Fay Bainter (December 7, 1893 – April 16, 1968) was an Academy Award-winning American actress.

Bainter was born Fay Okell Bainter in Los Angeles, California. Although her occupation in 1910 was traveling actress, her film debut didn't occur until This Side of Heaven in 1934.

Robert Henri, the American painter of the Ashcan school, painted her portrait in 1918 (when she was about 25 years old.)

She quickly achieved success, and in 1938 she was nominated for both the Oscar for Best Actress, for White Banners, and the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, for Jezebel, winning for the latter.

She was again nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Children's Hour. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7021 Hollywood Blvd.

Because her husband, Reginald Venable, was a military officer, the couple are buried at Arlington National Cemetery.