Kevin Hart had his family by his side at the 25th Annual Mark Twain Prize For American Humor event on Sunday.
The 44-year-old comedian walked the Kennedy Center red carpet alongside his wife Eniko, 39, and their four children: daughters Heaven, 19, and Kaori, three; and sons Hendrix, 16, and Kenzo, six.
The Ride Along actor shares Kaori and Kenzo with Eniko, while he welcomed Heaven and Hendrix with his ex-wife Torrei Hart, whom he divorced in 2010.
Dressed in a navy tuxedo jacket and matching pants, Kevin was honored with the prestigious Mark Twain Prize, awarded annually to one of the world’s greatest humorists.
A cavalcade of stars was on hand to help Kevin and his family celebrate the incredible achievement, including Tiffany Haddish, Chris Rock, Chelsea Handler, Nick Cannon and more.
Following a charming red carpet appearance with his delightful family, Kevin took the stage to accept the award amidst a resounding standing ovation
‘To be honored in this commemorative year feels surreal,’ the star said in a statement ahead of the ceremony.
‘Comedy is my outlet for social commentary and observations on life—I am grateful to the Kennedy Center for recognizing my voice and impact on culture.’
The Mark Twain Prize ‘recognizes individuals who have had an impact on American society in ways similar to the distinguished 19th-century novelist and essayist Samuel Clemens, colloquially known as Mark Twain,’ per the Kennedy Center website.
‘As a social commentator, satirist, and creator of characters, Clemens was a fearless observer of society who delighted and informed onlookers with his uncompromising perspective on social injustice and personal folly.’
Richard Pryor received the first-ever Mark Twain Prize during the inaugural Kennedy Center Celebration of American Humor on October 20, 1998.
Other past winners include Jonathan Winters (1999), Carl Reiner (2000), Whoopi Goldberg (2001) George Carlin (2008), Bill Cosby (2009, rescinded in 2018), Tina Fey (2010), Will Ferrell (2011), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (2018), Dave Chappelle (2019), and Jon Stewart (2022).
Kevin’s journey to fame began in the comedy scene of Philadelphia, where he honed his craft in local open mic nights and comedy clubs during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
His breakout came with the release of his first stand-up special, I’m a Grown Little Man, in 2009, which propelled him into the spotlight.
Hart’s career soared with subsequent successful specials like Seriously Funny (2010) and Laugh at My Pain (2011), cementing his status as a comedy powerhouse.
By the mid-2010s, Hart had transitioned into mainstream success, starring in hit films such as Think Like a Man (2012) and Ride Along (2014), solidifying his position as one of the most recognizable and beloved comedians in the entertainment industry.
In 2020, Hart debuted his seventh hour-long stand-up special, Zero F**** Given, which swiftly emerged as Netflix’s top stand-up special of the year.
This achievement earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Comedy Album, along with an Emmy nomination.
Additionally, Hart received Emmy nods for his roles in Die Hart and its sequel Die Hart 2: Die Harter, both in the category of Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series.
As a two-time New York Times bestselling author, Hart’s first Audible original, The Decision, was also recognized with a nomination for Best Original Audiobook at the 2021 Audie Awards.
Kevin has also ventured into entrepreneurship, serving as the chairman of Hartbeat, a multinational media company aiming to unite people worldwide through laughter.
