) – baseball player

Todd Bouman (born 1972) – quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars

Lloyd Wheaton Bowers § (1859–1910) – Solicitor General

Gregory A. Boyd (born 1957) – pastor, theologian, author

Marlon Brando – actor; attended Shattuck-St. Mary's in Faribault, Minnesota

Joe Brinkman (born 1944) – umpire

Ivar Brogger (born 1947) – actor, The Bold and the Beautiful and Invasion

Herb Brooks (1937–2003) – 1980 Olympics ice hockey coach, Minnesota Golden Gophers coach, Minnesota North Stars coach

Neal Broten (born 1959) – Minnesota North Stars ice-hockey player

Jim Brower (born 1972) – baseball player

Aaron Brown (born 1948) – broadcast journalist

Bill Brown § (born 1938) – Minnesota Vikings football player

Brianna Brown (born 1979) – actress

Joey Browner § (born 1960) – football player

Brownmark (Brown Mark or Mark Brown) (born 1962) – musician and producer

Bob Bruer § (born 1953) – football player and coach

Tom Brunansky § (born 1960) – Minnesota Twins baseball player

Bobby Bryant § (born 1944) – Minnesota Vikings football player

Rich T. Buckler § (1865–1950) – member of U.S. Congress

Clarence Buckman § (1851–1917) – member of U.S. Congress

Warren E. Burger (1907–1995) – Chief Justice of the United States

Michael C. Burgess (born 1950) – physician and politician

Tom Burgmeier (born 1943) – baseball player

Joseph A. A. Burnquist § (1879–1961) – 19th Governor of Minnesota; 20th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

Jerry Burns (born 1927) – Minnesota Vikings football coach

Tom Burnett (1963–2001) – passenger on United Airlines Flight 93

Pierce Butler (1866–1939) – Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States

Dominique Byrd (born 1984) – football player for the Arizona Cardinals

Thomas R. Byrne – politician

C

Melvin Calvin (1911–1997) – reipient, 1961 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Karlyn Kohrs Campbell (born 1937) – academic

Gino Cappelletti (born 1934) – former collegiate, AFL and NFL wide receiver

Rod Carew § (born 1945) – Minnesota Twins baseball player

Ron Carey – politician

Arne Carlson § (born 1934) – 37th Governor of Minnesota

Bruce A. Carlson (born 1971) – Commander, Air Force Materiel Command

Casey Carlson (born 1989) – semi-finalist of American Idol Season 8

Curt Carlson (1914–1999) – businessperson (Carlson Companies, Radisson Hotels)

Gretchen Carlson – beauty queen, anchor

John Carlson (born 1984) – tight end for the Arizona Cardinals

Kelly Carlson (born 1976) – actor

Kyle and Lane Carlson (born 1978) – models

Richard Carlson (1912–1977) – actor

Herb Carneal (1923–2007) – Minnesota Twins baseball announcer

David Carr (born 1956) – journalist for The New York Times

William Leighton Carss § (1865–1931) – member of U.S. Congress

Anthony Carter § (born 1975) – Minnesota Timberwolves basketball player

Kiki Carter (Kimberli Wilson) § (born 1957) – environmental activist, organizer, musician, songwriter, and columnist

Ryan Carter (born 1983) – hockey player for the New Jersey Devils

Jonathan Carver § (1710–1780) – explorer

Bob Casey (1925–2004) – Minnesota Twins public-address announcer

Patrick Casey (born 1978) – writer and actor

Dave Casper (born 1951) – Hall of Fame NFL offensive lineman and tight end, primarily with the Oakland Raiders

James Castle § (1836–1903) – member of U.S. Congress

Tracy Caulkins (born 1963) – swimmer

James M. Cavanaugh § (1823–1879) – member of U.S. Congress

Chelsea Charms (born 1976) – model

Sam Childers § (born 1962) – former gang biker, founder of Angels of East Africa located in Sudan

Leeann Chin – founder of the Leeann Chin Chinese restaurant chain

Tom Chorske (born 1966) – hockey player

Chief Chouneau (William Cadreau) (1888–1946) – baseball player

Victor Christgau (1894–1991) – member of U.S. Congress

Theodore Christianson (1883–1948) – 21st Governor of Minnesota; member of U.S. Congress

Charles A. Christopherson (1871–1951) – politician

Nick Ciola (Dominic Ciola or Caesar) – musician

Moses E. Clapp (1851–1929) – U.S. Senator

Frank Clague § (1865–1952) – member of U.S. Congress

Harlan Cleveland (1918–2008) – Club of Rome member, founding dean for the H. H. Humphrey Institute, politician

Elizabeth Close (1912–2011) – pioneering female architect in Minneapolis

David Marston Clough § (1846–1924) – 13th Governor of Minnesota; 12th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

Ben Clymer (born 1978) – hockey player

Cobi (born 1986) - musician

Eddie Cochran (1938–1960) – musician

Diablo Cody § (born 1978) – screenwriter

Ethan Coen (born 1957) – screenwriter, director, producer

Joel Coen (born 1954) – screenwriter, director, producer

William Colby (1920–1996) – director of the CIA

Chris Coleman (born 1961) – politician

Nick Coleman (born 1950) – columnist

Nick Coleman (1925–1981) – politician

Norm Coleman § (born 1949) – U.S. Senator, Mayor of Saint Paul

Louis L. Collins – 23rd Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

Mo Collins (born 1965) – comedic actor

Tom Compton (born 1989) – Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle

Solomon Comstock § (1842–1933) – member of the U.S. Congress

Chester Adgate Congdon § (1853–1916) – lawyer and capitalist

George Contant (1864 – date of death unknown) – train robber; later lectured against crime

Rachael Leigh Cook (born 1979) – actor, model

Roger Cooper (born 1944) – teacher, politician

Marisa Coughlan (born 1974) – model and actor

Gratia Countryman (1866–1953) – influential librarian

Christopher Cox (born 1952) – chairman, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; U.S. representative

Fred Cox § – Minnesota Vikings football player, inventor of Nerf football

Brian Coyle (1944–1991) – openly gay politician

Seymour Cray § (1925–1996) – founder Cray Research, supercomputer architect, inventor

Joseph Crétin § (1799–1857) – first Roman Catholic bishop of Saint Paul

David Crittenden § (born 1960) – classical guitarist

Ward Cuff (1914–2002) – NFL running back and placekicker

Daunte Culpepper § (born 1977) – former Minnesota Vikings football player

Randall Cunningham § (born 1963) – former Minnesota Vikings football player

Robert E. Cushman, Jr. (1914–1985) – Commandant of the Marine Corps

D

Arlene Dahl (born 1923) – actress

Nicole, Erica and Jaclyn Dahm (born 1977) – models

Craig Dahl (born 1985) – New York Giants football player

Cathee Dahmen (born 1946) – supermodel in the 1960s and 1970s

Shawn Daivari (born 1984) – wrestler

Ian Anthony Dale (born 1978) – actor

Sean Daley (born 1972) – hip-hop artist

Wayne Dalglish (born 1990) – actor, The O.C.

Teresa Daly (born 1956) – politician

Billy Dankert – singer-songwriter, drummer

Barry Darsow (born 1959) – wrestler

Charles Russell Davis § (1849–1930) – member of U.S. Congress

Cushman Davis (1838–1900) – 7th Governor of Minnesota; U.S. Senator

Ike Davis (born 1987) – first baseman for the Oakland A's

Joan Davis (1907–1961) – comedic actress

Stuart Davis § (born 1971) – musician and songwriter

Frank A. Day – 13th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

Morris Day (born 1957) – musician and composer

George Dayton (1857–1938) – banker, businessperson

Mark Dayton (born 1947) – former U.S. Senator, 40th Governor of Minnesota

Julia Dean (1878–1952) – actress

Gary DeCramer (born 1944) – politician, educator

Eric Decker, (born 1987) - football player

Midge Decter (born 1927) – neoconservative journalist

Marguerite De La Motte (1902–1950) – silent film actress

William Demarest (1892–1983) – film and television actor

Dr. Demento (born 1941) – radio personality (aka Barret Eugene Hansen)

Carol Dempster (1901–1991) – actor

Tony Denman (born 1979) – actor

John Denver § – musician; lived in Edina, Minnesota (1968–1971)

Jessica Dereschuk (born 1982) – 2004 Miss Minnesota

Edward Devitt (1911–1992) – member of U.S. Congress

Kate DiCamillo (born 1964) – children's author

Dez Dickerson (born 1955) – guitarist and singer

Gordon R. Dickson (1923–2001) – author

Alan Dinehart (1889–1944) – actor

Richard Dix (1893–1949) – actor

Gil Dobie (1879–1948) – college football coach

Farrell Dobbs (1907–1983) – Trotskyist politician, trade unionist

Tod Dockstader (born 1932) – composer of electronic music

Pete Docter (born 1968) – director, writer, animator, Up, WALL-E, Monsters, Inc.

