List of people from Fargo, North Dakota

The following list includes notable people who were born or have lived in Fargo, North Dakota.

Astronauts[]

Name	Image	Birth	Death	Known for	Association	Reference
James Buchli		Jun 20, 1945		United States Marine aviator; NASA astronaut; flew on four Space Shuttle missions	Graduated from Fargo Central High School

Media[]

Name	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	^[1]
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^[2]
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	^[3]
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	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	^[4]
Jonny Lang	Jan 29, 1981		Blues guitarist and singer	Born in Fargo
Peter Schickele	Jul 17, 1935		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	Birth	Death	Known for	Association	Reference
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 dad was on the coaching staff for the NDSU Bison	^[5]
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 Jacksonville Jaguars	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
Dan Arnold	Mar 15, 1996		Tight End for the New Orlean Saints 2017–2019, Tight End for the Arizona Cardinals 2019–2020, Tight End for the Carolina Panthers 2021–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
William Turner	Oct 17, 1991		NFL guard for the Green Bay Packers	Played football at North Dakota State University in Fargo
Carson Wentz	Dec 30, 1992		Quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, No.2 overall NFL draft pick by the Philadelphia Eagles, Superbowl Champion (LII)	Played football at North Dakota State University in Fargo

Statesmen (religious and political)[]

Name	Birth	Death	Known for	Association
Doug Burgum	Aug 1, 1956		33rd governor of North Dakota (2016–present)	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
Ilhan Omar	Oct 4, 1982		US congresswoman from Minnesota	Graduated North Dakota State University
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