This is a list of prominent people who were born in or lived for a significant period in U.S. state of South Dakota. For a larger list by location, see People from South Dakota.
Academia
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- Vine Deloria, Jr., American Indian author, theologian, historian, and activist
- Alvin Hansen, economist, Harvard professor; born in Viborg
- Arthur Larson, law professor, United States Undersecretary of Labor; born in Sioux Falls
- Ernest O. Lawrence, inventor of cyclotron, winner of 1939 Nobel Prize for Physics; born in Canton
- Lawrence Lessig, internet activist, Harvard Law School professor; born in Rapid City
- Theodore Schultz, economist, winner of 1979 Nobel Prize for Economics; born in Arlington
Actors and filmmakers
- Angela Aames (1956â€"1988), actress; born in Pierre
- Catherine Bach (born 1954), actress; grew up in South Dakota
- Bruce Baillie (born 1931), experimental filmmaker; born in Aberdeen
- Rachael Bella (born 1984), actress; born in Vermillion
- Shannon Bolin (born 1917), actress, singer; born in Spencer
- Moses Brings Plenty (born 1969), actor; born on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
- Christopher Cain (born 1943), actor, director, screenwriter; born in Sioux Falls
- Leslie Carlson (born 1933), actor; born in Mitchell
- Harvey B. Dunn (1894â€"1968), actor; born in Yankton
- Judith Evelyn (1913â€"1967), actress; born in Seneca
- Amy Hill (born 1953), actress; born in Deadwood
- Candace Hilligoss (born 1935), actress; born in Huron
- Ron Holgate (born 1937), actor; opera singer; born in Aberdeen
- January Jones (born 1978), actress; born in Hecla
- Cheryl Ladd (born 1951), actress; born in Huron
- Eddie Little Sky (1926â€"1997), actor; born on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
- Cliff Lyons (1901â€"1974), stuntman, actor; born in Lake County
- Beth Maitland (born 1958), actress; born in Rapid City
- Gail Matthius (born 1953), actress, voice actress; born in Sioux Falls
- Russell Means (1939â€"2012), actor, left-wing activist; born in Wanblee
- John Miljan (1892â€"1960), actor; born in Lead City
- Debra Mooney (born 1947), actress; born in Aberdeen
- Conrad A. Nervig (1889-1980), Oscar-winning film editor; born in Grant County
- Gary Owens (1934-2015), voice actor, disc jockey; born in Mitchell
- Dorothy Provine (1937â€"2010), actress, singer, dancer, comedian; born in Deadwood
- Gene Roth (1903â€"1976), actor; born in Redfield
- Chic Sale (1885â€"1936), actor, vaudevillian; born in Huron
- Eddie Spears (born 1982), actor; born in Lower Brulé Tribe, South Dakota
- Michael Spears (born 1977), actor; born in Lower Brulé Tribe, South Dakota
- Michael Steinberg (born 1959), director, writer; born in Rapid City
- Joan Tabor (1932â€"1968), actress; born in Sioux Falls
- Delores Taylor (born 1939), actress, writer, director; born in Winner
- Casey Tibbs (1929â€"1990), cowboy, rodeo performer, actor; born in Fort Pierre
- Mamie Van Doren (born 1931), actress; born in Rowena
- Jerry verDorn (born 1949), actor; born in Sioux Falls
- John War Eagle (1901â€"1991), actor; born on the Yankton Indian Reservation
- Alfred L. Werker (1896â€"1975), director; born in Deadwood
- Floyd Red Crow Westerman (1936â€"2007), actor, left-wing activist; born on the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation
- Timmy Williams (born 1981), actor, comedian; born in Watertown
Artists
- Peggy Detmers, sculptor of wildlife in metal, attended South Dakota State
- Harvey Dunn, painter, born in Manchester
- James Earle Fraser, sculptor; spent much of his life in Mitchell
- Paul Goble, author and illustrator of children's books; lives in Rapid City
- Mary GrandPré, illustrator, born in South Dakota
- Bill Groethe, photographer, born in Rapid City