William Dodd – historian, American ambassador to Nazi Germany

Chris Doleman (born 1961) – Minnesota Vikings football player

Ignatius L. Donnelly (1831–1901) – member of U.S. Congress, 2nd Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota, author

Frank Doran – politician

Kelly Doran (born 1957) – businessperson

Michael Doran § (1827–1915) – politician

Joanne Dorian (born 1942) – actress, One Life to Live

Marjory Stoneman Douglas (1890–1998) – journalist, writer, feminist, and environmentalist

William O. Douglas (1898–1980) – Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States

Jeffrey Douma – choir director

Julia Duffy (born 1951) – comedic actor

John Lewis Dyer (1812–1901) – pioneering Methodist circuit rider; left Minnesota in 1861 for Colorado

Daniel Greysolon, Sieur du Lhut § (1639–1710) – French explorer

Ryan Dungey (born 1989) – supercross and motorcross racer

Mark H. Dunnell § (1823–1904) – member of the U.S. Congress

David Durenberger (born 1934) – U.S. Senator

Richard Dworsky (born 1953) – pianist and composer

Sally Dworsky – singer-songwriter

Bob Dylan (born 1941) – singer-songwriter, musician, poet

Joanell Dyrstad (born 1942) – 43rd Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

E

Patrick Eaves § (born 1984) – professional hockey player

Charles Eastman § (1858–1939) – Dakota writer, doctor, lobbyist, co-founder of Boy Scouts of America

Adolph Olson Eberhart § (1870–1944) – 17th Governor of Minnesota; 17th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

Richard Eberhart (1904–2005) – poet

Tony Eckstein (1923–2009) – politician, veterinarian, veteran

Frank Eddy (1856–1929) – member of U.S. Congress

Linda Eder § (born 1961) – Broadway star and recording artist

Alonzo J. Edgerton § (1827–1896) – U.S. Senator

Jim Eisenreich (born 1959) – Minnesota Twins player

Christian Elder (born 1968) – stock-car driver

Kimberly Elise (born 1967) – actor

David Ellefson (born 1964) – musician

Paul Ellering (born 1953) – wrestler

Carl Eller § (born 1942) – Minnesota Vikings football player

John F. Elliott (1920–1991) – professor of metallurgy

Keith Maurice Ellison § (born 1963) – politician

Franklin Ellsworth (1879–1942) – member of U.S. Congress

Gil Elvgren (1914–1980) – American pin-up artist

LaFayette Emmett – politician

Jonette Engan (born 1951) – politician, activist

Siri Engberg – curator of visual arts, Walker Art Center

Ralph Engelstad (1930–2002) – businessperson

Leif Enger – author

Elmer William Engstrom (1901–1984) – engineer

Fred Enke (1897–1985) – college basketball coach

Mike Enos (born 1963) – wrestler

Eric Enstrom – photographer

Matt Entenza (born 1960) – politician, former gubernatorial candidate

Arlen Erdahl (born 1931) – member of the U.S. Congress

Louise Erdrich (born 1954) – novelist, poet, children's author

Bryan Erickson (born 1960) – hockey player

Ethan Erickson (born 1973) – actor, Fashion House

Scott Erickson (born 1968) – Minnesota Twins baseball player

Wendell Erickson (born 1925) – politician, educator, veteran

Mike Erlandson – politician, corporate executive

Gilbert Esau (born 1919) – politician, veteran

Helga Estby (1860–1942) – noted for her walk across the United States during 1896

John O. Evjen (1874–1942) – author, church historian and professor of theology

Douglas Ewart § (born 1946) – instrument builder and musician

Eyedea (Mike Averill or Oliver Hart) (1982–2010) – underground rapper

F

Clifford Fagan (1911–1995) – high school basketball referee

Mike Farrell (born 1939) – actor (M*A*S*H)

Mike Farrell (born 1978) – hockey player

Ciatrick Fason § (born 1982) – Minnesota Vikings football player

Chris Faust § (born 1955) – photographer

Tammy Faye Messner (1942–2007) – televangelist, singer

George William Featherstonhaugh § (born 1780) – explorer

Jay Feely (born 1976) – placekicker for the New York Jets

Trevor Fehrman (born 1981) – actor

Jim Finks § (1927–1994) – Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears executive

David Fischer (born 1988) – hockey player

Mardy Fish (born 1981) – tennis player

F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940) – novelist, short story writer

Frances Scott Fitzgerald (1921–1986) – writer, journalist

Larry Fitzgerald (born 1983) – football player

Marcus Fitzgerald (born 1985) – football player

David Flair (born 1979) – wrestler

Ric Flair § (born 1949) – wrestler

Richard E. Fleming (1917–1942) – sailor

Loren Fletcher § (1833–1919) – member of U.S. Congress

Michael Floyd (born 1989) – football player

Patrick Flueger (born 1983) – actor, The 4400

Thomas Fluharty – illustrator

Harry Flynn § (born 1933) – Roman Catholic archbishop

Vince Flynn – author

John R. Foley (1917–2001) – politician

Steve Foley (1959–2008) – drummer, member of The Replacements

Henry Fonda § – actor, attended the University of Minnesota; born in Nebraska

John M. Ford § (died 2006) – science-fiction author and poet

Al Franken § (born 1951) – political humorist, author, radio commentator, U.S. Senator

Thomas Frankson (1869–1939) – lawyer, real estate developer, politician; 22nd Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

Donald M. Fraser (born 1924) – mayor of Minneapolis, member of U.S. Congress

James Earle Fraser (1876–1953) – sculptor

Jeff Frazee (born 1987) – hockey player

David Frederickson (born 1944) – politician, farmer, former president of National Farmers Union

Dennis Frederickson (born 1939) – politician, farmer, veteran

Orville Freeman (1918–2003) – 29th Governor of Minnesota, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture

Frederick William Freking (1911–1998) – shaman

Bill Frenzel (born 1928) – member of U.S. Congress

Thomas Friedman (born 1953) – journalist, columnist, author

Lindsay Frost (born 1962) – actor

Daniel Fry (1908–1992) – alien-spaceship passenger

Allen J. Furlow (1890–1954) – member of U.S. Congress

G

Wanda Gág (1893–1946) – author, illustrator

John Gagliardi § (born 1926) – St. John's College football coach

Greg Gagne § (born 1961) – baseball player

Greg Gagne (born 1948) – wrestler

Verne Gagne (born 1923) – wrestler, founder of American Wrestling Association

Neil Gaiman § (born 1960) – British-born author

Daniele Gaither (born 1972) – comic actor

Thomas J. Galbraith – politician

Richard Pillsbury Gale (1900–1973) – member of U.S. Congress

William Gallagher (1875–1946) – member of U.S. Congress

Jane Gallop (born 1952) – professor, feminist

Chick Gandil (1887–1970) – baseball player

Roy Alexander Gano (1902–1971) – Vice Admiral, U.S. Navy

Ron Gardenhire § (born 1957) – manager of the Minnesota Twins

Joshua Gardner § (born 1983) – sex offender

Judy Garland (1922–1969) – singer, actor

Lorraine Garland – folk singer and fiddler

Edward R. Garvey § – activist, lawyer, and politician

Mike Garvey (born 1962) – stock-car driver

Charles Gilbert Gates – owned first home air conditioner in the United States in 1914

Larry Gates (1915–1996) – actor

Herbjørn Gausta (1854–1924) – landscape artist

Ron "Boogiemonster" Gerber (born 1968) – disc jockey, pop music historian, and engineer

J. Paul Getty (1892–1976) – entrepreneur, philanthropist, founder of Getty Oil Company

John L. Gibbs – 14th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

Tom Gibis (born 1965) – voice actor

Cass Gilbert § (1859–1934) – architect

Tom Gilbert – hockey player

Stan Gilbertson (born 1944) – hockey player

John Gilfillan § (1835–1924) – member of U.S. Congress

Guy Gillette (1922–2013) – photographer

Terry Gilliam (born 1940) – actor (Monty Python), writer, director

Sid Gillman (1911–2003) – American football coach

Charles A. Gilman – 9th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

Robert R. Gilruth (1913–2000) – aviation and space pioneer

Dan Gladden (born 1957) – Minnesota Twins baseball player

Billy Glaze (born 1944) – serial killer

Arne Glimcher (born 1938) – art dealer, founder of Pace Gallery, film producer and director

James B. Goetz § (born 1936) – radio executive and the 38th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

William H. Goetzmann § (1930–2010) – historian

Godfrey G. Goodwin (1873–1933) – member of U.S. Congress

Genevieve Gorder (born 1974) – designer, television personality (Trading Spaces)

Samuel Y. Gordon – 19th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

Willis Arnold Gorman § (1816–1876) – lawyer, soldier, politician

Irving I. Gottesman § (born 1930) – behavior geneticist, psychologist

Billy Graham § (born 1918) – evangelist, former president of Northwestern College

