Famous People From South Dakota

Situated in the Midwestern region of the United States is the state of South Dakota. Its name has rich cultural significance as it is derived from the Sioux Native American tribes who have always composed of a substantial share of its population. With the city of Pierre as its capital and Sioux Falls as its biggest city, South Dakota is regarded to be a part of the Great Plains region. The famous Mount Rushmore is located in South Dakota and is officially known as ‘The Mouth Rushmore State’. Various renowned celebrities and achievers were born and raised in the state of South Dakota. Television show host Bob Barker, the beautiful January Jones and NBC news anchor Tom Brokaw hail from South Dakota. One of the most celebrated and deadly professional wrestler, MMA athlete and American football player, Brock Lesnar was also born in the state of South Dakota. South Dakota has produced various sport stars such as NFL linebacker Chad Greenway, Super Bowl champion Adam Vinatieri and NBA player Mike Miller. Keep reading this list to know more notable personalities from South Dakota.
Vote for Your Favourite People From South Dakota

Right IconThis ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.

 1 
Brock Lesnar
(One of the Greatest Professional Wrestlers of All Time)
Brock Lesnar
81
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 12, 1977
Sun Sign: Cancer

A multi-faceted personality, Brock Lesnar has had successful careers in the field of wrestling, mixed martial arts, and football. Best known for his wrestling career, Brock is widely considered one of the greatest professional wrestlers ever. Brock, who has had an equally successful MMA career, is the only person in history to hold a WWE world championship and UFC championship.

 2 
January Jones
(Actress and Model Best Known for Her Role as ‘Betty Draper’ in the TV Series ‘Mad Men’)
January Jones
37
Birthdate: January 5, 1978
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Best known for her Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning performance as Betty Draper in Mad Men, January Jones has also appeared in The Last Man on Earth and X-Men: First Class. She has modeled for Versace; appeared on the covers of GQ, Grazia, and Cosmopolitan; and been a spokesperson for Oceana.
 3 
Adam Vinatieri
(American Football Player)
Adam Vinatieri
13
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: December 28, 1972
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
Recommended Lists:
 4 
Kristi Noem
(Governor of South Dakota)
Kristi Noem
51
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: November 30, 1971
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
Recommended Lists:
 5 
Cheryl Ladd
(Actress)
Cheryl Ladd
16
Birthdate: July 12, 1951
Sun Sign: Cancer
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
 6 
Tom Brokaw
(Journalist)
Tom Brokaw
18
Birthdate: February 6, 1940
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
Recommended Lists:
 7 
Crazy Horse
(Military Leader, Folk Hero)
Crazy Horse
11
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Died: September 5, 1877

Nineteenth-century Lakota war lord Crazy Horse, of the Oglala subtribe, is remembered as a legendary hero who fought against white encroachment of Native American territories. He was part of the Black Hills War and the Battle of the Little Bighorn. He died fighting at Camp Robinson, in modern-day Nebraska.

 8 
Jessi Combs
(American Professional Racer, Television Personality, and Metal Fabricator)
Jessi Combs
15
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 27, 1980
Sun Sign: Leo
Died: August 27, 2019

Professional racer, TV personality and metal fabricator, Jessi Combs, is remembered for setting a women's land speed class record (four wheels) in 2013. She was known as "the fastest woman on four wheels.” As a TV presenter, she co-hosted over 90 episodes of the Spike TV show, Xtreme 4x4. She died in a car crash while racing in 2019. 

Recommended Lists:
 9 
Shayna Baszler
(Professional Wrestler and Former Mixed Martial Artist)
Shayna Baszler
30
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 8, 1980
Sun Sign: Leo

Shayna Baszler is an American WWE wrestler and former WWE women's tag team champion. Before signing with WWE, Baszler was a mixed martial artist. She served as an important spokesperson in a movement, which was initiated to create an athletic commission for combat sports in South Dakota. A multi-talented personality, Shayna Baszler is also a certified Emergency Medical Technician.

 10 
Hubert Humphrey
(38th Vice President of the United States (1965-1969))
Hubert Humphrey
13
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: May 27, 1911
Sun Sign: Gemini
Died: January 13, 1978

The 38th vice president of the USA, Hubert Humphrey was an early skeptic of the Vietnam War; however, he had no choice but to support the war effort as President Lyndon B. Johnson wanted the war to go on. Thanks to his popularity, several buildings have been named after Humphrey. He has also been portrayed by actors like Bradley Whitford.

Recommended Lists:
 11 
Tomi Lahren
(Political Commentator and Television Presenter)
Tomi Lahren
38
Birthdate: August 11, 1992
Sun Sign: Leo

Tomi Lahren is an American TV host-turned-conservative political commentator. Tomi Lahren, who currently hosts a talk show on Fox Nation, has made controversial comments in the past, attracting criticisms and support from all over America. She supports women's empowerment, abortion rights, and LGBT rights.

 12 
Gene Okerlund
(Professional Wrestling Interviewer)
Gene Okerlund
7
Birthdate: December 29, 1942
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Died: January 2, 2019
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
Recommended Lists:
 13 
George McGovern
(United States Senator from South Dakota (1963 - 1981))
George McGovern
13
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: July 19, 1922
Sun Sign: Cancer
Died: October 21, 2012

Historian George McGovern had been the U.S. senator from South Dakota. He held important positions related to food, agriculture, and nutrition, too, and was named a World Food Prize laureate for his efforts in reducing world hunger. He had also advocated for the end of the Vietnam War.

