Jonathan Winters Acceptance Speech | 1999 Mark Twain Prize

The Mark Twain Prize recognizes people who have had an impact on American society in ways similar to the distinguished 19th century novelist and essayist best known as Mark Twain. As a social commentator, satirist and creator of memorable characters, Samuel Clemens was a fearless observer of society, who startled and outraged many while delighting and informing many more with his uncompromising perspective of social injustice and personal folly. He revealed the great truth of humor when he said "against the assault of laughter nothing can stand."

The inaugural Mark Twain Prize was presented to Richard Pryor during the first annual Kennedy Center Celebration of American Humor, October 20, 1998. The event was created by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Bob Kaminsky, Peter Kaminsky, Mark Krantz, and John Schreiber and is televised annually. The Kennedy Center is grateful to Cappy McGarr for his steadfast support of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor since its inception. Previous recipients of the Mark Twain include Richard Pryor (1998), Jonathan Winters (1999), Carl Reiner (2000), Whoopi Goldberg (2001), Bob Newhart (2002), Lily Tomlin (2003), Lorne Michaels (2004), Steve Martin (2005), Neil Simon (2006), Billy Crystal (2007), George Carlin (2008), Bill Cosby (2009, rescinded in 2018) Tina Fey (2010), Will Ferrell (2011), Ellen DeGeneres (2012), Carol Burnett (2013) Jay Leno (2014), Eddie Murphy (2015), Bill Murray (2016), David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), and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (2018).

#TwainPrize #PBSTwain

[KeithKeihsaBrock]

Jonathan Winters was a comedy legend, Robin Williams looked up to him and Jonathan co starred with Robin on Mork and Mindy where he played their son. This man was so funny. Miss him so much ❤

[allencarlson]

Arguably the greatest comic of the 20th century!!

[nickprohoroff]

And young people, if you spend a minute, you shall have the joy of seeing the humanity and the heights of the human soul.

[titaniumgreen]

In this lifetime we had the pleasure and joy of Jonathan Winters and Robin Williams..the likes of which we will never see again..and never forgotten..

[salchaos]

Just a brilliant man. Suffered so much. A genius. Bless him.

[btstae]

Comic genius
RIP Jonathan
Always loved you ❤️

[markallen]

Jonathan a National Treasure, I grew up watching him, so many years ago...

[steved]

Mr. Winters showing exactly how he got us to laugh those many years. Truly and well deserved.

[harryhope]

The great Jonathan Winters. God love him!

[DaSauceful]

Without Jonathan Winters we would not have seen Robin Williams be who he is. For that alone, he deserves this award.

[Ledfists]

My all-time favorite comic. Loved his show as a boy, he made me laugh so much I was crying with joy. My Mother would enter the TV room and tell me to “keep it down”, I never could. Miss your very unique sense of humor, Jonathan. I know you’re making God laugh.

[parsnipmcgee]

There was something about this guy that hits me just right. The silliness of the regular man...who knows. My parents had his records, and maybe that's it--growing up with the humor of a simpler time. Maudie Frickert made me keel over.

[sanekabc]

He may have been the first comedian to make me cry from laughter.

[damohanson]

They( comedians) call it riffing or having no script to follow. Jonathan was the Jedi knight of riffing and his influence is obvious( see Robin Williams). Americana at it’s finest !

[Wally-my]

Jonathan Winters was a gifted, talented comedian; My oh my, he usually always was very funny and in a quiet moment, going relentlessly, as he did, if there was a still few seconds I found him to never have any awkward moments or loss of some face to make or ad lib a couple words...what an entertainer he was.
I watch the many times he was on his good friend Johnny Carson's show. Often it was a two person gig they ended up doing; they had to be true friends, the chemistry and genuine joy they both got from getting together made the times even funnier. Carson was such a great host, comedian himself and was THE genius of that type show. Thanks for putting this on.

[cybrarian]

Jonathan Winters had a complex and challenging life at times. But clearly his dry wit, impressions, ability to tell a story, and physical comedy, not to forget his appearance in "Mork & Mindy, " made him a great success. But to me, he'll always be that lovable truck driver "Lennie Pike" in "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World."

[kevinperry]

Jonathan was very deserving of the prize. I hated seeing so many SNL alums winning in more recent years.

[oldandletdown]

Robin Williams is the love Child of Johnathan Winters …..his brain just amazing.

[steveatiyeh]

When we were younger the NY Yankees and Jonathan Winters were about all my dad and I agreed upon...we boo-ed the former and loved the latter. I think the Yanks are still around but I miss the other two dearly.

[Steve-wrfg]

The brilliant mind of Jonathan Winters. Nobody better.