Moonlight Graham § (1876–1965) – doctor, baseball player

Kelsey Grammer § (born 1955) – actor; Guthrie Theater alumnus

Rod Grams (born 1948) – U.S. Senator; member of U.S. Congress

Mary GrandPré – illustrator (Harry Potter books)

Bud Grant § (born 1927) – former Minnesota Vikings football coach

Jim "Mudcat" Grant § (born 1935) – Minnesota Twins baseball player

Peter Graves (Peter Aurness) (1926–2010) – actor (Mission: Impossible television series, Airplane!, 7th Heaven)

Dennis Green (born 1949) – Minnesota Vikings football coach

Lauren Green (born 1963) beauty queen, anchor

Steven Greenberg (born 1950) – musician ("Funkytown"), record producer

Robert Grenier (born 1941) – poet

Ingebrikt Grose (1862–1939) – founding president of Concordia College

Joan Growe (born 1935) – former Minnesota Secretary of State

Ann Morgan Guilbert (born 1928) – actress, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Nanny

Bill Gullickson (born 1959) – baseball player

Gil Gutknecht § (born 1951) – former member of U.S. Congress

Joe Guyon (1892–1971) – Hall of Fame NFL player

Cristian Guzmán § (born 1978) – Minnesota Twins baseball player

H

Tom Hagedorn (born 1943) – member of the U.S. Congress

Ra'Shede Hageman § (born 1990) – football player

Gulbrand Hagen (1864 to 1919) – newspaper editor and publisher

Harold Hagen (1901–2012) – member of U.S. Congress

Molly Hagan (born 1961) – actress

Darwin Hall § (1844–1919) – member of U.S. Congress

Osee M. Hall § (1847–1914) – member of U.S. Congress

Camilla Hall (1945-1974) - artist, college trained member of the Symbionese Liberation Army

Philo Hall (1865–1938) – politician

Walter Halloran (1921–2005) – priest, chaplain

Kittel Halvorson § (1846–1936) – member of U.S. Congress

Trina Hamlin – singer-songwriter

Winfield Scott Hammond § (1863–1915) – 18th Governor of Minnesota; member of U.S. Congress

Greg Handevidt § (born 1965) – musician, attorney

Alan Hangsleben (born 1953) – hockey player

Dick Hanley (1894–1970) – football player and head coach

Jack Hannahan (born 1980) – third baseman for the Cleveland Indians

Ben Hanowski (born 1990) – professional hockey player

Courtney Hansen (born 1975) – television host and personality, syndicated columnist, author, and actress

Duane Hanson (1925–1996) – post-modern sculptor

Jeff Hanson § (born 1978) – singer-songwriter, guitarist, and multi-instrumentalist

Arthur Harkins § (born 20th century) – co-founder of the World Future Society's Minnesota Futurists Chapter

Poppy Harlow (born 1982) – news anchor, reporter and journalist for Forbes.com and CNN

Brian Harper § (born 1959) – baseball player

Har Mar Superstar (Sean Tillmann) (born 1978) – entertainer

Donald Harris (born 1931) – composer and music teacher

Irving Harris (1910–2004) – businessperson

William H. Harries § (1843–1921) – member of U.S. Congress

Napoleon Harris § (born 1979) – football player

Ryan Harris (born 1985) – football player

Samantha Harris (born 1973) – television hostess, Dancing with the Stars, Entertainment Tonight

Ellen Hart § (born 1949) – mystery novelist

Grant Hart (born 1961) – musician

Brynn Hartman (Vicki Omdahl) (1958–1998) – actor

Josh Hartnett (born 1978) – actor

Sid Hartman (born 1920) – sports writer

Jon Hassler (born 1933) – author

Mike Hatch (born 1948) – attorney general

Brenton G. Hayden – entrepreneur

Bernt B. Haugan (born 1862) – minister, politician, and temperance leader

Randolph E. Haugan (1902–1985) – editor, author and publisher

Louis J. Hauge, Jr. (1924–1945) – sailor

Marty Haugen (born 1950) – composer

Pete Hautman § (born 1952) – novelist

John Hawkes (born 1959) – actor

Joel Heatwole § (1856–1910) – member of U.S. Congress

Mitch Hedberg (1968–2005) – absurdist comic

Bret Hedican (born 1970) – hockey player

Garrett Hedlund (born 1984) – actor

Tippi Hedren (born 1930) – actor

William Heffelfinger (1867–1954) – football player and coach, College Football Hall of Famer

Michael Hegstrand (1957–2003) – wrestler

Raina Hein (born 1987) – runner-up of America's Next Top Model Cycle 14

Lawrence Heinemi (born 1943) – wrestler

Luke Helder (born 1981) – pipe bomber

E. J. Henderson – football player

Seantrel Henderson – football player

Skitch Henderson (Lyle Russell Cedric Henderson) (1918–2005) – pianist, conductor, and composer

Ben Hendrickson (born 1981) – baseball player

Darby Hendrickson (born 1972) – hockey player

Curt Hennig (1958–2003) – wrestler

Joseph Curtis Hennig – WWE superstar

Larry Hennig – wrestler

Father Hennepin § (1626–1705) – explorer

Abigail and Brittany Hensel (born 1990) – conjoined twins

Barton Hepburn (1906–1955) – actor

Don Herbert (1917–2007) – television host

Maureen Herman § (born 1966) – musician

Bryan Hickerson (born 1963) – baseball player

Wally Hilgenberg – football player

George Roy Hill (1921–2002) – film director

James J. Hill § (1838–1916) – railroad tycoon, founder of Great Northern Railway

Peter Himmelman (born 1960) – songwriter

John H. Hinderaker (born 1950) – lawyer, blogger

Larry Hisle § (born 1947) – baseball player

Charles Hoag § (1808–1888) – scholar

Tami Hoag – novelist

Leroy Hoard § (born 1968) – football player

Jamie Hoffmann – baseball player

Tobias Hogan – politician

Einar Hoidale § – member of U.S. Congress

Mary Liz Holberg – politician

William Holcombe § (1804–1870) – 1st Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

Perry Greeley Holden (1865–1959) – professor of agronomy

Bill Holm – poet

Paul Holmgren (born 1955) – hockey player

James Hong (born 1929) – actor

Townsend Hoopes (1922–2004) – soldier

Eric Hoplin – Deputy Chairman of the Republican Party of Minnesota

George A. Hormel § (1860–1946) – founder of Hormel Foods

George "Geordie" Hormel (1928–2006) – musician and recording-studio proprietor

James Hormel (born 1931) – philanthropist

Jay Catherwood Hormel (1892–1954) – businessman

Aaron Hosack § – football player

Harold Hotelling (1895–1973) – statistician and economist

Phil Housley (born 1964) – hockey player

Guy V. Howard (1879–1954) – U.S. Senator

Kent Hrbek (born 1960) – baseball player

Lucius Frederick Hubbard § (1836–1913) – 9th Governor of Minnesota

Don Hultz – football player

Ramon Humber – football player

Oliver Humperdink (born 1949) – wrestling manager

Hubert Humphrey § (1911–1978) – U.S. Senator, Vice President, and presidential candidate

Muriel Humphrey § (1912–1998) – U.S. Senator

Skip Humphrey (born 1942) – Minnesota attorney general

Kris Humphries (born 1985) – power forward for the New Jersey Nets

Torii Hunter § (born 1975) – baseball player

Leonid Hurwicz § (1917–2008) – economist, Nobel laureate

Lloyd Hustvedt (1922–2002) – professor, Norwegian-American scholar

Siri Hustvedt (born 1955) – novelist

Peter Hutchinson (born 1949) – politician and businessperson

I

Sherwood B. Idso – climatologist, ecologist, soil scientist

Tim Irwin – football player

Bill Irwin – wrestler

Scott Irwin (born 1952) – wrestler

Doran Isackson (1938–1989) – politician, farmer

Sharon Isbin (born 1956) – classical guitarist

Dan Israel – musician

I Self Devine (born 1972) – musician

Ishtakhaba – Lakota chief

Gideon S. Ives – 11th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

J

Carl Richard Jacobi (1908–1997) – author

Sam Jacobson (born 1975) – basketball player

Jimmy Jam (born 1959) – songwriter, co-founder of Flyte Tyme Productions

Erasmus James (born 1982) – football player

Harry August Jansen § (1883–1955) – professional magician

Lee Janzen (born 1964) – golfer

Kenny Jay (Kenny Benkowski) (born 1937) wrestler

Sue Jeffers – political activist, radio commentator, businessperson

Claudia Jennings (Mary Eileen Chesterton) (1949–1979) – model and actor

Mason Jennings (born 1975) – pop-folk singer-songwriter

Carl Jensen (1920–1988) – politician, attorney, veteran

Doron Jensen (born 1957) – businessperson

Jim Jensen (1926–1999) – sportswriter

Richard A. Jensen (born 1934) – author

Herb Joesting (1905–1963) – college and professional American football player

Bob Johnson (1931–1991) – hockey coach

Brad Johnson § (born 1968) – football player

Craig Johnson (born 1972) – hockey player

Dan Johnson (born 1979) – baseball player

Dean Johnson (born 1947) – politician

Dewey Johnson (1899–1941) – member of U.S. Congress

Earl V. Johnson (1913–1942) – aviator

Erik Johnson (born 1988) – hockey player

Gordon Johnson (born 1952) – bass guitarist

Jellybean Johnson (Garry George Johnson) (born 1956) – songwriter, producer and musician

