Bill Cosby collects comedy honour

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Bill Cosby is hailed by comics and co-stars

Sitcom star Bill Cosby has accepted the Mark Twain Prize for American Humour at a ceremony in Washington DC.

Chris Rock and Jerry Seinfeld paid tribute to the comic along with with two Cosby Show co-stars, Phylicia Rashad and Malcolm Jamal Warner.

Cosby, 72, quipped that when a man sees his life flash before his eyes, it is usually for a bad reason, but added "this is all right".

The comic actor has been praised for breaking down racial stereotypes.

'Painted words'

The Cosby Show, a huge hit in the 1980s, was about a successful black family including a father who was a doctor and a mother who was a lawyer.

First lady Michelle Obama was among the guests at the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Jerry Seinfeld said his career had been inspired by Cosby

Cosby said the Mark Twain Prize was special because Twain was the "quintessential American writer - because he held his language and his love for words in perfect American form".

Previous recipients include Richard Pryor, Steve Martin, Whoopi Goldberg and Billy Crystal.

The tribute will be aired on 4 November on the PBS channel in the US. Cosby insisted that the show be free of profanity and should reflect his passion for education.

The audience were treated to clips of Cosby's best comedy moments, including his stand-up routine of Noah chatting with God about building an ark.

Comedian Dick Gregory told Cosby: "A billion years from now, you will be respected for what you were able to do. You painted words with your mouth, and they will always exist, and they will always last."