Harold R. Oaks (1936-) is a former theater professor and academic administrator in Utah.

Harold R. Oaks was born June 20, 1936, in Provo, Utah, to parents V. LeRoy and Rozena Ann Oaks. Oaks attended high school at Weber High School and went on to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Netherlands mission in Holland and Belgium from July 1956 to February 1959. Oaks later attended Brigham Young University, where he earned his BA in 1960 in Speech and Drama and his MA in 1962 in Theatre and Cinematic Arts. In 1964 he received his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. He married Virginia Mae Blunck on June 6, 1960 in Salt Lake City, UT and when she passed away in 1966, Oaks married Ima Jean Peck on January 2, 1997. Oaks taught theatre at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis from 1960 to 1964, Frostberg State University Maryland from 1964 to 1966, Kearney State College from 1966 to 1968 and Colorado State University from 1968 to 1970. In 1970, Oaks started his 32 year career at BYU. During his career at BYU, Oaks served as the chair for the Theatre and Media Arts department (1980-1993) and as Associate Dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communications (2000-2002), after which he assumed Emeritus status. Oaks specialized in Theatre for Young Audiences, presenting papers and workshops in various parts of the world. He has directed over forty-eight college, university, and community theatrical productions. He was chair of the Theatre Department at Brigham Young University for over twelve years, and helped found the film program. He also founded the Young Company (formerly known as the Whittlin' Whistlin' Brigade) and was its Artistic Director for twenty-five years.