Jim Johnson (born 1962) – hockey player

John Albert Johnson (1861–1909) – 16th Governor of Minnesota

Josh Johnson (born 1984) – baseball player

Magnus Johnson § (1871–1936) – U.S. Senator; member of U.S. Congress

Marcus Johnson (born 1981) – football player

Mark Johnson (born 1957) – hockey player

Mark Steven Johnson (born 1964) – director and screenwriter, Ghost Rider, Daredevil

Marlene Johnson (born 1946) – 42nd Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

Paul Johnson (born 1935) – hockey player

Reynold B. Johnson (1906–1998) – inventor and computer pioneer

Ron Johnson – U.S. Senator for Wisconsin

Scott W. Johnson (born 1940) – lawyer, blogger

Spencer Johnson – football player

Lance Johnstone (born 1973) – football player

Joshua Jolly (born 1986) – LGBT activist

Frederick McKinley Jones (1893–1961) – inventor, cofounder of Thermo King

Jacques Jones (born 1975) – baseball player

Ray W. Jones – 16th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

Tyus Jones - NBA Basketball Player

Bennie Joppru (born 1980) – football player

Cameron Jordan (born 1989) – football player

Steve Jordan § (born 1961) – football player

Carl O. Jorgenson (1881–1951) – politician

Bradley Joseph (born 1965) – composer, pianist, keyboardist

Walter Judd § (1898–1994) – member of U.S. Congress

Jerry Juhl (1938–2005) – television and movie writer, puppeteer

Dan Jurgens (born 1959) – writer and illustrator

K

Jim Kaat (born 1938) – baseball player

John Anthony Kaiser (1932–2000) – Roman Catholic priest killed in Kenya

Henry Kalis (born 1937) – politician, farmer, veteran

Rick Kamla – NBA TV broadcaster

Joe Kapp (born 1939) – football player

Rich Karlis (born 1959) – football player

Joseph Karth (1922–2005) – member of U.S. Congress

Vincent Kartheiser (born 1979) – actor

Evan Kaufmann (born 1984) – professional ice hockey player in Germany

Maude Kegg (Ojibwa name Naawakamigookwe) (1904–1996) – writer, folk artist, and cultural interpreter

Tim Kehoe (born 1970) – inventor and author

Garrison Keillor (born 1942) – radio humorist and author (A Prairie Home Companion)

Alexander M. Keith (born 1928) – judge, politician; 37th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

James "J.R." Keller (1907–1972) – politician, farmer, contractor

Melissa Keller (born 1979) – model and actress

Oscar Keller (1878–1927) – member of U.S. Congress

Rachel Keller (born 1991) – actress, Fargo

Wade Keller – columnist

Devin Kelley – actress, The Chicago Code

John Edward Kelley § (1853–1941) – South Dakota politician

Steve Kelley (born 1953) – politician

Frank Kellogg § (1856–1937) – U.S. Senator, U.S. secretary of state, Kellogg-Briand Pact

Randy Kelly (born 1950) – politician

Tom Kelly (born 1950) – baseball coach

Linda Kelsey (born 1946) – actor

Mark Kennedy (born 1957) – former member of U.S. Congress

Elizabeth Kenny § (1880–1952) – nurse, discovered revolutionary treatment for polio

George Keogan (1890–1943) – basketball coach

Ancel Keys (1904–2004) — nutritionist

Leonard Kibrick (1924–1993) – child actor

Sidney Kibrick (born 1928) – child actor

Jefferson P. Kidder § (1815–1883) – lawyer and jurist

Dana Kiecker (born 1961) – baseball player

Andrew Kiefer § (1832–1904) – member of U.S. Congress

Mary Kiffmeyer (born 1946) – Minnesota Secretary of State

Craig Kilborn (born 1962) – television personality

John N. Kildahl (1857–1920) – Lutheran church minister, author and educator

Harmon Killebrew § (1936–2011) – baseball player

Ward Kimball (1914–2002) – animator, musician

Charles Kimbrough (born 1936) – actor

William S. King § (1828–1900) – member of U.S. Congress

William W. Kingsbury § (1828–1892) – politician

Sheila Kiscaden – politician

Jeremy James Kissner (born 1985) – actor

Norman Kittson § (1814–1888) – businessperson, politician

Trent Klatt (born 1971) – hockey player

Kurt Kleinendorst (born 1960) – hockey coach

Scot Kleinendorst (born 1960) – hockey player

Jim Kleinsasser § (born 1977) – football player

John Kline § (born 1947) – member of U.S. Congress

Amy Klobuchar (born 1960) – U.S. Senator

Chuck Klosterman (born 1972) – writer

Chris Kluwe § (born 1981) – football player

T. R. Knight (born 1973) – actor

Chuck Knoblauch § (born 1968) – baseball player

Coya Knutson § (1912–1996) – member of U.S. Congress

Harold Knutson § (1880–1953) – member of U.S. Congress

Paul Koering (born 1964) – politician; rare openly gay Republican

Nikita Koloff (born 1959) – wrestler

Jerry Koosman (born 1942) – baseball player

Charlie Korsmo § (born 1978) – actor

Corey Koskie § (born 1973) – baseball player

Kristina Koznick – downhill skier, Olympian

Tommy Kramer § (born 1955) – football player

Herbert Arthur Krause (1905–1976) – American historian

Paul Krause § (born 1942) – football player

Peter Krause (born 1965) – actor

Richard E. Kraus § (1925–1944) – sailor

Mitch Krebs – anchor

Joan B. Kroc (1928–2003) – philanthropist

Pat Kronebusch (1927–2004) – politician, educator

Helen Barbara Kruger (1913–2006) – entrepreneur

Robert T. Kuhn (born 1937) – shaman

Bernie Kukar – National Football League referee

William F. Kunze (1872–1962) – banker, politician

Tom Kurvers (born 1962) – hockey player

Ole J. Kvale § (1869–1929) – member of U.S. Congress

Paul John Kvale § (1896–1940) – member of U.S. Congress

Ben Kyle § (born 1981) – musician, songwriter

L

James D. La Belle (1924–1945) – sailor

Rob LaBelle – character actor

Manuel Lagos (born 1971) – soccer player

Ann Landers – (1918–2002) columnist for Minneapolis Star Tribune; birth name Eppie Lederer

Lenny Lane (born 1970) – wrestler

Odin Langen (1913–1976) – member of U.S. Congress

Jessica Lange (born 1949) – actor

Jim Lange (1932–2014) – television host

Jamie Langenbrunner (born 1975) – hockey player

Josh Langfeld (born 1977) – hockey player

Katherine Lanpher (born 1959) – radio personality, journalist

Gene Larkin (born 1962) – baseball player

Erik Larsen (born 1962) – comic-book writer, artist, and publisher

Gary Larsen (born 1942) – football player

Oscar Larson § (1871–1957) – member of U.S. Congress

Reed Larson (born 1956) – hockey player

George Latimer § (born 1935) – politician

Roger Laufenburger (1921–2001) – politician, radio announcer, insurance agent

Tom Laughlin (born 1931) – actor

James Laurinaitis (born 1986) – football player

Trevor Laws § (born 1985) – football player

Matt Lawton § (born 1971) – baseball player

Bernie Leadon (born 1947) – musician

Carrie Lee – beauty queen

Carl Lee – football player

Katie Lee - Enough said.