- Oscar Howe (1915â€"1983), Native American artist; born in South Dakota
- Terry Redlin (1937-2016), wildlife artist; born in Watertown
- Dick Termes, painter of Termespheres; lives in Spearfish
Authors and poets
- Jacob M. Appel, author, wrote Coulrophobia & Fata Morgana while living in Sioux Falls
- Joseph Bottum (born 1959), essayist and poet; born in Vermillion
- Charles Badger Clark (1883â€"1957), poet laureate of South Dakota
- Allison Hedge Coke (born 1958), American Book Award-winning poet, writer; South Dakota resident
- Elizabeth Cook-Lynn (born 1930), author; born in Fort Thompson
- Pete Dexter (born 1943), author, screenwriter and journalist, attended University of South Dakota
- David Allan Evans (born 1940), poet laureate of South Dakota
- Joseph Hansen (1923â€"2004), author, best known for mystery novels; born in Aberdeen
- Cameron Hawley (1905â€"1969), author, Executive Suite, Cash McCall; born in Howard
- Patrick Hicks (born 1970), poet, writer, Writer-in-Residence at Augustana College
- Johan Andreas Holvik (1880â€"1960), author and professor at Concordia College (Minnesota)
- Adam Johnson (born 1967), writer, author of The Orphan Master's Son (2012); born in South Dakota, Lakota heritage
- Bill Johnson (born late 1950s), science-fiction writer; born in South Dakota
- Herbert Arthur Krause (1905â€"1976), historian, professor at Augustana
- Rose Wilder Lane (1886â€"1968), journalist, travel writer, novelist; born in De Smet
- Gaylord Larsen (born 1932), mystery writer; born in Canova
- Joseph Marshall III, Pen Award-winning author; co-founder of Sinte Gleska College; born on the Rosebud Indian Reservation
- Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867â€"1957), author, best known for Little House on the Prairie; lived in De Smet
Business
- Gene Amdahl (born 1922), chief architect of IBM mainframe computer; born in Flandreau
- Al Neuharth (1924â€"2013), founder of USA Today, born in Eureka
- Lee Raymond (born 1938), CEO and chairman of Exxon Mobile Corporation; born in Watertown
- Joseph Robbie, owned NFL's Miami Dolphins; born in Sisseton
Military
- Oscar Randolph Fladmark (1922-1955), WWII and Korean War pilot; Distinguished Flying Cross recipient; lived in Sioux Falls, born in Moe
- David C. Jones (1921-2013), retired U.S. Air Force general, former Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff; born in Aberdeen
- Touch the Clouds (c. 1837-1905), Native American chief; later Indian Scout and Sergeant in the US army
Music
- Joey Clement, band member of Selena Gomez & the Scene; born in Rapid City
- Shawn Colvin (born 1956), Grammy Award-winning musician; born in Vermillion
- Mark Craney (1952â€"2005), drummer for Jethro Tull, Jean Luc-Ponty, Eric Burdon
- Myron Floren (1919â€"2005), accordionist, The Lawrence Welk Show; born in Roslyn
- Gary Mule Deer (born 1940), comedian and country musician; born in Deadwood, lives in Spearfish
- Jess Thomas (1927â€"1993), opera singer; born in Hot Springs
- Frank Waln, Sicangu Lakota rapper
- Abby Whiteside (1881-1956), piano teacher, attended University of South Dakota
- Mouse Rat (Group), Formerly Scarecrow Boat, Grammy Award-winning; formed in Sioux Falls
Native Americans
- Gertrude Bonnin (Zitkala-Sa) (1876â€"1938), Lakota writer and activist; born on Yankton Sioux Reservation
- Crazy Horse (c. 1840â€"1877), Oglala Lakota war leader
- Russell Means (1939â€"2012), Native American activist; born in Pine Ridge
- Maria Pearson (1932â€"2003), Yankton Sioux activist who helped establish the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act
- Rain-in-the-Face (c. 1835â€"1905), Hunkpapa Lakota chief
- Red Cloud (1822â€"1909), Oglala Lakota chief
- Sitting Bull (c. 1831â€"1890), Hunkpapa Lakota chief
- Touch the Clouds (c. 1837â€"1905), Miniconjou Teton Lakota chief known for his great size
