Eddie Murphy Receives Twain Prize Sunday Night at Kennedy Center

PHOTO: Eddie Murphy flanked by girlfriend and mother ouside the Kennedy Center Sunday night; photos courtesy of The Kennedy Center

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The Kennedy Center awarded the 18th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor Sunday night to Eddie Murphy.

The event was set to take place Sunday at 8 p.m. at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. It will re-air on PBS Nov. 23.                                                                                                                                      

Murphy friend Arsenio Hall, who is expected to be a part of Sunday night’s show, tweeted a photo Friday of the two:

Murphy, a comedian and actor, will be feted by fellow Hollywood stars and comedians including Dave Chappelle, Kathy Griffin, Arsenio Hall, Brittany Howard, George Lopez, Sam Moore, Tracy Morgan, Kevin Nealon, Trevor Noah, Jay Pharoah, Joe Piscopo, Chris Rock, and other special guests, according to a news release from the Kennedy Center.

Nealon posted a photo of himself with Chappelle and Noah on Instagram Sunday: “Cruisin’ with my buds in Georgetown today.”

“We look forward to paying tribute to Eddie Murphy’s important and lasting impact on American culture,” said Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter, in the release. “Through his appearances on Saturday Night Live, groundbreaking stand-up comedy, and work as a movie star, Eddie Murphy has shown that like Mark Twain, he was years ahead of his time.”

“I am deeply honored to receive this recognition from the Kennedy Center and to join the distinguished list of past recipients of this award,” Murphy said when he found out he would be receiving the honor.

A photo posted by TMZ showed the actor and comedian in Georgetown, reportedly outside The Four Seasons hotel:

Murphy has starred in the films Beverly Hills Cop and Daddy Day Care and many know him as the voice of Donkey in the animated film series Shrek. Murphy was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Supporting Actor category for his performance in Dreamgirls.

Murphy began his career as a stand-up comedian nearly 40 years ago. In 1980, at the age of 19, he joined the cast of Saturday Night Live, and went on from there to a film career.

Past recipients of the Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize are Richard Pryor, Jonathan Winters, Carl Reiner, Whoopi Goldberg, Bob Newhart, Lily Tomlin, Lorne Michaels, Steve Martin, Neil Simon, Billy Crystal, George Carlin, Bill Cosby, Tina Fey, Will Ferrell, Ellen DeGeneres, Carol Burnett, and Jay Leno.

The program will be taped by WETA Washington, D.C. for airing on PBS stations nationwide on Nov. 23 (check local listings). Here’s a video The Kennedy Center posted to Facebook from previous shows: