Who is the most famous person from Minnesota?
Favorite Answer
Famous Minnesotans
LaVerne, Maxene, and Patti Andrews singers, Minneapolis
Warren E. Burger jurist, Saint Paul
William Demarest actor, Saint Paul
William Orville Douglas jurist, Maine
Bob Dylan singer, composer, Duluth
Francis Scott Fitzgerald author, Saint Paul
James Earle Fraser sculptor, Winona
Judy Garland singer, actress, Grand Rapids
Jean Paul Getty oil executive, Minneapolis
Duane Hanson sculptor, Alexandria
Garrison Keillor humorist, Anoka
Jessica Lange actress, Cloquet
Sinclair Lewis author, Sauk Center
Edward Lowe inventor, Saint Paul
Cornell MacNeil baritone, Minneapolis
John Madden sportscaster, Austin
Roger Maris baseball player, Hibbing
E. G. Marshall actor, Owatonna
Charles Horace Mayo surgeon, Rochester
William J. Mayo surgeon, Le Sueur
Eugene J. McCarthy senator, Watkins
Kate Millett feminist, Saint Paul
Walter F. Mondale Vice President, Celyon
Prince Rogers Nelson singer, Minneapolis
Lauris Norstad commander of NATO forces, Minneapolis
Westbrook Pegler columnist, Minneapolis
Jane Russell actress, Bemidji
Winona Ryder actress, Winona
Harrison E. Salisbury journalist, Minneapolis
Charles Monroe Schulz cartoonist, Minneapolis
Kevin Sorbo actor, Mound
Maurice H. Stans secretary of commerce, Shakopee
Harold Edward Stassen government official, Saint Paul
Michael Todd producer, Minneapolis
Jesse Ventura politician, entertainer, Minneapolis
Also, at this 2nd website, more detail is provided:
http://www.leg.state.mn.us/youth/famousfolks.asp
Do you recognize these people with Minnesota connections?
Artists Authors Public Officials Adventure/Sports Music Actors Misc.
Artists Importance or Contribution Birthplace/Minnesota Connections
Jim Brandenburg Nature photographer/Author; Chased by the Light; United Nations Environmental Programme World Achievement Award, 1991 Southwestern MN (born), Duluth, Luverne, Worthington, Ely
Wanda Gag Illustrator/Painter/Author; Millions of Cats, 1928 New Ulm (born)
Mary GrandPre Illustrator/Artist; Harry Potter series (American version), 1997-Present South Dakota (born), Bloomington (raised), Minneapolis, St. Paul
LeRoy Neiman Painter, incorporates sports themes St. Paul (born)
Charles Schulz Cartoonist; Peanuts; Milton Caniff Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Cartoonists Society, 2000; Congressional Gold Medal, 2000 Minneapolis (born), St. Paul (raised), Minneapolis
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Authors Importance or Contribution Birthplace/Minnesota Connections
Carol Bly Author; The Tomcat’s Wife and Other Stories, 1991 Duluth (born), Minneapolis, Northfield, St.Paul, Sturgeon Lake
Robert Bly Poet/Author/Editor; founder of the men’s movement; National Book Award for Poetry, 1968 Madison (born), Northfield
F. (Francis) Scott Fitzgerald Author; The Great Gatsby, 1925; featured on a U.S. postage stamp, 1996 St. Paul (born)
Jon Hassler Author; Rookery Blues, 1996 Minneapolis (born), Staples, Plainview, Bemidji, Brainerd, Collegeville
Bill Holm Poet/Essayist; Coming Home Crazy: An Alphabet of China Essays, 2000 Swede Prairie Township (born), Minneota, St. Peter
Jerry Juhl Writer; The Muppet Show, head writer, 1977-1981; The Muppet Movie and other Muppet movies, co-writer, 1979-1999; two Emmy Awards for his work on Sesame Street; Writers Guild of America awards, 1978 and 1979; Emmy Award, The Muppet Show, 1981; Fraggle Rock, head writer St. Paul (born)
Garrison Keillor Author/Humorist; Lake Wobegon Days, 1990; Radio personality, A Prairie Home Companion Anoka (born), Minneapolis, St. Paul
Sinclair Lewis Author; Main Street, 1920; first person from the United States to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, 1930; featured on a U.S. postage stamp, 1985 Sauk Centre (born), Minneapolis, Duluth
Maud Hart Lovelace Author; Betsy-Tacy series of books, 1940-1955 Mankato (born)
Tim O’Brien Author, writes on his experience as a Vietnam Veteran Austin (born), St. Paul
