Lou Donaldson (born 1926) is a jazz alto saxophonist. He was born in Badin, North Carolina.

His first recording in 1952 was as a leader. Although he has recorded as a sideman, he has never belonged to any band other than those of which he was leader; he has been a bandleader since the mid-1950s. He has recorded in the bop, hard bop, and soul jazz genres.