Ernest Ralph Tidyman (January 1, 1928 – July 14, 1984) was an American author and screenwriter, best known for his novels featuring the African-American detective John Shaft.

The dual success of Shaft and French Connection made Tidyman one of the top screenwriters in the business.

"Tidyman from a standing start suddenly looks like a one man resuscitator for the movie as public entertainment", wrote The Los Angeles Times.

[8] Tidyman was one of the few filmmakers to speak up for the much-maligned James T. Aubrey, president of MGM, who financed Shaft.

[9] However, he was not happy with the final films, particularly Shaft, and decided to move into producing as well, establishing Ernest Tidyman Productions in 1971.

"[8] He wrote the screenplay for the 1973 film High Plains Drifter, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood.

In 1980, he wrote the teleplay for the TV movie Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones, which he also had a hand in producing, which got him an Emmy nomination.

[11] In 1982, he married former Motown soul singer Chris Clark, who had co-written the screenplay for Lady Sings the Blues (1972).

[14] Tidyman died in 1984 in Westminster Hospital in London, England, due to a perforated ulcer and other complications.