Ole E. Rolvaag Author; Giants in the Earth: A Saga of the Prairie, 1927; former professor at St. Olaf College Donna Island, Norway (born); Northfield
LaVyrle Spencer Author; Family Blessings, best-selling writer of romance novels Browerville
Brenda Ueland Author; If You Want to Write, 1938; first female reporter for the Minneapolis Tribune; Knights of St. Olaf medal from the Norwegian government, 1946 Minneapolis (born), St. Paul
Thorstein Veblen Author/Economist; The Theory of the Leisure Class, 1899; coined the term “conspicuous consumption” Cato, WI (born); Northfield, Nerstrand
Laura Ingalls Wilder Author; Little House on the Prairie, 1935 Pepin, WI (born); Plum Creek; Walnut Grove; Spring Valley
August Wilson (Frederick August Kittel) Playwright; Penumbra Theatre credited with launching his professional career; Pulitzer Prize for Drama, 1987 and 1990; Tony Award for Best Play, 1987 Pittsburgh, PA (born); St. Paul; Minneapolis
For facts on more MN authors, visit the Minnesota Author Biographies Project Web site
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Public Officials Importance or Contribution Birthplace/Minnesota Connections
Harry Blackmun U.S. Supreme Court Justice, 1970-1994 Nashville, IL (born); St. Paul; Minneapolis
Warren E. Burger Jurist, Chief Justice U.S. Supreme Court, 1969-1986 St. Paul (born)
Pierce Butler U.S. Supreme Court Justice, 1923-1939 Northfield (born), St. Paul
William O. Douglas U.S. Supreme Court Justice, 1939-1975; longest serving Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court Maine, MN (born)
Hubert H. Humphrey Minneapolis Mayor, 1945-1948; U.S. Senator, 1949-64 and 1971-78; Vice President, 1965-69; Democratic presidential candidate, 1968; unsuccessful candidate for Democratic nomination for president, 1972; Congressional Gold Medal, 1979; Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1980; featured on a U.S. postage stamp, 1991 Wallace, SD (born); St. Paul; Minneapolis; Waverly
Muriel B. Humphrey Brown U.S. Senator, 1978; first and only female from Minnesota to serve in the United States Senate Huron, SD (born); Minneapolis; Waverly; Plymouth
Frank B. Kellogg U.S. Senator, 1917-23; United States Secretary of State, 1925-29; Nobel Peace Prize, 1929 Potsdam, NY (born); Rochester; St. Paul
Coya G. Knutson U.S. Congressional Representative, 1955-1958; first female to represent Minnesota in Congress Edmore, ND (born); Moorhead; Plummer; Oklee
Eugene Joseph McCarthy U.S. Congressional Representative, 1949-58; U.S. Senator, 1959-70; unsuccessful candidate for Democratic nomination for president, 1968, 1972 and 1992 Watkins (born), Collegeville, Minneapolis, St. Paul
Walter F. Mondale U.S. Senator, 1964-76; U.S. Vice President 1977-81; Democratic presidential candidate, 1984; U.S. Ambassador to Japan, 1993-1996 Ceylon, MN (born); St. Paul; Minneapolis
Harold Stassen Minnesota Governor, 1939-1943; unsuccessful candidate for Republican nomination for president, numerous years, first attempt was in 1948 South St. Paul (born), St. Paul, Minneapolis, Bloomington
Jesse Ventura (James George Janos) Minnesota Governor, 1999-2002; first Reform Party Governor/first Reform Party candidate to win statewide office; Brooklyn Park Mayor, 1991-1994; Wrestler/Entertainer/Educator Minneapolis (born), Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove, Dellwood
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Adventure/Sports Importance or Contribution Birthplace/Minnesota Connections
Jeanne Arth Tennis player; U.S. Doubles champion, 1958 and 1959; Wimbledon Doubles champion, 1959 St. Paul (born)
Ann Bancroft Polar explorer; first female to reach both the North Pole, 1986 and South Pole, 1993; one of the first females to cross Antartica, 2001 Mendota Heights (born), St. Paul, Scandia
Charles Albert Bender Baseball player; National Baseball Hall of Fame, 1953; member of the Chippewa tribe White Earth Reservation, Crow Wing County (born)
Patty Berg Golfer; in several golf halls of fame including the World Golf Hall of Fame, 1974; U.S. Women’s Open winner, 1946; a founding member and first president of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), 1950-52; Vare Trophy, 1953, 1955 and 1956; Bob Jones Award, 1963 Minneapolis (born)
