Leo Rosten (April 11, 1908 – February 19, 1997) was an American writer, humorist, and lexicographer known for blending Jewish culture with humor. His works, including The Education of H*Y*M*A*N K*A*P*L*A*N and The Joys of Yiddish, remain influential in literature and linguistics.
Born in Lodz, Russian Empire (now Poland), Rosten immigrated to the U.S. with his family in 1911. He grew up in Chicago, where he spoke both Yiddish and English. His early interest in storytelling led him to write from a young age. During the Great Depression, he taught English to immigrants, experiences that inspired his HYMAN KAPLAN series, which humorously depicted language struggles.
Rosten studied political science at the University of Chicago, earning a PhD, and later worked in Hollywood as a screenwriter. He contributed to films like The Dark Corner (1946) and Captain Newman, M.D. (1963). His humorous lexicons, such as The Joys of Yiddish (1968), introduced Jewish expressions to a wider audience.
He married twice, first to Priscilla Mead and later to Gertrude Zimmerman. Rosten passed away in New York in 1997. His witty insights on language, culture, and humor continue to influence readers worldwide.