Conan O'Brien Named Recipient of 2025 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, Jokes It's for Being a 'Riverboat Pilot'
"I am honored to be the first winner of the Mark Twain Prize recognized not for humor, but for my work as a riverboat pilot," O'Brien joked of the award
"I am honored to be the first winner of the Mark Twain Prize recognized not for humor, but for my work as a riverboat pilot," O'Brien joked of the award Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic Conan O'Brien in Los Angeles on April 16, 2024:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/conan-obrien-must-go-photo-call-los-angeles-011625-10554837b02a4f088ea86d1ea2d10f1b.jpg "Conan O'Brien attends the photo call for Los Angeles premiere of")
Conan O'Brien has been named the recipient of the 2025 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
The comedian, Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend host and former late-night personality was announced as the award's 26th honoree by the Kennedy Center on Thursday, Jan. 16.
The prize will presented during a gala performance at the venue's Concert Hall in Washington, D.C., on March 23, 2025, per a release. The program will then premiere exclusively on Netflix, on a to-be-announced date.
Joked O'Brien, 61, in a statement, “I am honored to be the first winner of the Mark Twain Prize recognized not for humor, but for my work as a riverboat pilot."
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The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, presented by Wells Fargo and named after the late writer and humorist of the same name, honors those who've had an impact on society.
Past recipients include Richard Pryor, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Steve Martin, Whoopi Goldberg, Jon Stewart, Dave Chappelle Adam Sandler and, most recently, Kevin Hart.
“For four decades, Conan O'Brien has brought his unique blend of the smart, silly, insightful and hilarious into our homes,” Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter said in a statement. “From Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons — including the unbelievably funny monorail episode — to late night, podcasts and all things Team Coco, Conan is a master of invention and reinvention, consistently pushing the envelope in search of new comedic heights."
"I look forward to honoring his immense legacy and enduring impact with an uproarious evening in the Concert Hall on March 23," Rutter added.
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O'Brien is best known for his work in late-night television, beginning with Late Night with Conan O'Brien in 1993 and ending with Conan in 2021, spanning nearly 30 years.
He was also a writer on SNL from 1988 to 1991 and The Simpsons from 1991 to 1993 and has hosted his Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend podcast since 2018, on top of starring in Max's travel series Conan O'Brien Must Go in 2024.
Next up is an Academy Awards hosting gig, which is set to take place on March 2. It will mark the comedian's first time emceeing Hollywood's biggest night.
“America demanded it and now it’s happening: Taco Bell’s new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme," O'Brien quipped of the gig in November 2024, adding, "In other news, I’m hosting the Oscars."
