Conan O’Brien to Receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor

Conan O’Brien has been announced as the next recipient of the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

O’Brien will be celebrated at the annual gala for the Mark Twain Prize on March 23 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. (Netflix will stream the event later in the year.) The comedian, podcaster, and former late-night host, who is also set to host the Oscars on March 2, will be the 26th individual to receive this honor. He joins a distinguished list of past recipients, including Richard Pryor, Carl Reiner, Whoopi Goldberg, Tina Fey, Eddie Murphy, and late-night legends Jay Leno and David Letterman.

“For four decades, Conan O’Brien has brought his unique blend of smart, silly, insightful, and hilarious content into our homes,” stated Deborah F. Rutter, president of the Kennedy Center. “From Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons — including the iconic monorail episode — to late-night television, podcasts, and all things Team Coco, Conan is a master of invention and reinvention, consistently pushing the boundaries in pursuit of new comedic heights. I look forward to celebrating his significant legacy and lasting impact with a memorable evening in the concert hall on March 23.”

O’Brien humorously remarked, “I am honored to be the first winner of the Mark Twain Prize recognized not for humor, but for my work as a riverboat pilot.”

O’Brien’s career began on HBO’s Not Necessarily the News before he became a writer for Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons. He took over NBC’s Late Night in 1993 after David Letterman moved to CBS and briefly hosted The Tonight Show in 2009-10 before transitioning to a multi-city comedy tour and eventually hosting Conan on TBS for 11 years.

Currently, he hosts the podcast Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, and his production company, Team Coco, produces a variety of other audio shows. O’Brien also stars in and serves as executive producer for the Max travel series Conan O’Brien Must Go, which has been renewed for a second season.

“I do like to be the odd person out, the one that doesn’t fit in. I think I’m funnier when I’m not in the power position,” O’Brien shared with The Hollywood Reporter regarding the inspiration behind Must Go. “I was talking to one guy, and he was sort of looking at my skin, my freckles, and he’s like, ‘Are you ill?’ Those are the situations that inherently amuse me — when a bit of the joke is on me.”

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Person: Conan O’Brien, Richard Pryor, Carl Reiner, Whoopi Goldberg, Tina Fey, Eddie Murphy, Jay Leno, David Letterman, Deborah F. Rutter

Company Names: Netflix, HBO, NBC, TBS, Max

Titles: Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, Saturday Night Live, The Simpsons, Late Night, The Tonight Show, Conan, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, Conan O’Brien Must Go

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