Jean Vilar (25 March 1912– 28 May 1971) was a French actor and theatre director.

[1] Vilar trained under actor and theatre director Charles Dullin, then toured with an acting company throughout France.

He created two major theatrical institutions, the Festival d'Avignon and the Théâtre National Populaire.

On 18 July 1979 the theatre department of the Bibliothèque nationale de France, the city of Avignon and the Association Jean Vilar opened the Maison Jean-Vilar in the Hôtel de Crochans in Avignon to further Vilar's work, the Festival d'Avignon, the 'OFF' and theatre and performance in Avignon and the surrounding region.

[2] He was married to the artist Andrée Vilar (1916-2009) and worked with his sister in law Valentine Schlegel at the Festival d'Avignon.