Jean Vautrin (17 May 1933 – 16 June 2015), real name Jean Herman, was a French writer, filmmaker and film critic. After studying literature at Auxerre, he took first place in the Id'HEC competition.

He studied French literature at the University of Bombay; he became assistant director to Roberto Rossellini. Back in France, he produced five feature films. He became famous among the general public in 1989, winning the Prix Goncourt for his novel Un grand pas vers le bon Dieu.