55th Academy Awards

The 55th Academy Awards were presented April 11, 1983, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles. The ceremonies were presided over by Liza Minnelli, Dudley Moore, Richard Pryor, and Walter Matthau. Louis Gossett Jr. became the first African-American actor to win Best Supporting Actor for his performance as the tough and principled drill instructor Emil Foley in An Officer and a Gentleman. Bhanu Athaiya also became the first Indian to win an Academy Award for Best Costume Design for Gandhi. This marked the first of 28 consecutive years where a Barbara Walters interview special aired before the ceremony. Walters had previously aired an interview special in 1981 and, in subsequent years, her special aired prior to the Academy's formal broadcast of celebrities walking the red carpet. It was also the only time George C. Scott attended an Oscars ceremony.

55th Academy Awards
Date	April 11, 1983
Site	Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Hosted by	Liza Minnelli, Dudley Moore, Richard Pryor and Walter Matthau
Produced by	Howard W. Koch
Directed by	Marty Pasetta
Highlights
Best Picture	Gandhi
Most awards	Gandhi (8)
Most nominations	Gandhi (11)
TV in the United States
Network	ABC
Duration	3 hours, 15 minutes
← 54th Academy Awards 56th →

Gandhi won eight awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor. Other winners included E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial with four awards, An Officer and a Gentleman with two, Begin the Beguine, If You Love This Planet, Just Another Missing Kid, Missing, Quest for Fire, A Shocking Accident, Sophie's Choice, Tango, Tootsie, and Victor/Victoria with one.

This was also the last time the 2 highest-grossing films of the year (E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Tootsie) were nominated for Best Picture until the 95th Academy Awards, 40 years later (Avatar: The Way of Water and Top Gun: Maverick).

Awards

 

Richard Attenborough, Best Director & Best Picture winner

 

Ben Kingsley, Best Actor winner

 

Meryl Streep, Best Actress winner

 

Louis Gossett Jr., Best Supporting Actor winner

 

Jessica Lange, Best Supporting Actress winner

 

Costa-Gavras, Best Adapted Screenplay co-winner

 

John Williams, Best Original Score winner

 

Ben Burtt, Best Sound Effects Editing co-winner

 

Carlo Rambaldi, Best Visual Effects co-winner

 

Dennis Muren, Best Visual Effects co-winner

Nominations were announced on February 17, 1983. Winners are listed first, highlighted in boldface, and indicated with a double dagger (‡).^[1][2]

