Carl Ray Proffer (September 3, 1938, Buffalo–September 24, 1984, Ann Arbor, Michigan) was an American publisher, scholar, professor, and translator of Russian literature. He was the co-founder (with Ellendea Proffer) of Ardis Publishers, the largest publishing house devoted to Russian literature outside of the Soviet Union, and co-editor of Russian Literature Triquarterly (1971–91).