The following list includes notable people who were born or have lived in Fargo, North Dakota.
Academia
Astronauts
| Name
|
Image
|
Birth
|
Death
|
Known for
|
Association
|
Reference
|
| Richard Edlund
|
|
Dec 6, 1940
|
|
Multiple Academy Award-winning visual effects artist for Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Return of the Jedi, and Ghostbusters
|
Born in Fargo
|
|
| CariDee English
|
|
Sep 23, 1984
|
|
Winner of America's Next Top Model, Cycle 7
|
Born in Fargo
|
|
| William H. Gass
|
|
Jul 30, 1924
|
Dec 6, 2017
|
Writer
|
Born in Fargo
|
|
| Chuck Klosterman
|
|
Jun 5, 1972
|
|
Author and journalist (Spin, Esquire, ESPN)
|
Lived in Fargo
|
|
| James Lileks
|
|
Aug 9, 1958
|
|
Writer, journalist, and blogger
|
Born in Fargo
|
|
| Audra Mari
|
|
Jan 8, 1994
|
|
Model, television host, and beauty pageant titleholder
|
Attended Davies High School in Fargo
|
[3]
|
| Carey McWilliams
|
|
Jul 5, 1973
|
|
Blind marksman and author
|
Born in Fargo
|
|
| Amber Preston
|
|
|
|
Stand-up comedian
|
Born in Fargo; 1996 graduate of West Fargo High School[4]
|
|
| Adam Quesnell
|
|
|
|
Stand-up comedian
|
Lived in Fargo
|
|
| Kristin Rudrüd
|
|
May 23, 1955
|
|
Actress, known for starring in the films Fargo and Pleasantville
|
Born in Fargo
|
|
| Roxana Saberi
|
|
Apr 26, 1977
|
|
Journalist, 1997 Miss North Dakota
|
Worked at KVLY-TV
|
|
| Ed Schultz
|
|
Jan 27, 1954
|
Jul 5, 2018
|
Host of The Ed Show, a weekday news talk program, and The Ed Schultz Show, a talk radio show
|
Worked at KTHI-TV, WDAY-TV, and KFGO in Fargo
|
[5]
|
| Ari Shapiro
|
|
Sep 30, 1978
|
|
Reporter (NPR)
|
Born in Fargo
|
|
| Jon L. Wanzek
|
|
May 10, 1964
|
|
Film producer
|
Lives in Fargo
|
|
Musicians and singers
| Name
|
Image
|
Birth
|
Death
|
Known for
|
Association
|
Reference
|
| The Blenders
|
|
|
|
Vocal quartet
|
|
|
| Virginia Bruce
|
|
Sep 29, 1910
|
Feb 24, 1982
|
Singer and actress, starred in such films as Born to Dance and The Great Ziegfeld
|
Grew up in Fargo
|
|
| Shannon Curfman
|
|
Jul 31, 1985
|
|
Blues guitarist and singer
|
Born in Fargo
|
|
| Dakota Dave Hull
|
|
Apr 19, 1950
|
|
Acoustic fingerstyle guitarist and music historian
|
Born in Fargo
|
[6]
|
|
| Jonny Lang
|
|
Jan 29, 1981
|
|
Blues guitarist and singer
|
Born in Fargo
|
|
| Peter Schickele
|
|
Jul 17, 1935
|
Jan 16, 2024
|
Musical composer (alter ego of PDQ Bach)
|
|
|
| Frank Scott
|
|
Jul 21, 1921
|
Oct 5, 1995
|
Musician and arranger with the Lawrence Welk orchestra
|
Born in Fargo
|
|
| Bobby Vee
|
|
Apr 30, 1943
|
Oct 24, 2016
|
1960s era pop music singer
|
Born in Fargo
|
Sports
| Name
|
Image
|
Birth
|
Death
|
Known for
|
Association
|
Reference
|
| Dan Arnold
|
|
Mar 15, 1996
|
|
Tight end for the New Orleans Saints 2017–2019, Arizona Cardinals 2019–2020, Carolina Panthers 2021–2021, Jacksonville Jaguars 2021-2022, Philadelphia Eagles 2023-2023; free agent 2023-present
|
Played football at Shanley High School in Fargo |
|
| Henry Luke Bolley
|
|
Feb 1, 1865
|
Nov 9, 1956
|
First North Dakota State University football coach; plant pathologist
|
Lived and died in Fargo
|
|
| Jim Brandt
|
|
May 19, 1929
|
|
NFL and CFL player
|
Born in Fargo
|
|
| Joe Burrow
|
|
Dec 10, 1996
|
|
Quarterback for the LSU, 2019 Heisman Trophy winner, 2019–2020 College Football National Champion, NFL Pick No.1, quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals
|
Attended Centennial Elementary School while his father was on the coaching staff for the NDSU Bison |
[7]
|
| Joe Cichy
|
|
May 12, 1948
|
|
Safety for the North Dakota State Bison football team and inductee to the College Football Hall of Fame
|
Born in Fargo and played football at Shanley High School in Fargo
|
[8]
|
| Chris Coste
|
|
Feb 4, 1973
|
|
Major League Baseball catcher
|
Born in Fargo
|
|
| Kyle Emanuel
|
|
Aug 16, 1991
|
|
NFL linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers 2015–2019
|
Played football at North Dakota State University in Fargo, host of NDSU Bison Football Pregame Show on KVLY-TV
