Bill Maher to Receive the 27th Mark Twain Award for American Humor

The Kennedy Center has revealed that Bill Maher will be honored with the 27th Mark Twain Award for American Humor.

A representative from the Kennedy Center confirmed to the Daily Caller that Maher will receive this award during a gala on June 28 featuring prominent comedians. This year’s honorees showcase the center’s commitment to a bipartisan perspective in the performing arts, especially in comedy. The event will be exclusively available on Netflix.

Roman Daravi, the vice president of public affairs, remarked, “For nearly 30 years, the Mark Twain Award has celebrated the finest talents in comedy.” He added, “For an even longer time, Bill has shaped American dialogue with his politically incorrect humor.”

After learning of the award, Maher expressed his gratitude. “Thank you to the people at Mark Twain,” he said in a press release shared with the Daily Caller. “It seems like it’s similar to the Emmys, but in this case, I’m the winner.” He also humorously noted, “It’s really humbling to be named after someone like Mark Twain, who, let’s be honest, was often kicked out of school libraries.”

A Kennedy Center spokesperson highlighted Maher’s unique comedic style, noting, “Though he critiques both sides of the political spectrum, our center is a space that embraces all opinions and beliefs.”

The Mark Twain Award recognizes individuals who have significantly impacted American society, echoing the influence of Samuel Clemens, widely known as Mark Twain, the celebrated novelist and essayist from the 19th century.

Alongside the award, Maher will receive a bronze portrait bust of Mark Twain, crafted by Karl Gerhardt in 1884.

Notable past recipients of the Kennedy Center Mark Twain Award include icons like Richard Pryor (1998), Jonathan Winters (1999), and Whoopi Goldberg (2001), among others. The award has also been given to well-known figures such as Neil Simon, Billy Crystal, and Tina Fey.