Carl Lerner was an American director screenwriter, actor, and editor. He started his career as an actor with theater companies in New York. In 1950 he joined as editor in Columbia Studios and debuted his first film Cry Murder. He directed his first documentary film American Homes in 1949. He is known for his works in movies such as Twelve Angry Men (1957), The Fugitive Kind (1959) and Middle of the Night (1959).

Mr. Lerner taught film technique at City College, New York University, the School of Visual Arts, and other institutions, and had written many articles on the subject. He died on August 26, 1973 at the age of 61 in New York, USA.