Dave Chappelle to receive Mark Twain Award for American Humor, Kennedy Center announces

WASHINGTON (FOX 5 DC) - Dave Chappelle will be honored with the Mark Twain Award for American Humor, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced on Tuesday.

The Kennedy Center said the District native will be presented with the 22nd annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor on October 27.

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“Dave is the embodiment of Mark Twain’s observation that ‘against the assault of humor, nothing can stand.’ For three decades, Dave has challenged us to see hot-button issues from his entirely original yet relatable perspective,” Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter said in a written statement. “Dave is a hometown hero here in Washington, D.C., where he grew up. We’re so looking forward to welcoming him back home.”

The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor recognizes individuals who have had an impact on American society in ways similar to Samuel Clemens, best known as Mark Twain.

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Past recipients include the likes of Richard Pryor, Whoopi Goldberg, Steve Martin, Billy Crystal, George Carlin, Tina Fey, Will Ferrell, Ellen DeGeneres, Jay Leno, Eddie Murphy, Bill Murray, David Letterman, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.