Swedish composer, conductor, and music educator, born December 29, 1917 in Gothenburg, died October 11, 1998 in Jörlanda in Bohuslän.

He studied at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm and graduated with a higher organ and cantor degree, as well as a music teacher degree in 1941. He studied music pedagogy with Carl Orff from 1956–1957. Daniel Helldén developed Carl Orff's pedagogical methods and introduced them in large parts of the Nordic region. He also worked as an educator in school radio programs. His methodical work as a conductor and educator was characterized by the combination of song, dance, and folk music traditions.

He is the father of Mattias Helldén.