Best Picture	Best Director
Gandhi – Richard Attenborough, producer‡ E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial – Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, producers Missing – Edward Lewis and Mildred Lewis, producers Tootsie – Sydney Pollack and Dick Richards, producers The Verdict – David Brown and Richard D. Zanuck, producers	Richard Attenborough – Gandhi‡ Wolfgang Petersen – Das Boot Steven Spielberg – E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Sydney Pollack – Tootsie Sidney Lumet – The Verdict
Best Actor	Best Actress
Ben Kingsley – Gandhi as Mahatma Gandhi‡ Dustin Hoffman – Tootsie as Michael Dorsey/Dorothy Michaels Jack Lemmon – Missing as Edmund Horman Paul Newman – The Verdict as Frank Galvin Peter O'Toole – My Favorite Year as Alan Swann	Meryl Streep – Sophie's Choice as Zofia "Sophie" Zawistowski‡ Julie Andrews – Victor/Victoria as Victoria Grant/Count Victor Grazinski Jessica Lange – Frances as Frances Farmer Sissy Spacek – Missing as Beth Horman Debra Winger – An Officer and a Gentleman as Paula Pokrifki
Best Supporting Actor	Best Supporting Actress
Louis Gossett Jr. – An Officer and a Gentleman as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley‡ Charles Durning – The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas as The Governor John Lithgow – The World According to Garp as Roberta Muldoon James Mason – The Verdict as Ed Concannon Robert Preston – Victor/Victoria as Carol "Toddy" Todd	Jessica Lange – Tootsie as Julie Nichols‡ Glenn Close – The World According to Garp as Jenny Fields Teri Garr – Tootsie as Sandra "Sandy" Lester Kim Stanley – Frances as Lillian Van Ornum Farmer Lesley Ann Warren – Victor/Victoria as Norma Cassidy
Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen	Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium
Gandhi – John Briley‡ Diner – Barry Levinson E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial – Melissa Mathison An Officer and a Gentleman – Douglas Day Stewart Tootsie – Larry Gelbart, Murray Schisgal and Don McGuire	Missing – Costa-Gavras and Donald E. Stewart based on the book The Execution of Charles Horman: An American Sacrifice by Thomas Hauser‡ Das Boot – Wolfgang Petersen based on the novel by Lothar G. Buchheim Sophie's Choice – Alan J. Pakula based on the novel by William Styron The Verdict – David Mamet based on the novel by Barry Reed Victor/Victoria – Blake Edwards based on the film Viktor und Viktoria by Reinhold Schünzel
Best Foreign Language Film	Best Documentary Feature
Begin the Beguine (Spain)‡ Alsino and the Condor (Nicaragua) Clean Slate (France) Flight of the Eagle (Sweden) Private Life (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)	Just Another Missing Kid – John Zaritsky‡ After the Axe – Sturla Gunnarsson and Steve Lucas Ben's Mill – John Karol and Michel Chalufour In Our Water – Meg Switzgable A Portrait of Giselle – Joseph Wishy
Best Documentary Short Subject	Best Live Action Short Film
If You Love This Planet – Edward Le Lorrain and Terre Nash‡ Gods of Metal – Robert Richter The Klan: A Legacy of Hate in America – Charles Guggenheim and Werner Schumann To Live or Let Die – Freida Lee Mock Traveling Hopefully – John G. Avildsen	A Shocking Accident – Christine Oestreicher‡ Ballet Robotique – Bob Rogers The Silence – Michael Toshiyuki Uno and Joseph Benson Split Cherry Tree – Jan Saunders Sredni Vashtar – Andrew Birkin
Best Animated Short Film	Best Original Score
Tango – Zbigniew Rybczyński‡ The Great Cognito – Will Vinton The Snowman – John Coates	E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial – John Williams‡ Gandhi – Ravi Shankar and George Fenton An Officer and a Gentleman – Jack Nitzsche Poltergeist – Jerry Goldsmith Sophie's Choice – Marvin Hamlisch
Best Original Song Score and Its Adaptation or Adaptation Score	Best Original Song
Victor/Victoria – Henry Mancini and Leslie Bricusse‡ Annie – Adaptation Score by Ralph Burns One from the Heart – Song Score by Tom Waits	"Up Where We Belong" from An Officer and a Gentleman – Music by Jack Nitzsche and Buffy Sainte-Marie; Lyrics by Will Jennings‡ "Eye of the Tiger" from Rocky III – Music and Lyrics by Jim Peterik and Frankie Sullivan "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" from Best Friends – Music by Michel Legrand; Lyrics by Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman "If We Were In Love" from Yes, Giorgio – Music by John Williams; Lyrics by Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman "It Might Be You" from Tootsie – Music by Dave Grusin; Lyrics by Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman
Best Sound Effects Editing	Best Sound
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial – Charles L. Campbell and Ben Burtt‡ Das Boot – Mike Le Mare Poltergeist – Stephen Hunter Flick and Richard Anderson	E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial – Robert Knudson, Robert Glass, Don Digirolamo and Gene Cantamessa‡ Das Boot – Milan Bor, Trevor Pyke and Mike Le Mare Gandhi – Gerry Humphreys, Robin O'Donoghue, Jonathan Bates and Simon Kaye Tootsie – Arthur Piantadosi, Les Fresholtz, Dick Alexander and Les Lazarowitz Tron – Michael Minkler, Bob Minkler, Lee Minkler and James LaRue
Best Makeup	Best Costume Design
Quest for Fire – Sarah Monzani and Michèle Burke‡ Gandhi – Tom Smith	Gandhi – John Mollo and Bhanu Athaiya‡ La Traviata – Piero Tosi Sophie's Choice – Albert Wolsky Tron – Elois Jenssen and Rosanna Norton Victor/Victoria – Patricia Norris
Best Art Direction	Best Cinematography
Gandhi – Art Direction: Stuart Craig and Robert W. Laing; Set Decoration: Michael Seirton‡ Annie – Art Direction: Dale Hennesy (posthumous nomination); Set Decoration: Marvin March Blade Runner – Art Direction: Lawrence G. Paull and David Snyder; Set Decoration: Linda DeScenna La Traviata – Art Direction: Franco Zeffirelli; Set Decoration: Gianni Quaranta Victor/Victoria – Art Direction: Rodger Maus, Tim Hutchinson and William Craig Smith; Set Decoration: Harry Cordwell	Gandhi – Billy Williams and Ronnie Taylor‡ Das Boot – Jost Vacano E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial – Allen Daviau Sophie's Choice – Néstor Almendros Tootsie – Owen Roizman
Best Film Editing	Best Visual Effects
Gandhi – John Bloom‡ Das Boot – Hannes Nikel E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial – Carol Littleton An Officer and a Gentleman – Peter Zinner Tootsie – Fredric Steinkamp and William Steinkamp	E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial – Carlo Rambaldi, Dennis Muren and Kenneth F. Smith‡ Blade Runner – Douglas Trumbull, Richard Yuricich and David Dryer Poltergeist – Richard Edlund, Michael Wood and Bruce Nicholson

