Kevin Hart Accepts Mark Twain Prize For Humor

Kevin Hart accepted the Mark Twain Prize for humor with an emotional speech on Sunday (March 24). Friends, family, and peers gathered at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the distinguishing honor, toasting and roasting the comedian during the affair.

According to the Washington Post, the ceremony was filmed to be released on Netflix.

“Sometimes, a gamble is the best way to define what will be you or ultimately become the best version of you,” the Philadelphia native detailed in his speech. As he honed his comedy skills over the years, Hart said he “found more ways to amplify it and get bigger and better.”

Attendees included Nick Cannon, J.B. Smoove, Tiffany Haddish, Dave Chappelle, Nelly, Robin Thicke, Jimmy Fallon, Chelsea Handler, Regina Hall, Keith Robinson, Chris Rock,

“Kevin really cares about the quality of the check,” Hall said about the 44-year-old’s work.

“He buys his clothes at Build-a-Bear…We would be so heartbroken if he got carried away by an eagle,” sang Fallon in a humorous country tune.

“I really wish you would have come when I won this award,” said Chappelle, who received the Twain Prize in 2019. Then he pivoted to sincerity: “My God, Kevin Hart. You are a very powerful dreamer.”

Hart was named the recipient of the 25th Mark Twain Prize For American Humor in November 2023. The award recognizes individuals who have had an impact on American society. It is posthumously named for the 19th-century acclaimed author Samuel Clemens, who penned his novels and essays under the pseudonym.

“For over three decades, Kevin Hart has been a source of laughter across America and throughout the world with his iconic characters, inimitable physical comedy, and relatable narratives,” elaborated Kennedy Center President, Deborah F. Rutter in a statement at the time. “An accomplished writer, producer, actor, and comedian, he has made lasting contributions to the comedic landscape and represents our celebration of American humor at the Kennedy Center.”

Past awardees include Richard Pryor (1998), Whoopi Goldberg (2001), Steve Martin (2005), Neil Simon (2006), Bill Cosby (2009; rescinded in 2018), Tina Fey (2010), Will Ferrell (2011), Ellen DeGeneres (2012), Carol Burnett (2013), Jay Leno (2014), Eddie Murphy (2015), Bill Murray (2016), David Letterman (2017), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (2018), Dave Chappelle (2019), Jon Stewart (2022), and Adam Sandler (2023).

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