- Floyd "Red Crow" Westerman (1936â€"2007), musician, activist and actor; born on Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota Sioux reservation
Politics and government
- Jim Abdnor (1923â€"2012), second Lebanese U.S. Representative and Senator; born in Kennebec
- James Abourezk (born 1931), first Lebanese U.S. Representative and Senator; born in Wood
- Tom Daschle (born 1947), U.S. Majority Leader of United States Senate; born in Aberdeen
- J. James Exon (1921â€"2005), Nebraska governor and U.S. senator for Nebraska; born in Geddes
- Joe Foss (1915â€"2003), Medal of Honor recipient, 20th Governor of South Dakota, first Commissioner of the American Football League; born in Sioux Falls
- Ralph A. Gamble, (1885), U.S. Representative for New York; born in Yankton
- John Hamre (born 1950), U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense; born in Watertown
- Hubert Humphrey (1911â€"1978), U.S. Senator, 38th Vice President of the U.S., 1968 Democratic presidential candidate; born in Wallace
- Muriel Humphrey Brown, U.S. Senator from Minnesota, Second Lady of the United States born in Huron
- Bill Janklow (1939â€"2012), Governor 1979â€"1987 and 1995â€"2003; moved as teen to Flandreau
- Brendan Johnson (born 1975), 40th U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota; born in Vermillion
- Tim Johnson (born 1946), U.S. Senator from South Dakota 1997-2015; born in Canton
- Arthur Larson (1910â€"1993), United States Under Secretary of Labor, lawyer, law professor; born in Sioux Falls
- George McGovern (1922â€"2012), U.S. Senator from South Dakota, 1972 Democratic presidential candidate; born in Avon
- Karl E. Mundt (1900-1974), U.S. Senator and U.S. Representative; born in Humboldt
- Kristi Noem (born 1971), current U.S. Representative from South Dakota; born in Watertown
- Larry Pressler (born 1942), three-term U.S. Senator from South Dakota; born in Humboldt
- Gladys Pyle (1890â€"1989), first female U.S. Senator from South Dakota; born in Huron
- Mike Rounds (born 1954), current U.S. Senator from South Dakota, former Governor; born in Huron
- Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (born 1970), U.S. Representative from South Dakota; born in Houghton
- Edward John Thye (1896-1969), U.S. Senator and 26th Governor of Minnesota; born in Frederick
Science
- Bob Burris (1914â€"2010) biochemist; elected to the NAS; contributed to our understanding of biological nitrogen fixation; born in Brookings
- Niels Ebbesen Hansen (1866â€"1950), horticulturist and botanist
- Ernest O. Lawrence (1901â€"1958), physicist, Nobel Prize winner, built first cyclotron; born in Canton
- John Mortvedt (1932â€"2012), agronomist and soil scientist who was the world's leading expert on micronutrients; born and raised on a farm near Dell Rapids
Sports
- Sparky Anderson (1934â€"2010), Baseball Hall of Fame manager of Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers; born in Bridgewater
- Shayna Baszler (born 1980), mixed martial artist; born in Sioux Falls
- James Bausch (1906â€"1974), athlete, decathlon gold medalist at 1932 Summer Olympics; born in Marion
- Dallas Clark (born 1979), tight end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers; born in Sioux Falls
- Dave Collins, baseball player; born in Rapid City
- Sean Doolittle (born 1986), baseball player; born in Rapid City
- Justin Duchscherer (born 1977), baseball player; born in Aberdeen
- Mark Ellis (born 1977), baseball player; Rapid City
- Keith Foulke (born 1972), baseball player, relief pitcher for 2004 World Series champion Boston Red Sox; born on Air Force base in South Dakota
- Terry Francona (born 1959), baseball player, manager of the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians; born in Aberdeen
- Chad Greenway (born 1983), linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings; born in Mount Vernon
