Joseph Chaikin (September 16, 1935–June 22, 2003) was an American theatre director. He worked with The Living Theatre before founding The Open Theater. He received six Obie Awards, including one for Lifetime Achievement, and two Guggenheim Fellowships.

In 1984, a stroke suffered during open-heart surgery left Chaikin with partial aphasia. Despite this barrier to communication, Chaikin continued to direct and to create plays collaboratively with other writers.

Chaikin was born and died in New York City.