Martin collects comedy award

Actor Steve Martin has been honoured with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humour at a ceremony at the John F Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington.

Martin received the comedy accolade in front of colleagues such as Tom Hanks, Claire Danes, Diane Keaton and Lily Tomlin.

Martin is known for his starring roles in films including The Jerk, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Parenthood, L.A Story and Father Of The Bride.

He also wrote the scripts for films including The Man With Two Brains and Roxanne.

Hanks was full of praise for his fellow actor: "He redefined comedy by defining the moment of our ascendancy as a generation. As did Charlie Chaplin, as did the Marx Brothers, as did Laurel and Hardy define their own times, Steve Martin defined ours."

Martin's next major project will see him appear in the Pink Panther prequel, taking on the role of Inspector Clouseau performed so famously by Peter Sellers.

Others to have received the Mark Twain Prize in the past include Whoopi Goldberg, Richard Pryor, Lily Tomlin and Carl Reiner.

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