MTV Movie Awards honors funnyman

Ben Stiller will receive the ‘MTV Generation Award.’

The 2009 MTV Movie Awards pays tribute Sunday night to Ben Stiller, for his contribution to Hollywood and for entertaining the MTV audience for years. Ben Stiller has kept fans laughing since bursting onto the scene in “Reality Bites” and his early film roles and cult classics such as “There’s Something About Mary,” “Meet the Parents,” “Tropic Thunder” and now this summer’s “Night at the Museum: Battle at the Smithsonian.”

“I am honored to be getting the ‘Generation Award,’” said Stiller. “I was given my first show at MTV, and also cancelled for the first time. I also was secretly having an affair with JJ Jackson, so it brings back pleasant memories.”

The Generation Award is the MTV Movie Awards’ highest honor, acknowledging an actor who has captured the attention of the MTV audience throughout his or her career. Past recipients include Adam Sandler, Mike Myers, Tom Cruise and Jim Carrey. Movie stars Shia LaBeouf, Sandra Bullock, Sienna Miller, Channing Tatum, Bradley Cooper, Abigail Breslin, Thomas Lennon, Danny McBride, Sofia Vassilieva, Denzel Washington, Cameron Diaz, Ryan Reynolds, Will Ferrell, Vanessa Hudgens, Leighton Meester, Jonah Hill and Lil Wayne are confirmed to present popcorn statues. In addition, Eminem will take to the stage to perform music from his new album “Relapse” and Kings Of Leon will also perform.

The 2009 MTV Movie Awards will be hosted this year by Andy Samberg, and will be broadcast live beginning at 9 p.m.