- Title: Comedian Bill Murray awarded Kennedy Center's Mark Twain Prize
- Date: 24th October 2016
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 23, 2016) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF COMEDIAN AND ACTOR BILL MURRAY GREETING FANS AT THE KENNEDY CENTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) LATE-NIGHT TV COMEDIAN, JIMMY KIMMEL, SAYING: "Bill Murray is perhaps our greatest American. He is beloved by all everywhere he goes. He's like, he's like a leprechaun. He's very elusive, but if you do happen to catch him, he presents you with a pot of gold." ACTRESS SIGOURNEY WEAVER BEING INTERVIEWED ON RED CARPET (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS, SIGOURNEY WEAVER, ON WORKING WITH MURRAY ON "GHOSTBUSTERS" FILM: "It was really fun. I'd heard all kinds of things about Bill, and you know, he really sees who you are. And he used to make fun of me, because I was quite serious and I was sort of the straight man in the group - but in a very loving way. And he's one of the most wonderful partners to have in a scene, because he's so present." MEDIA FILMING RED CARPET (SOUNDBITE) (English) COMEDIAN AND ACTOR, BILL HADER, JOKING ABOUT BEING "SECOND FUNNIEST BILL" IN THE ROOM: "I don't think I'm the second funniest Bill. I mean, I think Bill Gates is going to be here, I think, and he's hilarious. And Bill Clinton's going to drop in - and who else? Bill Cosby probably will show up and that'll be great." (makes funny face) MURRAY POSING FOR PHOTOS ON RED CARPET (SOUNDBITE) (English) COMEDIAN AND ACTOR, BILL MURRAY, ON HIS REACTION TO RECEIVING THE MARK TWAIN PRIZE: "I thought maybe if I - I thought maybe if I didn't get back to them right away they'd go to someone else. That's really what I thought. And right now I wish I'd waited, I'd done that. But it's okay." WIDE SHOT MURRAY TALKING TO REPORTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) COMEDIAN AND ACTOR, BILL MURRAY, ON HIS FAVORITE FILM ROLE: "Well, I kind of like that 'Zombieland' one where I was myself and I was killed. You know, you don't get to die very often, and I chose to die in that film, so that was kind of fun. But, as I was saying to the lady, 'Groundhog Day' I think is a really unusually great script and great concept and idea for a movie. But I like them all, I really do like them all." MURRAY TALKING TO REPORTERS VARIOUS OF ACTRESS EMMA STONE POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS ON RED CARPET MURRAY WALKING INTO THEATER
- Embargoed: 8th November 2016 05:00
- Keywords: Bill Murray Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize humor comedy
- Location: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
- City: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Celebrities,Arts/Culture/Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA00155D4G99
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Comedian Bill Murray was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at a star-studded Kennedy Center ceremony on Sunday (October 23), with friends and fellow actors praising him for the joy he has brought to audiences worldwide.
Murray, the 65-year-old star of such movies as "Groundhog Day," "Ghostbusters" and "Rushmore", said his success was grounded in love from his family and the talented people he had worked with for more than four decades.
"There's love, that's what we came with, that's what we go with. I love you, let's try to repeat that to each other," Murray said after accepting the award named for the 19th century American author and humorist.
The comedian, known for his spontaneity and irreverence, handed the award, a bust of Twain, down into the audience to be passed around.
"When I can't see it any longer, that's when I'm coming down the steps," said Murray, an Illinois native, before closing the show by singing a version of "Sweet Home Chicago."
Murray was awarded the 19th Mark Twain Prize for making an impact on U.S. society similar to Twain's. Previous winners include Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Lily Tomlin, Neil Simon and Eddie Murphy.
Murray is among the best-known stars to emerge from NBC's "Saturday Night Live." He performed on the groundbreaking television comedy show from 1977 to 1980 and honed his skills portraying lovably smarmy characters.
Murray was nominated for a Best Actor Academy Award for his portrayal of a jet-lagged movie star in "Lost in Translation." He has won two Emmy Awards.
ABC late night TV host Jimmy Kimmel called Murray both a genius and fearless extrovert who can get away with stealing French fries off diners' plates and crashing a White House press conference.
"Bill Murray could shove you off the side of the Hoover Dam and you'd be like, 'Hey, Bill Murray,' all the way down," Kimmel said.
Others at the ceremony included "Ghostbusters" director Ivan Reitman, singer Miley Cyrus and former NBC "Late Night" host David Letterman, who had Murray on his shows 44 times.
The ceremony was recorded for broadcast on PBS television on Friday (October 28). - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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