Goldberg honoured

Whoopi Goldberg has been honoured for her role in making America laugh.

The stand-up turned Hollywood star has become the fourth recipient of the annual Mark Twain prize, following

Robin Williams and Billy Crystal were among the stars who saluted her at the ceremony, which was almost cancelled in the wake of last month's terrorist attacks.

Williams took to the stage wearing a gas mask in an attempt to ease the tension in American about anthrax outbreaks.

Chris Rock told Goldberg: "You are a legend and you know it."

Previous winners of the prize, awarded by New York's Kennedy Centre, are Richard Pryor, veteran US comic Jonathan Winters and TV comedy pioneer Carl Reiner.

Published: 17 Oct 2001