List of people from Minnesota
From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
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 §.
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This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.
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- 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
- 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
Justice Harry Blackmun
Chief Justice Warren E. Burger
Justice Pierce Butler
- 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
- 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
- Rudy Boschwitz § (born 1930) – U.S. Senator
- Lyman Bostock § (1950–1978) – baseball player
- Norman Borlaug (born 1914) – agricultural scientist; recipient, 1970 Nobel Peace Prize
- 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
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- 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[1]
- 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
- 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) – Washington Redskins 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
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- 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
- 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
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- 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
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- 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
- 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[2]
- 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
- 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 Milwaukee Bucks
- 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
- 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
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- 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
- 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
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- 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 (born 1978) – kidnapped in 1989; still missing as of 2013[update]
- 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
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- 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
- Jolly Green Giant, food brand character
- Angus MacGyver, main character of the 1980s television series MacGyver
- Minnehaha, Native American maiden from Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's poem "Song of Hiawatha"
- Mary Richards, main character of the television sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show
- Pillsbury Doughboy, food brand character
- Rocky and Bullwinkle, cartoon characters
- Rose Nylund, character from the television sitcomThe Golden Girls
- Henry Gale, character from the television series Lost
- Juno MacGuff, character from the film Juno
- Marshall Eriksen, character from the television sitcom How I Met Your Mother
- Candy Quackenbush, from Clive Barker's The Books of Abarat novel series
- Marge Gunderson, from the film Fargo
See also
References
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- ↑ Minnesota Futurists Chapter
