Conan O’Brien named 2025 Mark Twain Prize winner

Conan O’Brien will be the next recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

O’Brien will be honored at the annual Mark Twain Prize gala on March 23 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. (Netflix will broadcast the event later in the year.) The comedian, podcaster and former late-night host — who is also scheduled to host the Oscars on March 2 — will be the 26th person to receive the award, joining a list of winners that includes Richard Pryor, Carl Reiner, Whoopi Goldberg, Tina Fey, Eddie Murphy and his late-night predecessors Jay Leno and David Letterman, among others.

“For four decades, Conan O’Brien brought his unique blend of smart, silly, insightful and hilarious into our homes,” said Deborah F. Rutter, president of the Kennedy Center. “From Saturday evening live And The Simpsons – including the incredibly funny monorail episode – until late night, podcasts and all things Team Coco, Conan is a master of invention and reinvention, constantly pushing the boundaries in search of new comic heights. I look forward to honoring his immense legacy and lasting impact during a lively evening in the Concert Hall on March 23.

O’Brien added, “I am honored to be the first Mark Twain Prize winner recognized not for his humor, but for my work as a riverboat pilot.” »

O’Brien began his career on HBO Not necessarily the news before working as a writer on Saturday evening live And The Simpsons. He took over the NBC channel Late at night in 1993, when Letterman joined CBS and succeeded (briefly) Leno as host of Tonight’s show in 2009-10. When NBC reversed that decision, he went on a multi-city comedy and variety tour before landing at TBS, where he hosted Conan for 11 years.

He currently hosts the podcast Conan O’Brien needs a friendand his Team Coco produces a host of other audio shows. O’Brien also stars in and produces the travel series Max. Conan O’Brien must gowhich was picked up for a second season.

“I like being the odd person out, the one who doesn’t fit in. I think I’m funnier when I’m not in a position of power,” O’Brien said. The Hollywood Reporter about the animating force behind Must go. “I was talking to a guy, and he was kind of looking at my skin, my freckles, and he said, ‘Are you sick?’ These are situations that amuse me in and of themselves – when part of the joke is on me.