The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor is America's highest comedic honor. It began in 1998 and has been awarded at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts ever since.

The award is named after Samuel Clemens, the 19th century novelist, essayist and humorist, better known as Mark Twain.

The first awardee for the American Humor Prize was comedian Richard Pryor in 1998. Billy Crystal was presented with the prestigious award at its 10th Anniversary in 2007.

Other notable comedians who have been awarded with the prize include, Jonathan Winters (1998), Whoopi Goldberg (2001), Steve Martin (2005), George Carlin (2008), who passed away just four days after the Kennedy Center announced he would be honored, and Tina Fey in (2010). CLICK to view the full list.

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