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Louis-Dreyfus, 57, who is recovering from
treatment for breast cancer, will receive the annual award
handed out by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
at a ceremony on Oct. 21 in Washington. The event will be
televised.
"Over four decades, her wildly original characters and her gift
for physical comedy have left us in stitches," Kennedy Center
President Deborah Rutter said in a statement.
The actress rose to prominence playing intelligent neurotic
Elaine Benes in the top-rated 1990s comedy TV series "Seinfeld."
"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 said in a statement.
She has won a record six consecutive Emmy Awards for best
actress in a comedy series for her portrayal of the cynical,
incompetent politician Selina Meyer in HBO political satire "Veep."
The acclaimed series is on hold while Louis-Dreyfus recuperates
from cancer treatment. Its seventh and final season is expected
to begin production in August and premiere in 2019.
Louis-Dreyfus has captured nearly all of the top honors in
American television, including a record nine Screen Actors Guild
Awards, a Golden Globe Award and a Peabody Award.
Past recipients of the Mark Twain Prize include David Letterman,
Tina Fey, Lily Tomlin and Steve Martin.
(Reporting by Eric Kelsey; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
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