Herb Brooks Hockey coach; coached the U.S. Olympic hockey team to its gold medal, 1980; U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, 1990; coached the U.S. Olympic hockey team to its silver medal, 2002; coached several professional hockey teams in the National Hockey League (NHL) St. Paul (born)
Neal Broten Hockey player; former Minnesota North Star; first hockey player born in the United States to achieve a 100 point season in NHL; U.S. Olympic hockey team gold medal, 1980; NCAA Hobey Baker Award, 1981; U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, 2000 Roseau (born)
Phil Housley Hockey player; one of the top scoring NHL hockey players born in the United States; U.S. Olympic hockey team silver medal, 2002; U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, 2004 South St. Paul (born), Lakeland
Kent Hrbek Baseball player; former Minnesota Twin; World Series winner, 1987 and 1991 Minneapolis (born), Bloomington (raised)
Tom Lehman Golfer; British Open Champion, 1996 Austin (born), Minneapolis
Greg LeMond Bicyclist; first American to win the Tour de France, 1986; also won in 1989 and 1990 Lakewood, CA (born), Medina
Charles A. Lindbergh, Jr. Aviator; first to complete solo, non-stop flight across Atlantic Ocean; Distinguished Flying Cross, 1927; featured on a U.S. postage stamp, 1927; Congressional Gold Medal, 1928 Detroit, MI (born); Little Falls (raised)
John Madden Sportscaster/Football coach; coached team to Super Bowl victory, 1976; Emmy Award, multiple times Austin (born)
Roger Maris Baseball player; broke Babe Ruth’s record when he scored 61 home runs, 1961; World Series winner, 1961, 1962 and 1967; featured on a U.S. postage stamp, 1999 Hibbing (born)
Kevin McHale Basketball player; Basketball Hall of Fame, 1999; NBA championship winner, 1981,1984, and 1986; seven-time All-Star; one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history, 1996 Hibbing (born), Minneapolis
Paul Molitor Baseball player; Minnesota Twins, 1996-98; ranked 8th in all-time hits (3,319); World Series winner, 1993; seven-time All-Star; National Baseball Hall of Fame, 2004 St. Paul (born), Minneapolis
Jack Morris Baseball player; Minnesota Twins, 1991; World Series winner, 1984, 1991, 1992 and 1993; World Series Most Valuable Player, 1991; five-time All-Star St. Paul (born)
Bronko Nagurski Football player, college and professional; Pro Football Hall of Fame, 1963; Wrestler, three-time world heavyweight champion, 1937, 1939 and 1941; featured on a U.S. postage stamp, 2003 Rainy River, Ontario (born); International Falls (raised); Minneapolis
Cindy Nelson Downhill skier; first U.S. racer to win the World Cup downhill, 1974; Olympic bronze medal, 1976; Olympic silver medal, 1980; World Cup and National Champion titles, several times; first woman to serve as Chief of Course at a major alpine skiing competition, 1989; Colorado Ski Hall of Fame, 2002 Lutsen (born)
Alan Page Football player; Minnesota Vikings, 1967-1978; NFL Most Valuable Player, 1971; Pro Football Hall of Fame, 1988; Minnesota Supreme Court Justice, 1993-Present Canton, OH (born), St. Paul
Kirby Puckett Baseball player; Minnesota Twins, 1984-1995; World Series winner, 1987 and 1991; ten-time All-Star; National Baseball Hall of Fame, 2001 Chicago, IL (born)
Ralph W. Samuelson Inventor of water skiing, 1922; first water ski jumper and speed skier, 1925 Lake City, Pine Island
Briana Scurry Soccer goalie; U.S. Olympic women’s soccer team gold medal, 1996; U.S. Women’s Soccer World Cup Champion, 1999 Minneapolis (born), Dayton (raised), Anoka
Will Steger Polar explorer; first reached the North Pole in 1986 Richfield (born), Ely
Dave Winfield Baseball player; Minnesota Twins, 1993-1994; World Series winner, 1992; twelve-time All-Star; National Baseball Hall of Fame, 2001 St. Paul (born)
For a list of Minnesota’s 50 greatest sports athletes, visit the Sports Illustrated Web site.