- Marlene Hagge (born 1934), golfer, member of World Golf Hall of Fame; born in Eureka
- Becky Hammon (born 1977), basketball player and coach; born in Rapid City
- Clare Jacobs (1886â€"1971), athlete, pole vault bronze medalist in 1908 Olympics; born in Madison
- Jason Kubel (born 1982), outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks; born in Belle Fourche
- Ward Lambert (1888â€"1958), college basketball coach; born in Deadwood
- Ben Leber, football player; attended high school in Vermillion
- Brock Lesnar (1977), UFC fighter and WWE wrestler born in Webster
- Randy Lewis (born 1959), freestyle wrestler, 1983 Los Angeles Olympics gold medalist; from Rapid City
- Clarence "Pug" Manders (1913â€"1985), pro football running back; born in Milbank
- Jack Manders (1909â€"1977), pro football running back; born in Milbank
- Mike Martz (born 1951), former NFL head coach and offensive coordinator; born in Sioux Falls
- David Michaud (born 1988), UFC fighter; born in Pine Ridge
- Derek Miles (born 1972), Olympic pole vaulter; from Tea
- Tim Miles (born 1966), Big Ten basketball coach; born in Huron
- Douglas Alan Miller (1969-1998), Professional American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL)Sturgis
- Mike Miller (born 1980), pro basketball player; born in Mitchell
- Billy Mills (born 1938), athlete, gold medalist in 1964 Olympics; born in Pine Ridge
- Dale Moss (born 1988), football player and model; born in Brandon
- Eric Piatkowski (born 1970), pro basketball player; attended high school in Rapid City
- Riley Reiff, football player for Minnesota Vikings; from Parkston
- Jared Reiner, basketball player; from Tripp
- Wilbur Thompson (1921â€"2013), athlete, 1948 Summer Olympics gold medalist in shot put; born in Frankfort
- Norm Van Brocklin (1926â€"1983), football player; born in Eagle Butte
- Adam Vinatieri (born 1972), NFL placekicker; born in Yankton
- Brandon Wegher (born 1990), football player; born in Dakota Dunes
Television
- Bob Barker (born 1923), television game show host; raised on the Rosebud Indian Reservation
- Tom Brokaw (born 1940), television journalist, former NBC Nightly News anchor; born in Webster
- Don Fedderson (1913â€"1994), television producer and creator, My Three Sons, Family Affair, The Millionaire; born in Beresford
- Mary Hart (born 1950), television personality (Entertainment Tonight); from Madison, and Sioux Falls
- Chelsea Houska (born 1991), television personality (Teen Mom 2)
- Tomi Lahren (born 1992), conservative political commentator, host of TheBlaze's Tomi; raised in Rapid City
- Pat O'Brien (born 1948), sports commentator, television personality (Access Hollywood); born in Sioux Falls
- Gary Owens (1934-2015), announcer for Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, radio disc jockey, voice actor; born in Mitchell
Uncategorized
- Gutzon Borglum, sculptor of Mount Rushmore
- Seth Bullock, first sheriff of Deadwood
- K. G. William Dahl (1883â€"1917), Lutheran pastor, author and social advocate
- Billy Etbauer, rodeo cowboy; born in Huron
- Alvin Hansen, economist; born in Viborg
- Wild Bill Hickok, Wild West lawman; lived in Deadwood
- Calamity Jane, Wild West figure; lived in Deadwood
- Frank Leahy, Notre Dame football coach; attended school in Winner
- Lawrence Lessig, political activist; from Rapid City
- Boyd McDonald, pornographer
- Vernon C. Miller, outlaw and Huron lawman
- Peter Norbeck, South Dakota governor and senator
- William H. Parker, longtime Los Angeles police chief; born in Lead
- James "Scotty" Philip, rancher
- James Edward Zimmerman, inventor; born in Lantry
- Korczak Ziółkowski, sculptor of Crazy Horse Memorial
See also
- List of people from Rapid City, South Dakota
- List of University of South Dakota people