Tammy Lee (born 1971) – businessperson and politician

Pinky Lee (1907–1993) – actor and star of The Pinky Lee Show

James LeGros (born 1962) – actor

Tom Lehman (born 1959) – golfer

John D. LeMay (born 1962) – actor

Greg LeMond (born 1961) – Tour de France winner

Brock Lesnar § (born 1977) – wrestler

Meridel Le Sueur § (1900–1996) – writer

Jon Leuer (born 1989) – basketball player for the Detroit Pistons

Harold LeVander § (1910–1992) – 32nd Governor of Minnesota

David Levin – singer-songwriter

Mark LeVoir (born 1982) – offensive tackle for the New England Patriots

Len Levy (1921–1999) – American football player and professional wrestler

Bob Lewis (1924–2006) – businessperson, champion race horse owner

Sinclair Lewis (1885–1951) – Nobel Prize-winning novelist

Terry Lewis § (born 1956) – songwriter, co-founder of Flyte Tyme Productions

Walter Liggett (1886–1935) – journalist, newspaper editor

C. Walton Lillehei (1918–1999) – doctor who performed first open heart surgery

John Lind § (1854–1930) – 14th Governor of Minnesota; member of U.S. Congress

Bruce Lindahl (1919–2014) – Minnesota legislator

Terrance Lindall (born 1944) – artist

Charles August Lindbergh, Sr. § (1859–1924) – member of U.S. Congress

Charles Lindbergh § (1902–1974) – aviator, first non-stop solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean

Gottfrid Lindsten 29th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

Chris Liwienski – football player

Charles M. Loring (1833–1922) – Minneapolis businessman, civic leader, "Father of Park System"

Maud Hart Lovelace (1892–1980) – author

Kirk Lowdermilk – football player

Cal Ludeman (born 1951) – politician, state commissioner, farmer

Ernest Lundeen § (1878–1940) – U.S. Senator; member of U.S. Congress

Bob Lurtsema – football player

Bill Luther (born 1945) – member of U.S. Congress

David Lykken (1928–2006) – behavioral geneticist and Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Psychiatry

Joseph Lykken (born 1957) – physicist

Dorothy Lyman (born 1947) – actor, director, and producer

Kelly Lynch (born 1959) – actor

Audra Lynn (born 1980) – model and actor

Jerry Lynn (born 1963) – wrestler

M

Melvin Maas (1898–1964) – member of U.S. Congress

John L. MacDonald § (1838–1903) – member of U.S. Congress

Clark MacGregor (1922–2003) – member of U.S. Congress

Catharine MacKinnon (born 1946) – legal scholar

George MacKinnon (1906–1995) – member of U.S. Congress

Cornell MacNeil – singer

Myles Mace (1911–2000) – Harvard Business School Professor

Shane Mack § (born 1963) – baseball player

John Madden (born 1936) – football coach and commentator

Clarence R. Magney (1883–1962) – judge

Warren G. Magnuson (1905–1989) – politician

Tom Malchow (born 1976) – swimmer

Mark Mallman (born 1973) – musician

George Mann (1918–1984) – politician, farmer

Paul Manship (1885–1966) – sculptor

John Mariucci (1916–1987) – hockey coach

Roger Maris (1934–1985) – baseball player

Sharon Marko – politician

June Marlowe (1903–1984) – actor

Kelli Maroney – actress, Ryan's Hope, One Life to Live

Forrest Mars, Sr. (1904–1999) – CEO, Mars, Inc., creator of M&M's

Frank Mars (1883–1934) – founder of Mars, Inc., creator of Milky Way candy bar

E. G. Marshall (1914–1998) – actor

Fred Marshall (1906–1985) – member of U.S. Congress

Jim Marshall § (born 1937) – football player

William Rainey Marshall § (1825–1896) – 5th Governor of Minnesota

Theodore Marston (1868–1920) – film director and writer

Billy Martin § (1928–1989) – baseball coach

Homer Dodge Martin § (1836–1897) – painter

Paul Martin (born 1981) – hockey player

John Marty – politician

Brownie Mary (Mary Jane Rathbun) (1922–1999) – baker

Bob Mason (born 1961) – hockey player

Shirley Ardell Mason (1923–1998) – abuse victim

Tommy Mason (born 1939) – football player

Bethanie Mattek (born 1985) – professional tennis-player

Gene Mauch § (1925–2005) – baseball manager

Joe Mauer (born 1983) – Minnesota Twins baseball player

John Mayasich (born 1933) – hockey player

Charles Horace Mayo (1865–1939) – doctor, co-founder of the Mayo Clinic

William J. Mayo (1861–1939) – doctor, co-founder of the Mayo Clinic

William Worrall Mayo § (1819–1911) – doctor, head of St. Mary's Hospital

Joe Mays (born 1975) – baseball player

Eugene McCarthy (1916–2005) – U.S. Senator; presidential candidate; member of U.S. Congress

Kevin McCarthy (1914–2010) – actor

James McCleary § (1853–1924) – member of U.S. Congress

Betty McCollum (born 1954) – member of U.S. Congress

Ed McDaniel – football player

Randall McDaniel (born 1964) – football player

James E. McDonald (1920–1971) – physicist

Denis McDonough (born 1969) – White House Chief of Staff

Heather McElhatton – writer, reporter, and radio host

Hugh McElhenny § (born 1928) – football player

Bobby McFerrin § (born 1950) – jazz singer

Andrew Ryan McGill § (1840–1905) – 10th Governor of Minnesota

Kevin McHale (born 1957) – basketball player

Bethany McLean (born 1971) – author

John McMartin (born 1929) – actor

Samuel J. R. McMillan § (1826–1897) – judge, U.S. Senator

Audray McMillian – football player

Lesley J. McNair (1883–1944) – soldier

Graham McNamee (1888–1942) – broadcaster

Dugan McNeill – guitarist

Pamela McNeill – singer-songwriter

Marcia McNutt – geophysicist, National Academy of Sciences president

Samuel Medary § (1801–1864) – politician, 3rd Governor of Minnesota Territory

Ralph Meeker (Ralph Rathgeber) (1920–1988) – actor

Mike Menning (born 1945) – politician, businessman, minister

William Rush Merriam § (1849–1931) – 11th Governor of Minnesota

Jeremy Messersmith § – musician

James Metzen (born 1943) – politician

Breckin Meyer (born 1974) – actor

Joe Micheletti (born 1954) – hockey player

Doug Mientkiewicz (born 1974) – baseball player

Boris Mikšić (born 1948) – Croatian-born businessman and politician

Keith Millard (born 1962) – football player

Archie H. Miller – 32nd Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

Clarence B. Miller (1872–1922) – member of U.S. Congress

Joey Miller (born 1985) – stock-car driver

Stephen Miller § (1816–1881) – 4th Governor of Minnesota

Worm Miller (born 1978) – writer, director, and actor

Kate Millett (born 1934) – feminist and writer

Larry Millett (born 1947) – journalist and author

Tommy Milton (1893–1962) – race car driver

Don Mincher (1938–2012) – baseball player

David Minge (born 1942) – former member of U.S. Congress, state appeals court judge

William D. Mitchell (1874–1955) – U.S. Attorney General

Roger Moe (born 1944) – politician.

Don Moen (born 1950) – worship leader and president of Hosanna! Music

Mother Alfred Moes § (1828–1899) – founder of St. Mary's Hospital

Paul Molitor (born 1956) – baseball player, manager

Carol Molnau (born 1949) – 46th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

Dorothy Molter (1907–1986) – entrepreneur

Eleanor Mondale (born 1960) – television host, daughter of Walter Mondale

Joan Mondale § (born 1930) – second lady of the United States

Walter Mondale (born 1928) – Vice President of the United States, U.S. Senator

Robert Mondavi (1913–2008) – winemaker

Warren Moon (born 1956) – football player

Freddy Moore (born 1950) – songwriter,

Mewelde Moore (born 1982) – football player

Tom Moore (born 1938) – senior offensive assistant for the Indianapolis Colts

Mike Morin (born 1991) – baseball player

Jack Morris (born 1955) – baseball player

Robert P. Morris § (1853–1924) – member of U.S. Congress

Dorilus Morrison § (1814–1898) – politician

Scott Mortensen – politician

Greg Mortenson – activist

Marnie Mosiman – actor, singer

Randy Moss § (born 1977) – football player

Mee Moua § (born 1969) – politician

Bob Mould § (born 1960) – musician

John Edward Mower § (1815–1879) – businessperson, politician

Karl Mueller (1963–2005) – musician

Peter Mueller (born 1988) – hockey player

Mark Mullaney – football player

Biggie Munn (1908–1975) – football player and coach

Adolph Murie (1899–1974) – biologist, author

Diana E. Murphy (born 1934) – judge

Rick Mystrom – politician

N

Arthur Naftalin § (1917–2005) – politician

Bronko Nagurski § (1908–1990) – football player, wrestler

Peter Najarian § (born 1963) – options trader, television personality for CNBC

Joe Nathan (born 1974) – baseball player

Noel Neill (born 1920) – actor

LeRoy Neiman (born 1921) – sports artist

Ancher Nelsen (1904–1992) – 34th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota; member of U.S. Congress

Arthur E. Nelson (1892–1955) – U.S. Senator

Cindy Nelson (born 1955) – alpine skier

Darrin Nelson (born 1959) – football player

George Nelson § (born 1950) – astronaut

Holly Nelson – poet, politician

Knute Nelson § (1843–1923) – 12th Governor of Minnesota; U.S. Senator; member of U.S. Congress

Prince (full name Prince Rogers Nelson) (1958-2016) – singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, and actor

