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The national prize is named after novelist and
essayist Samuel Langhorne Clemens, known by his pen name Mark
Twain. Richard Pryor was the first recipient of the prize; its
last recipient was Dave Chappelle.
"For more than three decades, Jon Stewart has brightened our
lives and challenged our minds as he delivers current events and
social satire with his trademark wit and wisdom," the Kennedy
Center said in a statement on Wednesday.
Stewart will be honored on April 24 in Washington, in a
televised ceremony, the first for the award since 2019 due to
the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I am truly honored to receive this award," Stewart said,
according to the statement.
In 2021, six years after he quit his satirical "The Daily Show,"
Stewart returned to television with a new venture looking at
current affairs in depth. "The Problem With Jon Stewart" was
launched on the Apple TV+ streaming platform on Sept. 30.
Stewart's satire made him a beloved figure with influence far
beyond the 2 million to 3 million nightly audience of "The Daily
Show" on Comedy Central. "The Daily Show" won 20 Emmy Awards
during his 16-year stint as host, and boosted the careers of
other comedians, including Stephen Colbert, John Oliver and
Samantha Bee. Its current host is Trevor Noah.
After stepping aside in 2015, Stewart made only infrequent
public appearances, including advocating for wounded veterans
and for healthcare benefits for first responders who became ill
after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington,
before making a comeback on the Apple TV+ streaming platform.
In 2020, he wrote and directed "Irresistible," a political
comedy film starring Steve Carell, that drew mixed reviews.
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru; editing by Jonathan
Oatis)
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