Karl Brown (December 26, 1896 – March 25, 1990) was an American cinematographer, screenwriter, and film director.

He was also a member of the American Society of Cinematographers and served as vice president from 1924 to 1925.

Brown's first directorial effort, Stark Love (1927), is today considered a rural cinematic masterpiece.

Brown was cinematographer on Wallace Reid's last film, Thirty Days (1922).

His mother, who styled herself Lucile Browne professionally, served as a chaperone and guardian to actresses at the Fine Arts Studio and made some film appearances.