One of the most prestigious accolades in US comedy

Julia Louis-Dreyfus is to receive this year’s Mark Twain Prize for American Humor 

It is one of the biggest accolades in American comedy with previous winners including  Richard Pryor, Steve Martin, George Carlin and Tina Fey.

However, Bill Cosby was stripped of his 2009 award earlier this year following his conviction for historic sexual assault. 

It is handed out by the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, whose president  Deborah F. Rutter said: ‘Like Mark Twain, Julia has enriched American culture with her iconic, unforgettable and outright hilarious brand of humour.

‘Over four decades, her wildly original characters and her gift for physical comedy have left us in stitches. Julia is a role model for so many, and we look forward to honouring her on October 21st’.

Louis-Dreyfus has previously received 11 Emmy awards - six consecutively for Veep – a Golden Globe award and nine Screen Actors Guild awards which makes her their most decorated actor.

Last year she revealed she had breast cancer, and underwent chemotherapy.

Producers delayed filming the seventh and final season of  Veep while she finishes the cancer treatment. It’s now reportedly expected to begin filming in August for release next year.

Published: 23 May 2018