Irish actor Chris O'Dowd is to be this year's recipient of the Oscar Wilde Award in the US.

He will be honoured by the US-Ireland Alliance at the 14th annual awards in Santa Monica next month.

He will join fellow honourees Glenn Close and Aidan Gillen, along with host JJ Abrams.

Writing on Twitter, the actor said it was "grand":

Well isn't this grand. Thank you very much indeed. I shall wear my finest shoes and plan my weekly wash accordingly. Go raibh faith agat. ?? https://t.co/P1VKAFL9Yx

— chris o'dowd (@BigBoyler) January 31, 2019

Actress Melissa McCarthy will present the award, while Irish band Vinci will perform at the event.

O'Dowd currently stars opposite Ray Romano in the series 'Get Shorty', and with Rosamund Pike in 'State of the Union'.

He has also appeared in Aaron Sorkin's 'Molly's Game' opposite Jessica Chastain.

He is well known for his starring role in 'Bridesmaids' opposite Kristen Wiig, which earned him a nomination for a BAFTA 'Rising Star Award' and a Screen Actor's Guild Award for 'Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture'.

O'Dowd won the Irish Film and Television Award (IFTA) for 'Best Supporting Actor - Film' for the role.

Actress Catherine O’Hara was among those honoured at the Oscar Wilde Awards last year | Image: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for the US-Ireland Alliance

On TV, he is well known for his roles in the cult comedy series 'The IT Crowd', Lena Dunham's 'Girls' and 'Moone Boy'.

O'Dowd wrote, directed and starred in 'Moone Boy' - which is a semi-autobiographical comedy based on his childhood in 1990s Boyle.

Trina Vargo is founder and president of the US-Ireland Alliance: "Chris' well-deserved reputation as a great comedic actor belies his versatility, evident across a range of roles in television, theater and film, including a Tony Award nomination."

The US-Ireland Alliance was created to build ties between the United States and the island of Ireland.