Notable People from South Dakota

Edith Green

American politician (1910–1987)

Robert H. Burris

American biochemist

Fred Sherman

American actor (1905-1969)

Mary Brave Bird

Lakota author and indigenous rights activist (1954–2013)

Jerry verDorn

American actor (1949–2022)

Leslie Jensen

American politician (1892-1964)

John Fire Lame Deer

Lakota holy man, member of the Heyoka society (1903–1976)

David Premack

American psychologist

Diane Gaidry

American actress (1964-2019)

John C. Waldron

Recipient of the Purple Heart medal (1900–1942)

Ralph Herseth

Governors of South Dakota (1909-1969)

Hazel Forbes

American actress and dancer (1910-1980)

Med Park

American basketball player (1933-1998)

Anthony Allen Shore

American serial killer

Layne Flack

American professional poker player (1969–2021)

James Paul Johnson

American politician

Casey Tibbs

American rodeo performer and actor (1929-1990)

David B. Wake

American evolutionary biologist (1936–2021)

Oscar Howe

Yanktonai Dakota artist (1915-1983)

Vivien Alcock

English author of children's books (1924–2003)

Joan Tabor

American actress (1932-1968)

Leonard Crow Dog

Native American writer and activist

Joseph M. Marshall III

American Lakota author, actor, and educator from South Dakota

Ralph Abernethy Gamble

American politician (1885-1959)

Barbara Robbins

The first female employee (and youngest) to be killed in action in the CIA's history and the first American woman killed in the Vietnam War

Ray Ellefson

American basketball player (1927–1994)

Marilyn Hagerty

journalist

Herbert Spencer Barber

American entomologist (1882–1950)

Conde Balcom McCullough

American bridge engineer (1887–1946)

Nels H. Smith

American politician (1884–1976)

Harry George Armstrong

United States Marine and aviation expert (1899-1983)

Eugene Luther Vidal

American commercial aviation pioneer and Olympic decathlete (1895-1969)

Charles R. Larson

United States admiral

Donald Lester Jackson

American politician (1910-1981)

Archie M. Gubbrud

American politician (1910-1987)

Dave Bald Eagle

Lakota Chief

Robert P. Multhauf

American historian of science (1919–2004)

George Barnes Grigsby

American politician

Edgar Bear Runner

actor

Herbert Spinden

American anthropologist, archeologist and art historian

Barbara May Cameron

Native American author, artist, and activist (1954–2002)

Richard Barrett Lowe

Educator and governor of American Samoa and Guam

Amanda Clement

American baseball umpire (1888–1971)

Brother Jed

American evangelical preacher

Angelo Antonio Rizzuto

American photographer (1906–1967)

Running Antelope

19th century chief of the Hunkpapa Lakota

Thomas H. Werdel

American politician (1905–1966)

Neoma Judge

actress (1908-1978)

Lambert Anthony Hoch

Catholic bishop (1903-1990)

Alexander

magician (1880-1954)