Eddie Murphy Delivers Bill Cosby Jokes During Mark Twain Prize Acceptance Speech

Eddie Murphy reprised his Bill Cosby impersonation while accepting the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor Sunday night at the Kennedy Center.

Eddie Murphy Does Bill Cosby

Taking to the stage to accept the honor, Murphy admired the trophy that had just been given to him before observing, “Bill has one of these.”

“Did you all make Bill give his back?” Murphy asked. “You know you f–ed up when they want you to give your trophies back.”

Then, slipping into his well-honed Cosby impersonation, Murphy said, “I would like to talk to some of the people who feel like I should give back some of my f–ing trophies.”

Murphy didn’t stop there.

“You may have heard recently that I allegedly put the pill in the people’s stomach,” Murphy said, still in his best Cosby voice. “Who is Hannibal Buress? First of all, Hannibal is a caveman’s name. … If I ever see or meet this Hannibal Buress in person I am going to try to kill this man!”

Murphy’s Cosby jokes Sunday night are particularly notable for two reasons: He declined to poke fun at Cosby during the Saturday Night Live 40th anniversary special earlier this year, and he hasn’t performed comedy material before a live audience in 28 years.

Murphy’s full speech can be heard when the Mark Twain Prize ceremony airs Nov. 23rd on CBS.

In the past, the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor has gone to Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Carl Reiner and Lily Tomlin.