Burton Prelutsky (January 5, 1940 – December 17, 2021) was an American screenwriter, newspaper columnist, and author.

A graduate of Los Angeles Fairfax High School,[1] Prelutsky was the film critic for the UCLA Daily Bruin and then a film critic for Los Angeles Magazine from 1961 to 1971, writing acerbic reviews that gained him a reputation as "the fastest barb in the west."

[3] He wrote eight episodes of the M*A*S*H TV series during seasons four, five, and six, including The Novocaine Mutiny,[4]: p.190  The General's Practitioner,[4]: p.198  The Grim Reaper[4]: p.203  and Quo Vadis, Captain Chandler?

[4]: p.186 In 2000 Prelutsky was one of the earliest plaintiffs to sign on to a class action lawsuit brought against television talent agencies, networks and production studios accused of discrimination against older writers.

[5] In 1985 Prelutsky won a Writers Guild of America Award in the original comedy anthology category for the 1983 TV movie Hobson's Choice.