Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus will receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center this fall.
This follows up the comedic actress' history-making sixth consecutive Emmy award last year for her portrayal of Selina Meyer on the HBO TV series “Veep.”
Louis-Dreyfus will join Whoopi Goldberg, Lily Tomlin, Ellen DeGeneres, Carol Burnett, and Tina Fey to become the sixth woman to receive the award when it's presented to her Oct. 21 at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall in Washington, D.C.
Her comedic talents were displayed in the statement she released upon receiving the news of the award.
“Merely to join the list of distinguished recipients of this award would be honor enough, but, as a student of both American history and literature, the fact that Mr. Twain himself will be presenting the award to me in person is particularly gratifying,” Louis-Dreyfus joked.
Last fall, the actress was diagnosed with breast cancer, causing a halt in the production of the TV series.
In January, Louis-Dreyfus returned to “Veep” after having completed a regimen of chemotherapy.
The Kennedy Center released a statement describing what led them to their decision.
“Like Mark Twain, Julia has enriched American culture with her iconic, unforgettable, and outright hilarious brand of humor,” Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter said. “Over four decades, her wildly original characters and her gift for physical comedy have left us in stitches.”
When the Kennedy Center asked people to share their favorite Louis-Dreyfus scene, one gave a response many might agree with.
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