Harry Kemelman (November 24, 1908 – December 15, 1996) was an American mystery writer and a professor of English.

in English philology from Harvard, he taught at a number of schools before World War II.

His writing career began with short stories for Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine featuring New England college professor Nicky Welt, the first of which, "The Nine Mile Walk", is considered a classic.

Kemelman also received $35,000 for the movie rights to Friday the Rabbi Slept Late, a made-for-TV adaptation of which was broadcast on NBC in 1976.

The film starred Art Carney as Chief Lanigan and Stuart Margolin as Rabbi Small.