Jerry Lewis Was the Quintessential American Jew

Jerry Lewis, who died Sunday at 91, was not a man often overlooked, or pigeonholed. But in reckoning with his legacy, there is often one surprising omission. He's rarely featured in discussions of the pantheon of mid-20th century Jewish comedy. Possibly this was because of his overwhelming popularity, tending to remove the necessity for any qualifying adjective. Looking at pictures of the crowds flocking to catch a glimpse of him and his partner, Dean Martin, at their hotels, you'd think you were witnessing Beatlemania. Only Martin and Lewis were 10 years earlier.