|
|
| Paul Gaustad
|
|
Feb 3, 1982
|
|
Center for the Nashville Predators
|
Born in Fargo
|
|
| Andy Heck
|
|
Jan 1, 1967
|
|
Offensive line coach and player for the Kansas City Chiefs
|
Born in Fargo
|
|
| Gary Larsen
|
|
Mar 13, 1942
|
|
Defensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings' Purple People Eaters
|
Born in Fargo
|
|
| Roger Maris
|
|
Sep 10, 1934
|
Dec 14, 1985
|
Outfielder for the Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Athletics, New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals; American League Most Valuable Player in 1960 and 1961
|
Raised in Fargo and graduate of Shanley High School
|
|
| Connor McGovern
|
|
Apr 27, 1993
|
|
Center for the Denver Broncos 2016–2019, center for the New York Jets 2020–present
|
Played football at Shanley High School in Fargo |
|
| John Noah
|
|
Nov 21, 1927
|
Sep 3, 2015
|
Silver medalist at the 1952 Winter Olympics
|
Lived and died in Fargo
|
|
| Donny Schatz
|
|
Aug 10, 1977
|
|
Driver for the World of Outlaws
|
|
|
| Easton Stick
|
|
Sep 15, 1995
|
|
Quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers, No.166 overall NFL draft pick
|
Played football at North Dakota State University in Fargo
|
|
| Erik Swanson
|
Sep 4, 1993
|
|
|
Relief pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, formerly played for the Seattle Mariners
|
|
| William Turner
|
|
Oct 17, 1991
|
|
NFL guard who is a free agent
|
Played football at North Dakota State University in Fargo
|
|
| Carson Wentz
|
|
Dec 30, 1992
|
|
Quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, No.2 overall NFL draft pick by the Philadelphia Eagles, Super Bowl Champion (LII)
|
Played football at North Dakota State University in Fargo
|
|
Statesmen (religious and political)
| Name
|
Image
|
Birth
|
Death
|
Known for
|
Association
|
Reference
|
| Doug Burgum
|
|
Aug 1, 1956
|
|
33rd governor of North Dakota (2016–present); candidate for president in 2024
|
Graduate of North Dakota State University, lived in Fargo
|
|
| Ronald N. Davies
|
|
Dec 11, 1904
|
Apr 18, 1996
|
Federal judge for the district of North Dakota (1955–1985)
|
Lived and died in Fargo
|
|
| Leo Ferdinand Dworschak
|
|
Apr 6, 1900
|
Nov 5, 1976
|
Roman Catholic bishop of Fargo
|
|
|
| Aloisius Joseph Muench
|
|
Feb 18, 1889
|
Feb 15, 1962
|
Roman Catholic bishop of Fargo
|
|
|
| Collin Peterson
|
|
Jun 29, 1944
|
|
US congressman from Minnesota
|
Born in Fargo
|
|
| Ed Schafer
|
|
Aug 8, 1946
|
|
30th governor of North Dakota (1992–2000), 29th United States Secretary of Agriculture under George W. Bush
|
Lives in Fargo
|
|
| George A. Sinner
|
|
May 29, 1928
|
Mar 9, 2018
|
29th governor of North Dakota (1985–1992)
|
Born in Fargo
|
|
| Burleigh F. Spalding
|
|
Dec 3, 1853
|
Mar 17, 1934
|
US congressman
|
Lived and died in Fargo
|
|
| Evan S. Tyler
|
|
Mar 22, 1843
|
Aug 24, 1923
|
North Dakota state congressman
|
Lived and died in Fargo
|
|
References
- ^ "Nancy Friese". New American Paintings, Issue 20. Open Studios Press. 1999. p. 71.
- ^ Knudson, Pamela (August 26, 2016). "Artist Nancy Friese: Beauty of the wide open". Grand Forks Herald.
- ^ "Changes ahead for Fargo's own Miss World America".
- ^ Lamb, John (February 12, 2014). "Look who's laughing now: West Fargo graduate returns to headline comedy club opening". Forum. Fargo, North Dakota. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- ^ Donovan, Lauren (February 17, 2002). "Ed Schultz: He's live and he takes 'em cold on his weekday radio program". Bismarck Tribune. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
- ^ Clark, Jerome (Winter 2006). "Dakota Dave Hull: Voodoo King of the Acoustic Guitar" (PDF). Sing Out!. Vol. 49, no. 4. pp. 65–70. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
- ^ "UPDATE: It was tough on two Fargo second graders the day Joe Burrow moved to Ohio".
- ^ "Joe Cichy". footballfoundation.org. College Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 29, 2024.