Roy Nelson (1905–1956) – cartoonist

Steve Nelson (born 1951) – football player for the New England Patriots

Pat Neshek § (born 1980) – relief pitcher for the Minnesota Twins

Tom Netherton (born 1947) – singer

Graig Nettles § (born 1944) – baseball player

Ernie Nevers (1902–1976) – Hall of Fame football player

Walter Newton (1880–1941) – member of U.S. Congress

Joseph Nicollet § (1786–1843) – explorer

Tom Niedenfuer (born 1959) – baseball player

Matt Niskanen (born 1986) – hockey player

Richard Nolan (born 1943) – member of U.S. Congress

William I. Nolan (1874–1943) – 24th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota; member of U.S. Congress

Gena Lee Nolin (born 1971) – actress and model, Baywatch, Sheena

John Nord (born 1959) – wrestler

Michele Norris – radio journalist

William Norris § (1911–2006) – CEO Control Data

Lauris Norstad (1907–1988) – general, commander of NATO forces

Daniel S. Norton § (1829–1870) – U.S. Senator

Eunice Norton (1908–2005) – pianist

Greg Norton (born 1959) – musician, chef

Scott Norton (born 1958) – wrestler

Frank Nye § (1852–1935) – member of U.S. Congress

Roger Nygard (born 1962) – film and television director

O

Tim O'Brien (born 1946) – author

Mac O'Grady (born 1951) – golfer

Joseph P. O'Hara (1895–1975) – member of U.S. Congress

Michael O'Leary (born 1958) – actor

Jim Oberstar (born 1934) – member of U.S. Congress

Tim Ocel – director

Willie Offord (born 1978) – football player

"Mean Gene" Okerlund (born 1942) – professional wrestling interviewer and announcer

Kyle Okposo (born 1988) – hockey player

Tony Oliva § (born 1938) – baseball player

Alec G. Olson (born 1930) – member of U.S. Congress; 40th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

Earl B. Olson (1915–2006) – founder of the Jennie-O Turkey company

Floyd B. Olson (1891–1936) – 22nd Governor of Minnesota

Greg Olson (born 1960) – baseball player

Howard Olson (1937–1996) – politician, farmer

John Olson (1906–1981) – politician, farmer

Katy Olson (born 1928) – politician, farmer

Kenneth L. Olson (1945–1968) – Vietnam War veteran

Mark Olson (born 1943) – member of the Board of Governors of the U.S. Federal Reserve

Sigurd Olson (1899–1982) – environmentalist

Norman J. Ornstein – political scientist

Dave Osborn – football player

T.J. Oshie § – hockey player

Laura Osnes (born 1985) – actor, singer

Peter Ostroushko (born 1953) – violinist

Rebecca Otto (born 1963) – politician, 18th state auditor

P

Alan Page § (born 1945) – football player and Minnesota Supreme Court justice

John U. D. Page (1903–1950) – soldier

Doug Pagitt – religion author

Floyd Palmer (born 1943) – businessperson

Carl Panzram (1891–1930) – serial killer, author

George Andreas Papandreou (born 1952) – Greek politician

Bob Paradise (born 1944) – hockey player

Zach Parise (born 1984) – hockey player

Robert Ezra Park § (1864–1944) – urban sociologist

Bradford Parkinson (born 1935) – father of the Global Positioning System

Gordon Parks § (1912–2006) – photographer

Emory Parnell (1892–1979) – actor

Nancy Parsons (1942–2001) – actor

Camilo Pascual (born 1934) – baseball player

Gary Paulsen (born 1939) – author

Jeno Paulucci – founder of Jeno's Frozen Pizza, Chun King Corporation, and Luigino's

Mary Pawlenty – judge, first lady of the state

Tim Pawlenty (born 1960) – 39th Governor of Minnesota

Pat Peake (born 1973) – hockey player

Westbrook Pegler (1894–1969) – journalist and writer

Mary Jo Pehl – actor, broadcaster, and writer

Tim Penny (born 1951) – member of U.S. Congress

Glen Perkins (born 1983) – baseball player

Rudy Perpich (1928–1995) – 34th and 36th Governor of Minnesota; 39th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

Jim Perry § (born 1935) – baseball player

Melissa Peterman (born 1970) – actor

Hjalmar Petersen § (1890–1968) – 23rd Governor of Minnesota; 28th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

Aaron Peterson – politician

Barbara Peterson – Miss USA 1976

Collin Peterson (born 1944) – member of U.S. Congress

Darrel Peterson (1939–1994) – politician, farmer

Paul Peterson (St. Paul) – musician

Wayne Peterson (born 1925) – composer, Pulitzer Prize winner

Jake Petricka (born 1988) – baseball player

Brittany Petros (born 1974) – actor

William Wallace Phelps § (1826–1873) – member of U.S. Congress

Reynold Philipsek (born 1952) – musician

Arthur Phillips (born 1969) – author

Don Piccard (born 1926) – balloonist

Jean Piccard § (1884–1963) – organic chemist, balloonist

Jeannette Piccard § (1895–1981) – teacher, balloonist, priest

Justin Pierre (born 1976) – musician

Janelle Pierzina (born 1980) – actor, model

Bernard Pietenpol (1901–1984) – mechanic, aircraft designer

Zebulon Montgomery Pike § (1779–1813) – explorer

John S. Pillsbury § (1828–1901) – founder of Pillsbury, 8th Governor of Minnesota

Chellie Pingree (born 1955) – politician

Robert M. Pirsig § (born 1928) – author, philosopher

William Pittenger § (1885–1951) – member of U.S. Congress

Mike Ploog (born 1942) – storyboard and comic-book artist

Henry Stanley Plummer (1874–1937) – physician

Mortimer Plumtree (born 1969) – wrestler

Shjon Podein (born 1968) – hockey player

Henry Poehler § (1833–1912) – member of U.S. Congress

Carl Pohlad § (born 1915) – billionaire, baseball owner and philanthropist

Joe Polo (born 1982) – curler and Olympic bronze medalist

Olivia Poole (1889–1975) – inventor

P.O.S – rapper

Vic Power § (1927–2005) – baseball player

Chris Pratt (born 1979) – actor, Everwood, Parks and Recreation

Tom Preissing § (born 1978) – hockey player

Jacob Aall Ottesen Preus § (1883–1961) – 20th Governor of Minnesota

Jacob Aall Ottesen Preus II (1920–1994) – shaman

Prince (1958-2016) – singer-songwriter, actor, composer

Pat Proft (born 1947) – comedy writer and actor

Joel Przybilla (born 1979) – basketball player

Kirby Puckett § (1960–2006) – Baseball Hall of Famer

George Putnam (born 1914) – television host

Herbert Putnam § (1861–1955) Librarian of Congress

William S. Pye (1880–1959) – Admiral in the U.S. Navy

Q

Becky Quick (born 1972) – co-anchorwoman of CNBC's Squawk Box

Al Quie (born 1923) – 35th Governor of Minnesota; member of U.S. Congress

Frank Quilici § (born 1939) – baseball player

Robb Quinlan (born 1977) – baseball player

R

Brian Raabe (born 1967) – baseball player

Brad Radke (born 1972) – baseball player

Pedro Ramos (born 1935) – baseball player

Alexander Ramsey § (1815–1903) – 2nd Governor of Minnesota; U.S. Senator

Jim Ramstad § (born 1946) – member of U.S. Congress

John Randle (born 1967) – football player

Ralph Rapson § (1914–2008) – architect

Baron von Raschke § (born 1940) – professional wrestler

Ahmad Rashād (born 1949) – football player

Erik Rasmussen (born 1977) – hockey player

Edwin W. Rawlings (1904–1997) – chief executive officer, General Mills; USAF General (Ret.)

Jeff Reardon (born 1955) – baseball player

Harry Reasoner § (1923–1991) – television journalist

Jake Reed (born 1967) – football player

Oscar Reed – football player

Rich Reese (born 1941) – baseball player

Olli Rehn (born 1962) – European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy

Ember Reichgott Junge – attorney, radio host, and politician

Chris Reitsma (born 1977) – baseball player

Earl Renneke (born 1928) – politician, farmer

Rip Repulski (1927–1993) – baseball player

Michael Restovich (born 1979) – baseball player

Patrick Reusse – sports writer

Albert E. Rice (1845–1921) – banker, newspaperman, legislator, and the 10th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

Edmund Rice § (1819–1889) – member of U.S. Congress

Henry Mower Rice § (1816–1894) – U.S. Senator

Todd Richards – head coach of the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets

Kaylin Richardson – downhill skier, Olympian, Nor-Am Champion, US National Champion, World Champion

William B. Richardson – acting Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota (1936–1937)

Nate Richert (born 1978) – actor

Carl W. Riddick (born 1872) – member of U.S. Congress

Beth Riesgraf (born 1978) – actress

Martha Ripley § (1843–1912) – physician; founder, Maternity Hospital in Minneapolis

Mark Ritchie (born 1951) – Minnesota Secretary of State

Laila Robins (born 1959) – actress

Koren Robinson – football player

Marcus Robinson (born 1975) – football player

Robyne Robinson – newscaster

Stacy Robinson – football player

Svend Robinson (born 1952) – Canadian politician

Rafael Rodriguez – boxer

Brian Rogowski (born 1970) – wrestler

Todd Rohloff (born 1974) – hockey player

Rich Rollins (born 1938) – baseball player

Karl Rolvaag (1913–1990) – 31st Governor of Minnesota; 36th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

