Bill Cosby to Receive Mark Twain Prize

4/1/2009
John Winn
He made us laugh on "The Cosby Show." He preached the joys of Jell-O in the 1990s. Now the American people are returning the favor, awarding the country's top humorist prize to him.

According to the AP, Cosby, 71, is the winner of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

In an announcement Wednesday, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts said that they "are delighted to honor Bill Cosby with the Mark Twain prize."

"Over the course of his extensive career as a stand-up comedian," the statement continued, "Bill Cosby has earned countless accolades for his groundbreaking brand of humor. He is truly one of America's most beloved comedians."

In a statement of his own, Cosby described his childhood memories of listening to his mother reading Tom Sawyer to him in bed, saying, "There are many Twain stories that have inspired me."

Cosby--who holds an Ed.D from Philadelphia's Temple University--began his career as an actor and comedian in 1965, co-starring along Robert Culp in the TV series, I Spy, a first for an African-American at that time. Later, he abandoned TV to go on the comedy circuit, describing humorous stories of his childhood in much the same way that Twain did during the early stage of his career.

By receiving the award, Cosby joins a coterie of stars, including George Carlin, Steve Martin and Whoopi Goldberg.

Cosby formally receives the award Oct 26.

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