 14 
Becky Hammon
(Basketball player)
Becky Hammon
10
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 11, 1977
Sun Sign: Pisces
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
Recommended Lists:
 15 
Mamie Van Doren
(Actress and Singer Best Known for the ‘Rock 'n' Roll’ Juvenile Delinquency Exploitation Movie ‘Untamed Youth’)
Mamie Van Doren
9
Birthdate: February 6, 1931
Sun Sign: Aquarius

Mamie Van Doren is an American former model, singer, and actress. Van Doren achieved popularity during the 1950s and is best known for her performance in the 1957 American teen film Untamed Youth. In 2005, she was honored with a Golden Palm Star. She also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

 16 
Russell Means
(Activist)
Russell Means
6
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: November 10, 1939
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Died: October 22, 2012
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
Recommended Lists:
 17 
Amy Hill
(Stand-up Comedians)
Amy Hill
9
Birthdate: May 9, 1953
Sun Sign: Taurus
 18 
Rose Wilder Lane
(Journalists)
Rose Wilder Lane
6
Birthdate: December 5, 1886
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Died: October 30, 1968
Recommended Lists:
 19 
Terry Francona
(Baseball player)
Terry Francona
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: April 22, 1959
Sun Sign: Taurus
 20 
Mary Hart
(Television personality)
Mary Hart
6
Birthdate: November 8, 1950
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
Recommended Lists:
 21 
Josh Heupel
(American Football Player)
Josh Heupel
5
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 22, 1978
Sun Sign: Aries
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 22 
Mike Miller
(Basketball coach and former professional player)
Mike Miller
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: February 19, 1980
Sun Sign: Pisces
Height: 6'8" (203 cm)
Recommended Lists:
 23 
Sparky Anderson
(Baseball Players)
Sparky Anderson
6
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: February 22, 1934
Sun Sign: Pisces
Died: November 4, 2010
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 24 
Rachael Bella
(Actress)
Rachael Bella
6
Birthdate: March 13, 1984
Sun Sign: Pisces
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
Recommended Lists:
 25 
Shawn Colvin
(Singer-songwriter)
Shawn Colvin
5
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: January 10, 1956
Sun Sign: Capricorn
 26 
Tom Daschle
(American Lobbyist and Democratic Party Politician)
Tom Daschle
4
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: December 9, 1947
Sun Sign: Sagittarius

American lobbyist and Democratic Party politician Tom Daschle has been a US Senator from South Dakota. He has also been a 3-time Senate Minority Leader and a 2-time Senate Majority Leader. He now works for The Daschle Group, which serves as the public policy advisory of Baker Donelson.

Recommended Lists:
 27 
John Thune
(Political Leader)
John Thune
6
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: January 7, 1961
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
 28 
Dallas Goedert
(Football player)
Dallas Goedert
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: January 3, 1995
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Height: 6'5" (196 cm)
Recommended Lists:
 29 
Dallas Clark
(American Football Player)
Dallas Clark
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 12, 1979
Sun Sign: Gemini
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 30 
Phil Graham
(Publisher)
Phil Graham
3
Birthdate: July 18, 1915
Sun Sign: Cancer
Died: August 3, 1963
Recommended Lists:
 31 
Norm Van Brocklin
(American football player)
Norm Van Brocklin
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 15, 1926
Sun Sign: Pisces
Died: May 2, 1983
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 32 
Delores Taylor
4
Birthdate: September 27, 1932
Sun Sign: Libra
Died: March 23, 2018
Recommended Lists:
 33 
Dale Moss
(American football player)
Dale Moss
5
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 24, 1988
Sun Sign: Libra
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 34 
Gary Owens
(Disc jockey)
Gary Owens
3
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: May 10, 1934
Sun Sign: Taurus
Died: February 12, 2015
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 35 
Ben Nguyen
(American Mixed Martial Artist)
Ben Nguyen
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 3, 1988
Sun Sign: Leo
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 36 
Billy Mills
(American Former Track and Field Athletes and Olympic Gold Medalists)
Billy Mills
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 30, 1938
Sun Sign: Cancer
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 37 
Zitkala-Sa
(Writer)
Zitkala-Sa
6
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: February 22, 1876
Sun Sign: Pisces
Died: January 26, 1938
 38 
Marlene Hagge
(American Former Professional Golfer)
Marlene Hagge
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: February 16, 1934
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Height: 5'2" (157 cm)
 39 
Sean Doolittle
(Baseball player)
Sean Doolittle
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 26, 1986
Sun Sign: Libra
 40 
Riley Reiff
(American football player)
Riley Reiff
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: December 1, 1988
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Height: 6'5" (196 cm)
 41 
Myron Floren
(Musician)
Myron Floren
3
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: November 5, 1919
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Died: July 23, 2013
 42 
Gall
(Leader)
Gall
3
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: 1840 AD
Died: December 5, 1894
 43 
Jay Novacek
(American Football Player)
Jay Novacek
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: October 24, 1962
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
 44 
Fakir Musafar
(Photographer)
Fakir Musafar
1
Listed In: Photographers
Birthdate: August 10, 1930
Sun Sign: Leo
Died: August 1, 2018
 45 
Chad Greenway
(American Football Player)
Chad Greenway
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: January 12, 1983
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 46 
Tim Miles
(Basketball coach)
Tim Miles
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 20, 1966
Sun Sign: Leo
 47 
Nathan Gerry
(American football player)
Nathan Gerry
5
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: February 23, 1995
Sun Sign: Pisces
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 48 
Spencer Johnson
(Author)
Spencer Johnson
1
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: November 24, 1938
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Died: July 3, 2017
 49 
Mike Rounds
(Politician)
Mike Rounds
5
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: October 24, 1954
Sun Sign: Scorpio
 50 
Eugene Luther Vidal
(Aviator, Basketball player)
Eugene Luther Vidal
1
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: April 13, 1895
Sun Sign: Aries
Died: February 20, 1969