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Music Importance or Contribution Birthplace/Minnesota Connections
Andrews Sisters (LaVerne, Maxene, Patty) Singers, popular during World War II; one of the United States’ most successful female groups; Grammy Hall of Fame Award, 1996 (Bei Mir Bist Du Schon), 1998 (Don’t Fence Me In), 2000 (Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy) LaVerne and Maxene-Minneapolis (born), Patty-Mound (born)
Bob Dylan (Robert Zimmerman) Singer/Songwriter; Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 1988; Grammy Awards winner, multiple times; Oscar for best song, 2001 Duluth (born), Hibbing (raised)
Jam and Lewis: Jimmy Jam (James Harris III) and Terry Lewis Producers/Songwriters; Grammy Awards: Producers of the Year, 1986; Best Rhythm and Blues Song, 1993; Best Dance Recording, 2001; Recording Academy’s Governors Award, 2004 James-Minneapolis (born); Terry-Omaha,NE (born); Terry-Minneapolis (raised)
Prince (Rogers Nelson) Singer/Songwriter; Grammy Awards winner, 1984, 1986 and 2005; Oscar for Best Soundtrack, 1984; Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 2004; Actor, Purple Rain, Graffiti Bridge; NAACP Vanguard Award, 2005 Minneapolis (born), Chanhassen
Sounds of Blackness Singing group/Gospel choir, originated at Macalester College; Grammy Awards winners, 1991, 1993 and 1998 St. Paul
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Actors/Performers Importance or Contribution Birthplace/Minnesota Connections
Loni Anderson Actor; WKRP in Cincinnati, 1978-82 St. Paul (born)
Louie Anderson Comedian Minneapolis (born)
Richard Dean Anderson Actor; MacGyver,1985-92; Stargate Minneapolis (born), Roseville (raised)
James Arness Actor; Gunsmoke, 1955-1975 Minneapolis (born)
Lew Ayres Actor; All Quiet on the Western Front, 1930; Dr. Kildare Movies, 1938-1942 Minneapolis (born)
Jessica Biel Actor; Seventh Heaven, 1996-2002 Ely (born)
Aaron Brown Anchor/Host; NewsNight with Aaron Brown, 2001-2005 Hopkins (born)
Kelly Carlson Actor; Nip/Tuck, 2003- Minneapolis (born)
Ethan and Joel Coen Filmmakers; Fargo, 1996 Minneapolis (born)
Rachael Leigh Cook Actor; She’s All That, 1999 Minneapolis (born)
William Demarest Actor, My Three Sons St. Paul (born)
Kimberly Elise Actor; John Q, 2002; Diary of a Mad Black Woman, 2005 Minneapolis (born), Wayzata
Mike Farrell Actor; M*A*S*H, 1975-83; Providence, 1999-2002 St. Paul (born)
Ed Flanders Actor; St. Elsewhere, 1982-87 Minneapolis (born)
Patrick Flueger Actor; The 4400, 2004-06 Red Wing (born)
Al Franken Actor/Comedian, Saturday Night Live New York City, NY (born); St. Louis Park (raised)
Judy Garland Actor/Singer; Wizard of Oz, 1939; featured on a U.S. postage stamp, 1990 Grand Rapids (born)
Terry Gilliam Actor/Writer/Director, Monty Python Medicine Lake (born)
Genevieve Gorder Designer; Trading Spaces, 2000-2006; Town Haul, 2005 Minneapolis (born)
Peter Graves (Peter Arness) Actor; Mission Impossible, 1967-73 Minneapolis (born)
Josh Hartnett Actor; Pearl Harbor, 2001; Black Hawk Down, 2001 San Francisco, CA (born); St. Paul (raised)
Tippi Hedren Actor; The Birds, 1963 New Ulm (born)
Linda Kelsey Actor; Lou Grant, 1977-82 Minneapolis (born)
Craig Kilborn Anchor/Host; ESPN; Late, Late Show Hastings (born)
T.R. Knight Actor; Grey’s Anatomy, 2005- Minneapolis (born)
Charlie Korsmo Actor; Dick Tracy, 1990; Hook, 1991 Fargo, ND (born); Minneapolis (raised)
Peter Krause Actor; Six Feet Under, 2001-2005 Alexandria (born)
Jessica Lange Actor; Tootsie , 1982 (Best Actress in a Supporting Role Oscar, 1983); Blue Sky, 1994 (Best Actress in a Leading Role Oscar, 1995) Cloquet (born), Stillwater
June Marlowe Actor; Readin’ and Writin’, 1932; Little Rascals/Our Gang movies (Miss Crabtree) St. Cloud (born)
E.G. Marshall Actor, Emmy-award winner Owatonna (born)
Marion Ross Actor; Happy Days, 1974-84 Albert Lea (born)
Jane Russell Actor; The Outlaw, 1943 Bemidji (born)
Winona Ryder Actor; The Crucible, 1996; Autumn in New York, 2000 Winona (born)
Seann William Scott Actor; The Dukes of Hazzard (movie), 2005 Cottage Grove (born)
Kevin Sorbo Actor; Hercules, 1995-99; Andromeda, 2000-05 Mound (born)