Ole Rolvaag § (1876–1931) – novelist

Richard Rood (1958–1999) – wrestler, best known by his ringname "Ravishing" Rick Rude

Mike Rosenthal – football player

Marion Ross (born 1928) – actor

Coleen Rowley (born 1954) – former FBI agent and whistleblower; candidate for Congress in the 2nd District of Minnesota

Dwayne Rudd (born 1976) – football player

Donald Eugene Rudolph, Sr. (c. 1921–2006) – soldier

Jane Russell (1921–2011) – film actress

Elmer Ryan (1907–1958) – member of U.S. Congress

R. T. Rybak (born 1955) – politician, newspaper editor

Winona Ryder (born 1971) – actor

S

Dwight M. Sabin § (1843–1902) – U.S. Senator

Martin Olav Sabo § (1938–2016) – former member of U.S. Congress

Saint Dog (Steven Thronson) – rapper from Chisholm, Minnesota; member of the hip-hop group Kottonmouth Kings

Harrison Salisbury (1908–1993) – journalist

Zak Sally – musician

Ralph Samuelson (1903–1977) – inventor of water skiing, first water-ski jumper and speed skier

John B. Sanborn (1826–1904) – Union Army General, state legislator

John B. Sanborn, Jr. (1883–1964) – Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge

Michael J. Sandel (born 1953) – political philosopher, Harvard professor

Charlie Sanders (born 1979) – actor

Tony Sanneh (born 1971) – soccer player

Johan Santana (born 1979) – baseball player

Gary Sargent (born 1954) – hockey player

Gloria Sawai (Gloria Ruth Ostrem) (born 1932) – author of fiction

Thomas D. Schall § (1878–1935) – U.S. Senator; member of U.S. Congress

Bruce Schneier (born 1963) – founder and chief technology officer, Counterpane Internet Security

Henry Schoolcraft § (1793–1864) – explorer

Charles M. Schulz (1922–2000) – cartoonist

Richard M. Schulze (born 1941) – founder and chairman, Best Buy

Mae Schunk § (born 1934) – 45th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

Kathryn Leigh Scott (Kathryn Kringstad) (born 1945) – author, actor

Seann William Scott (born 1976) – actor

Todd Scott – football player

Briana Scurry (born 1971) – soccer player

Richard Warren Sears (1863–1914) – co-founder, Sears, Roebuck and Company

Mitch Seavey – dog musher

Jerry Seeman – NFL referee and Director of Officiating

Robert Seguso (born 1963) – tennis player

Aaron Sele (born 1970) – baseball player

Conrad Selvig (1877–1953) – member of U.S. Congress

Lyle Sendlein (born 1984) – football player

Joe Senser – football player

Marty Sertich (born 1982) – hockey player

Brian Setzer § – musician

Eric Sevareid § (1912–1992) – television journalist

Stephen Shadegg (1909–1990) – political consultant in Phoenix, Arizona; born in Minneapolis

Kyle Shanahan (born 1979) – football coach

Eddie Sharkey – wrestling coach

Darren Sharper (born 1975) – football player

Clark Shaughnessy (1892–1970) – football coach

Sam Shepard – actor and playwright; lived in Stillwater, Minnesota, with partner Jessica Lange

Marcus Sherels – football player

Charles D. Sherwood – 4th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

James Shields § (1810–1879) – U.S. Senator

Henrik Shipstead (1881–1960) – U.S. Senator

Francis Shoemaker (1889–1958) – member of U.S. Congress

BeBe Shopp (born 1930) – Miss America 1948

Bob Short (1917–1982) – owner of sports teams and politician

Henry Hastings Sibley § (1811–1891) – 1st Governor of Minnesota

Christopher Sieber (born 1969) – actor

Dick Siebert § (1912–1978) – college baseball coach

Gerry Sikorski (born 1948) – member of U.S. Congress

Clifford D. Simak § (1904–1988) – science-fiction writer

Richard Simmons (1913–2003) – actor

George Sitts – convicted murderer

Slug (born 1973) – rapper

Roy Smalley § (born 1952) – baseball player

Jack Smight (1925–2003) – film director

Bruce Smith (1920–1967) – football player; winner, Heisman Trophy

Chad Smith (born 1961) – drummer, Red Hot Chili Peppers

Edward Everett Smith – 18th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

George Ross Smith (1864–1952) – member of U.S. Congress

Larry H. Smith (1939–2002) – hockey player

Lyndon Ambrose Smith – 15th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

Onterrio Smith § (born 1980) – football player

Phillips Waller Smith (1906–1963) – U.S. Air Force Major General

Raonall Smith (born 1978) – football player

Robert Smith § (born 1972) – football player

Wyatt Smith (born 1977) – hockey player

Fred Smoot § (born 1979) – football player

Josiah Snelling § (1782–1828) – first commander of Fort Snelling

Samuel Snider § (1845–1928) – member of U.S. Congress

Zach Sobiech (1995–2013) – musician

Ben Sobieski (born 1979) – football player

Konrad K. Solberg – 27th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

Kathleen Soliah § (born 1947) – member of the Symbionese Liberation Army

Gordon Solie (Francis Jonard Labiak) (1929–2000) – wrestling announcer

Sammy Solis – baseball player

Jesse Solomon – football player

Spenser J. Somers § (1972–1990) – author

Rich Sommer § (born 1978) – actor

Stephen Sommers § (born 1962) – director

Gale Sondergaard (1899–1985) – Academy Award-winning actress (1936)

John Sontag (1861–1893) – outlaw, born in Mankato

Kevin Sorbo (born 1958) – actor

Richard K. Sorenson (1924–2004) – sailor

Alec Soth (born 1969) – photographer

Ann Sothern (1909–2001) – actress

Matt Spaeth – football player

Allan Spear § (1937–2008) – state legislator and president of the Minnesota Senate

LaVyrle Spencer – romance novelist

Lili St. Cyr (Willis Marie Van Schaack) (1918–1999) – ecdysiast

Paul St. Peter (also known as George C. Cole and Francis C. Cole) (born 1958) – voice actor

Arlan Stangeland § (born 1930) – member of U.S. Congress

Maurice Stans (1908–1998) – U.S. secretary of commerce

Frank Starkey (1892–1968) – member of U.S. Congress

Harold Stassen (1907–2001) – 25th Governor of Minnesota

Ozora P. Stearns § (1831–1896) – U.S. Senator

Franklin Steele § (1813–1880) – early settler of St. Anthony, Minnesota

Halvor Steenerson § (1852–1926) – member of U.S. Congress

Andy Steensma (born 1942) – farmer, mayor, politician

Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper (born 1963) – astronaut

Will Steger (born 1943) – polar explorer

Terry Steinbach (born 1962) – Major League Baseball player

Helen Stenborg (born 1925) – actor

Phil Sterner (born 1960) – politician

Cliff Sterrett – cartoonist

Todd Steussie – football player

Frederick Stevens § (1861–1923) – member of U.S. Congress

John H. Stevens – § (1820–1900) first civilian (non-indigenous) resident of Minneapolis

Jacob H. Stewart § (1829–1884) – member of U.S. Congress

Kenny Stills (born 1992) – wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins

Bob Stinson (Robert Neil Stinson) (1959–1995) – musician

Tommy Stinson (born 1966) – musician

Carl Stockdale (1874–1953) – actor

Cal Stoll (1923–2000) – former coach, Wake Forest, University of Minnesota football

Erik Stolhanske (born 1968) – comedian

Horace B. Strait § (1835–1894) – member of U.S. Congress

Korey Stringer § (1974–2001) – football player

Eric Strobel (born 1958) – hockey player; 1980 Miracle on Ice hockey-team member

Mike Stuart (born 1980) – hockey player

Scott Studwell – football player

John Stumpf – chairman and chief executive officer, Wells Fargo

Terrell Suggs – football player

George H. Sullivan – 21st Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

Clinton Sundberg – actor

Milt Sunde – football player

David C. Sutherland III (1949–2005) – Dungeons & Dragons artist

Steve Sviggum – politician

Curt Swan (1920–1996) – comic book artist

Lori Swanson (born 1966) – Minnesota Attorney General

Nick Swardson (born 1977) – stand-up comedian, actor

Henry Adoniram Swift § (1823–1869) – 3rd Governor of Minnesota and 3rd Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

William Irvin Swoope § (1862–1930) – lawyer and politician

T

Taoyateduta (c. 1810–1863) – chief of the Mdewakanton Sioux tribe

Kevin Tapani § (born 1964) – baseball player

Thomas Tapeh § (born 1980) – football player

Fran Tarkenton § (born 1940) – football player

A. J. Tarpley (born 1992) – football player

John Tate (born 1925) – mathematician; winner, Wolf Prize in Mathematics and the Abel Prize

