Will Ferrell 'for Mark Twain comedy prize'

Will Ferrell has been announced as the recipient of the 2011 Mark Twain Prize for American Humour.

The actor and comedian will accept the award at a ceremony to be held on October 23 at Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Centre Concert Hall, reports PopEater.

He said in a statement: "I am truly honoured to receive this distinction. I will now begin cultivating a Mark Twain-esque moustache in anticipation of the event."

Ferrell began his comedy career in 1995 as a cast member of Saturday Night Live, where he remained until 2002. He has starred in such films as Anchorman, Step Brothers, Megamind and Stranger Than Fiction.

He recently completed a four-episode arc on NBC's The Office as a potential replacement for Steve Carell's Michael Scott character.

He can next be seen in the drama Everything Must Go, a role which Ferrell says he was thankful to have the opportunity to take on.