James Goldman was an American screenwriter and playwright, and the brother of screenwriter and novelist William Goldman.

Born to a Jewish family in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up primarily in Highland Park, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. He is most noted as the author of The Lion in Winter, for which he received an Academy Award, and as the author of the book for the Broadway musical Follies.

Goldman died from a heart attack in New York City, where he had lived for many years.