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 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.
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Appearing in a video clip, Steve Martin, himself a Mark Twain Prize
winner, said, "I'd like to say to you, welcome to the club. And to
the Kennedy Center, I'd like to say - really?"
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.
(Reporting by Ian Simpson; Editing by Tom Brown)
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