Eddie Murphy Acceptance Speech | 2015 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Michaels (2004), Steve Martin (2005), Neil Simon (2006), Billy Crystal (2007), George Carlin (2008), Bill Cosby (2009, rescinded in 2018) Tina Fey (2010), Will Ferrell (2011), Ellen DeGeneres (2012), Carol Burnett (2013) Jay Leno (2014), Eddie Murphy (2015), Bill Murray (2016), David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

[gordonchiu]

This is the closest we've gotten to a set from Eddie since '87.

[jamesoller]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏. While I was watching this, my 8 year old daughter heard his voice and asked: Dad is that Donkey? YES

[hutch]

Cosby hated him for one reason and one reason only. He was a threat. This man single handedly saved SNL from extinction and then performed on the Tonight by the age of 19. Bill's ego just couldn't handle it.

[JayCherriReactPODCAST]

Eddie said it was this moment he decided to come back to stand up. Cant wait until he gets back on stage.

[jenniferdolson]

This man broke major ground for African Americans becoming mega stars because he was so God damn talented he couldn't be held back. He can do it all and paved the way for many others to reach that level of success.

[hemmefatale]

...and some people worry his return to stand up won't be as good. He's still got it.

[johnshadoe]

3:59 Eddie's a bit teary. He might have been thinking, "Oh shit. I still got it."

[nelsonblackshear]

"I don't want to go too far on Bill." This is the perfect line to end that segment because what made it so funny was the fact that he already went too far on Bill lmao

[MrChaddeBoy]

Gotta love that they muted “fuxk” and “shit” but not the N-word... Gotta love it.

[Toast]

For someone who, at that point, hadn't been on stage for eighteen to come out and have five minutes that killed like that, he's still got it! And especially after his Comedians in Cars and SNL appearances, it's plain to see he's still a master of his craft. Would love to see him do a third comedy special.

[mitchelldrain]

"I Dont want to go to far on Bill" Eddie is a GOD!!!! I loved growing up with him

To be this calm and still exudes such charisma! We need this man back on stage!

[xale]

here he showcases how his stand up is so pristine, a mastery of kindness/generosity, story-telling and laughing

[Sasser]

I grew up on Delirious and Raw, and it's so great to see Eddie standing in front of an audience and telling jokes again. Coolest and funniest dude ever.

[nniikk]

His facial expressions and delivery of his jokes is what makes them that much better and just like he was back in Delirious and RAW. Fingers crossed his return to stand up, there is no one other like Eddie Murphy.

[atomicinjun]

"...I don't wanna go too far on Bill." Ha ha ha ha!
Understatement of the evening.

[Brian_Boru]

Eddie Murphy is a national treasure. This is the perfect prize...award, er, surprise for him. What a legend. Love his work.

[yuljohnson]

This Mark twain acceptance speech turned out to be an iconic Eddie murphy standup performance! After all these years still knowing how to nail a solid Bill cosby impression, incredible!

[bettynolo]

His impression of Cosby has always killed me 😂

[suriyaphromnopavong]

"I don't want to go too far on Bill."