Lea Thompson Actor/Dancer; Back to the Future, 1985; Caroline in the City Rochester (born), Minneapolis (raised)
Cheryl Tiegs Actor/Supermodel Breckenridge (born)
Gig Young Actor; Young at Heart, 1954; They Shoot Horses Don’t They?, 1969 St. Cloud (born)
Steve Zahn Actor; Sahara, 2005 Marshall (born)
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Miscellaneous Importance or Contribution Birthplace/Minnesota Connections
Peter Agre Chemist; Nobel Prize in Chemistry winner, 2003 Northfield (born); Minneapolis
Earl Bakken Medical Entrepreneur; co-founder of Medtronic, Inc.; developed the first wearable, external, battery-powered, transistorized heart pacemaker, 1957; decorated by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands as an Officer in the Order of Oranje Nassau, 1989; National Academy of Engineering’s Fritz J. and Delores H. Russ Prize, 2001 Minneapolis (born)
H. David and Dotty Dalquist Entrepreneurs; founders of Nordic Ware; invented the Bundt cake pan, the world’s best selling cake pan, 1950 H. David-Minneapolis (born), Duluth, Grand Marais, Edina
Jean Paul Getty Oil Executive/Philanthropist; founder of Getty Oil Co.; billionaire, reported to be the richest man in the world when he died Minneapolis (born)
James J. Hill Businessman, founder of Great Northern Railway Rockwood, Ontario (born); St. Paul
George A. Hormel Entrepreneur, founder of Hormel Foods Buffalo, NY (born); Austin
Sister Elizabeth Kenny Nurse; discovered a revolutionary treatment for polio; rebuffed by the medical community until her success in Minneapolis; Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute founded in Minneapolis, 1942 New South Wales, Australia (born); Minneapolis
Joan B. Kroc Philanthropist; married Ray Kroc the founder of McDonald’s Corp., 1969 St. Paul (born)
Dr. C. Walton Lillehei Surgeon; performed world’s first open heart surgery, 1952 Minneapolis (born)
Frank Mars and son: Forrest E. Mars Candy makers; Frank-founder of the Mar-O-Bar Company, eventually renamed Mars, Inc.; created the Milky Way candy bar in Minneapolis, 1923; Forrest-created M&Ms, 1941; diversified and grew the company Frank-Newport (born); Minneapolis
Dr. William Worrall Mayo and sons: William James, and Charles Doctors; William W. was head of St. Mary’s Hospital; with sons William J. and Charles founded the Mayo Clinic in Rochester William Worrall-Eccles, England (born); William James-Le Sueur (born); Charles-Rochester (born); St. Paul; Duluth; Le Sueur; Rochester
Mother Alfred Moes Catholic nun; founded St. Mary’s Hospital, 1889, in Rochester and convinced Dr. William Worrall Mayo to head the hospital that eventually evolved into the Mayo Clinic Germany/Luxembourg (born), Rochester
George “Pinky” Nelson Astronaut Charles City, IA (born); Willmar (raised)
Jeno Paulucci Entrepreneur; founder Jeno’s Frozen Pizza; Chun King Corporation, the first United States company to market canned Chinese food nationally; and Luigino’s, Inc.; Ernst & Young International Lifetime Achievement Award for Activism, Entrepreneurship and Leadership, 2004 Aurora (born), Hibbing
John S. Pillsbury Flour miller/Minnesota Governor, 1876-1881/Entrepreneur; one of the family founders of C.A. Pillsbury and Company, which became the world’s largest flour milling business Sutton, NH (born); St. Anthony; Minneapolis; St. Paul
Richard W. Sears Entrepreneur; co-founder and first president of the Sears, Roebuck and Company Stewartville (born), Spring Valley, Mankato, North Redwood, Minneapolis
Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper Astronaut, Minnesota’s first woman in space St. Paul (born)
Rose Totino Entrepreneur; founder Totino’s frozen pizza; first female vice-president of Pillsbury, 1975; first female inducted into the Frozen Food Hall of Fame Minneapolis (born), Fridley
DeWitt Wallace Publisher; founder Reader’s Digest magazine, 1922; Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1972 St. Paul (born)
Roy Wilkins Civil rights leader; Executive Director of NAACP, 1955-1977; Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1969; Congressional Gold Medal, 1984; featured on a U.S. postage stamp, 2001 St. Louis, MI (born); St. Paul (raised); Minneapolis
..and there you go.