Notable People from South Dakota

Carl Gunderson

American politician (1864-1933)

Robert H. Burris

American biochemist

Leslie Jensen

American politician (1892-1964)

Jerry verDorn

American actor (1949–2022)

John Fire Lame Deer

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

David Premack

American psychologist

John C. Waldron

Recipient of the Purple Heart medal (1900–1942)

Ralph Herseth

Governors of South Dakota (1909-1969)

Med Park

American basketball player (1933-1998)

Anthony Allen Shore

American serial killer

James Paul Johnson

American politician

Mary Brave Bird

Lakota author and indigenous rights activist (1954–2013)

David B. Wake

American evolutionary biologist (1936–2021)

Casey Tibbs

American rodeo performer and actor (1929-1990)

Diane Gaidry

American actress (1964-2019)

Oscar Howe

Yanktonai Dakota artist (1915-1983)

Hazel Forbes

American actress and dancer (1910-1980)

Fred Sherman

American actor (1905-1969)

Layne Flack

American professional poker player (1969–2021)

Joseph M. Marshall III

American Lakota author, actor, and educator from South Dakota

Joan Tabor

American actress (1932-1968)

Leonard Crow Dog

Native American writer and activist

Ray Ellefson

American basketball player (1927–1994)

Vivien Alcock

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

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

Ralph Abernethy Gamble

American politician (1885-1959)

Herbert Spencer Barber

American entomologist (1882–1950)

Conde Balcom McCullough

American bridge engineer (1887–1946)

Harry George Armstrong

United States Marine and aviation expert (1899-1983)

Nels H. Smith

American politician (1884–1976)

Eugene Luther Vidal

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

Donald Lester Jackson

American politician (1910-1981)

Charles R. Larson

United States admiral

Archie M. Gubbrud

American politician (1910-1987)

Dave Bald Eagle

Lakota Chief

Robert P. Multhauf

American historian of science (1919–2004)

Marilyn Hagerty

journalist

George Barnes Grigsby

American politician

Brother Jed

American evangelical preacher

Richard Barrett Lowe

Educator and governor of American Samoa and Guam

Herbert Spinden

American anthropologist, archeologist and art historian

Angelo Antonio Rizzuto

American photographer (1906–1967)

Amanda Clement

American baseball umpire (1888–1971)

Thomas H. Werdel

American politician (1905–1966)

Running Antelope

19th century chief of the Hunkpapa Lakota

Edgar Bear Runner

actor

Neoma Judge

actress (1908-1978)

Lambert Anthony Hoch

Catholic bishop (1903-1990)

Alexander

magician (1880-1954)

Ward Lambert

American basketball player, coach, and administrator, baseball player and coach, American football player (1888-1958)