Watch Eddie Murphy's impression of Bill Cosby

The comic was honoured on Sunday night in the nation's capital

Eddie Murphy was honoured on Sunday night (AP)

Eddie Murphy found that he just could not resist.

As he accepted the Mark Twain Prize for American Humour on Sunday night at the Kennedy Centre in Washington DC, he launched into an impression of previous prize recipient Bill Cosby, who received the honour in 2009 and who is currently at the centre of sexual asault allegations.

Despite declining to portray the disgraced comedian at Saturday Night Live's 40th anniversary special, USA Today reported that Murphy looked at the bust of Mark Twain and said: "Bill has one of these. Did you all make him give it back?”

"You know you've (expletive) up when they want you to give your trophy back."

He then launched into an impression of the follow comedian. “I would like to talk to some of the people who feel like I should give back some of my (expletive) trophies,” he said