Bert Olen States (August 8, 1929 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania – October 13, 2003 in Santa Barbara) was a playwright, critic and a professor emeritus of dramatic arts at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
He went on to study at Yale University, earning in 1960 a Doctorate in Fine Arts.
He taught at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1959–60), Skidmore College (1960–64) and at the University of Pittsburgh (1964–67).
States has written several books and article on literary and dramatic theory and on dreams.
In 1951, he married Nancy Beun and is the father of two children: Jerri and Eric.