Eddie Murphy to receive top US humour prize

Washington - Eddie Murphy, famous for his standup routines, films and his early breakout on television's Saturday Night Live, will be awarded the top US prize for humour this year by the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, officials said on Thursday.

Murphy, 54, will receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humour on 18 October. The humour prize honours those who influence society in the tradition of Samuel Clemens, the writer, satirist and social commentator better known as Mark Twain.

Through his work, Murphy "has shown that like Mark Twain, he was years ahead of his time," said Kennedy Center President Deborah Rutter.

In a written statement, Murphy said he was deeply honoured by the recognition and to join the list of past recipients of the Twain Prize. Past honorees include Jay Leno, Carol Burnett, Tina Fey and Whoopi Goldberg.

Murphy has had a "consistently brilliant comedic career" in many different aspects of comedy, said Cappy McGarr, one of the humour prize show's executive producers.

"He is truly a transformative comedian and humorist," McGarr said. "Like Mark Twain, he talks about provocative issues and he is really, really funny while doing it.

Murphy's films have been among the highest-grossing comedies, including 48 Hours, Trading Places, Dr. Dolittle and Coming to America.

Murphy got his break in comedy in 1980 when he joined the cast of Saturday Night Live. He went on to become one of the film industry's top box office performers as an actor. The Kennedy Center said Murphy is the most commercially successful African-American actor in film history.

The entertainer has insisted he is retired now and only makes rare appearances.