James Albertus Tawney § (1855–1919) – member of U.S. Congress

Glen Taylor – businessperson

Travis Taylor § (born 1978) – football player

Maureen Teefy (born 1953) – musical-theatre vocalist and actor

Henry Teigan § (1881–1941) – politician

Wayne Terwilliger § (born 1925) – baseball coach

Dontarrious Thomas § (born 1980) – football player

George Thomas (born 1937) – baseball player

Henry Thomas § (born 1965) – football player

Butch Thompson (born 1943) – jazz pianist and clarinetist

Lea Thompson (born 1961) – actor, dancer

Stew Thornley (born 1955) – author of books on sports history

Edward John Thye § (1896–1969) – 26th Governor of Minnesota; 31st Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota; U.S. Senator

Steve Tibbetts § (born 1954) – guitarist

Mike Tice § (born 1959) – football coach

Cheryl Tiegs (born 1947) – model

Mick Tingelhoff § (born 1940) – football player

Tiny Tim (Herbert Buckingham Khaury) § (1932–1996) – musician

Analeigh Tipton (born 1988) – third place, America's Next Top Model Cycle 11

Mike Todd (1909–1958) – movie producer

César Tovar § (1940–1994) – baseball player

Charles A. Towne (1858–1928) – U.S. Senator; member of U.S. Congress

A. C. Townley § (1880–1959) – socialist

Jayne Trcka – bodybuilder and actress

Martin Edward Trench (1869–1927) – sailor, politician

Billy Turner (born 1991) – football player

W. D. Twichell (1864–1959) – Texas surveyor; born in Hastings

Anne Tyler (born 1941) – novelist

U

Kenechi Udeze § (born 1983) – football player

Brenda Ueland (1891–1985) – journalist

Lenore Ulric (born 1892) – actor

Bob Ulrich (born 1944) – businessperson

Jay Underwood (born 1968) – actor

Jordis Unga § (born 1982) – singer

Anne Ursu – journalist, novelist, blogger

V

John Vachon (1914–1975) – photographer

Norm Van Brocklin § (1926–1983) – NFL quarterback and Minnesota Vikings coach

Carl Van Dyke (1881–1919) – member of U.S. Congress

John Van Dyke § (1807–1878) – politician

Samuel Rinnah Van Sant § (1844–1936) – 15th Governor of Minnesota

Shantel VanSanten (born 1985) – actress, model, One Tree Hill

Sofia Vassilieva (born 1992) – child actor

Vince Vaughn (born 1970) – actor

Thorstein Veblen § (1857–1929) – economist, sociologist, author

Bruce Vento (1940–2000) – member of U.S. Congress

Jesse Ventura (born 1951) – wrestler; 38th Governor of Minnesota

Zoilo Versalles § (1939–1995) – baseball player

John William Vessey, Jr. (born 1922) – Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Jim Vickerman (born 1931) – politician, senator

Frank Viola § (born 1960) – baseball player

Pamela Vitale § (1953–2005) – murder victim

Andrew Volstead (1860–1947) – member of U.S. Congress; author of the 1919 National Prohibition Act (known informally as the Volstead Act)

Lindsey Vonn (born 1984) – Olympic and world champion skier

Ana Clara Voog (Rachael Olson) (born 1966) – singer-songwriter, musician, performance artist, visual artist, and writer

W

Kevin Wacholz (born 1958) – wrestler

James Wakefield § (1825–1910) – 8th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota; member of U.S. Congress

Harriet G. Walker § (1841–1917) – president, Northwestern Hospital

T. B. Walker § (1840–1928) – lumberman; founder of Minneapolis Public Library; founder of Walker Art Center

DeWitt Wallace (1889–1981) – publisher; founder of Reader's Digest; philanthropist

Steve Walsh (born 1966) – football player

Sean Waltman (born 1972) – wrestler

Tim Walz – politician

Lou Wangberg (born 1941) – 41st Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

John Warne (born 1979) – musician

Lonnie Warwick – football player

Cadwallader Washburn § (1818–1882) – businessperson; founder of Washburn Mills

William D. Washburn § (1831–1912) – U.S. Senator; member of U.S. Congress

Gene Washington § (born 1947) – football player

Vin Weber (born 1952) – member of U.S. Congress

Jon Wefald (born 1937) – educator

Knud Wefald § (1869–1936) – member of U.S. Congress

Mark Weigle (born 1967) – singer-songwriter

Chris Weinke (born 1972) – football player

Jeff Weise (1988–2005) – high school student who committed murder/suicide

Paul Wellstone § (1944–2002) – U.S. Senator

Sheila Wellstone (1944–2002) – advocate for human rights, the environment, and peace; wife of Paul Wellstone

Carl L. Weschcke (born 1930) – businessperson; president and owner, Llewellyn Worldwide

Paul Westerberg (born 1959) – musician

Wes Westrum (1922–2002) – baseball player

Jacob Wetterling (1978-1989) – kidnapped, abused, and murdered in 1989; missing until remains were discovered in 2016

Patty Wetterling § (born 1949) – politician, advocate of children's safety

Friedrich Weyerhäuser – businessperson

Lindsay Whalen (born 1982) – WNBA player

David Wheaton (born 1969) – tennis player

Blake Wheeler (born 1986) – hockey player

Ed White – football player

Milo White § (1833–1912) – member of U.S. Congress

Minor White (1908–1976) – photographer

Sammy White § (born 1954) – football player

Benson Whitney – U.S. Ambassador to Norway

Richard Widmark (1914–2008) – actor

Roy Wier § (1888–1963) – member of U.S. Congress

James Russell Wiggins (1903–2000) – editor; U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations

Jermaine Wiggins (born 1975) – football player

Laura Ingalls Wilder § (1867–1957) – novelist

Zygi Wilf § (born 1950) – football team owner

Roy Wilkins § (1901–1981) – civil rights leader

Bud Wilkinson (1916–1994) – football player, coach, and broadcaster

Morton S. Wilkinson § (1819–1894) – U.S. Senator; member of U.S. Congress

Warren William (Warren William Krech) (1894–1948) – actor

Auburn Williams (born 1990) – singer

Brian Williams (born 1979) – football player

Kevin Williams (born 1980) – football player

Moe Williams (born 1974) – football player

Pat Williams (born 1972) – football player

Stokley Williams (born 1967) – musician

Tom Williams (1940–1992) – hockey player

Troy Williamson (born 1983) – football player

Paul Willson (born 1945) – actor

August Wilson § (1945–2005) – Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright

Dan Wilson – musician

Dorothy Wilson (1909–1998) – actress

Eugene McLanahan Wilson § (1833–1890) – member of U.S. Congress

Rainn Wilson § (born 1966) – actor; Guthrie Theater alumnus

Sheree J. Wilson (born 1958) – actor

Thomas Wilson § (1827–1910) – member of U.S. Congress

Wade Wilson § (born 1959) – football player

Harold Windingstad (1929–2006) – political activist, farmer

William Windom § (1827–1891) – U.S. Senator, member of U.S. Congress

Antoine Winfield (born 1977) – football player

Dave Winfield (born 1951) – Baseball Hall of Fame player

Eliza Winston § (born 1830) – freed slave

Roy Winston – football player

Max Winter § (1903–1996) – football team owner

Ted Winter (born 1949) – politician, farmer, insurance agent

Theodore Wirth § (1863–1949) – horticulturalist, Minneapolis Superintendent of Parks; civic planner

Cory Withrow – football player

Wally Wood (1927–1981) – comic-book writer, artist, and independent publisher

Wolfman Jack (Robert Weston Smith) § – radio personality

Jerome J. Workman, Jr. (born 1952) – spectroscopist, editor, author

Bryan Thao Worra (born 1973) – poet, writer, and journalist

Al Worthington § (born 1929) – baseball player

John Wozniak (born 1971) – musician

Donald O. Wright (1892–1985) – 35th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

Michael Wuertz (born 1978) – baseball player

Irma Wyman § (born 20th century) – first chief information officer, Honeywell

Y

Cedric Yarbrough (born 1968) – actor, Reno 911!

Adam Young (born 1986) – musician

Z

Steve Zabel (born 1948) – football player

Steve Zahn (born 1967) – actor

Martin Zellar – musician

Kurt Zellers § (born 1969) – state representative

Tom Zenk (born 1958) – wrestler

Gary Zimmerman § (born 1961) – football player

Robert Zimmerman (see Bob Dylan)

Andrew Zimmern (born 1961) – television personality, chef, food writer

Cat Zingano (born 1982) – UFC mixed martial artist

Doug Zmolek (born 1970) – hockey player

Fred Zollner (1901–1982) – basketball-team owner

Tay Zonday (born 1982) – musician, prominent YouTuber

Buck Zumhofe – wrestler

John M. Zwach (1907–1990) – 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

Jerry Lundegaard, from the film Fargo

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