The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor was first given to comedian Richard Pryor in 1998. Over the years, it’s been handed out to everyone from Carl Reiner and Neil Simon to Steve Martin, Bill Murray, Billy Crystal, Tina Fey, and Dave Chapelle. O’Brien made appearances in the past to honor Lorne Michaels, Will Ferrell, and Adam Sandler.

Conan O'Brien is the 2025 recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for lifetime achievement in comedy, honored 'not for humor, but for [his] work as a riverboat pilot.'

Mark Twain recipients are honored with a night of testimonials and video tributes, often featuring previous award winners. The ceremony will stream on Netflix at a later date yet to be announced.

The former late-night host joins the ranks of a celebrated group including Kevin Hart, Jon Stewart, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.