Honorary Academy Award

• Mickey Rooney

Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award

• Walter Mirisch

Presenters and performers

The following individuals, listed in order of appearance, presented awards or performed musical numbers.

Presenters

Name(s)	Role
Hank Simms	Announcer for the 55th Academy Awards
Fay Kanin (AMPAS President)	Gave opening remarks welcoming guests to the awards ceremony
Luise Rainer Jack Valenti	Presenters of the award for Best Foreign Language Film
Christopher Reeve Susan Sarandon	Presenters of the award for Best Supporting Actor
Jane Russell Cornel Wilde	Presenters of the award for Best Makeup
Matt Dillon Kristy McNichol	Presenters of the Short Films awards
Charlton Heston	Presenter of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award to Walter Mirisch
Cher Plácido Domingo	Presenters of the Music Awards
Steve Guttenberg Ann Reinking	Presenters of the award for Best Costume Design
Elizabeth McGovern Eddie Murphy	Presenters of the award for Best Visual Effects
Jamie Lee Curtis Carl Weathers	Presenters of the award for Best Sound Effects Editing
JoBeth Williams David L. Wolper	Presenters of the Documentary Awards
Margot Kidder William Shatner	Presenters of the award for Best Art Direction
Michael Keaton Nastassja Kinski	Presenters of the award for Best Cinematography
Bob Hope	Presenter of the Honorary Award to Mickey Rooney
Lisa Eilbacher David Keith	Presenters of the award for Best Sound
Tom Selleck Raquel Welch	Presenters of the award for Best Film Editing
Olivia Newton-John	Presenter of the award for Best Original Song
Robert Mitchum Sigourney Weaver	Presenters of the award for Best Supporting Actress
Philip Dunne	Presenter of the awards for Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen and Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium
Billy Wilder	Presenter of the award for Best Director
Sylvester Stallone	Presenter of the award for Best Actress
John Travolta	Presenter of the award for Best Actor
Carol Burnett	Presenter of the award for Best Picture

Performers

Person	Role	Performed
Bill Conti	Musical arranger and conductor	Orchestral
Walter Matthau Liza Minnelli Dudley Moore Richard Pryor	Performers	"It All Comes Down to This"
The Temptations Sandahl Bergman	Performers	"Eye of the Tiger" from Rocky III
Patti Austin James Ingram	Performers	"How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" from Best Friends
Joe Cocker Jennifer Warnes	Performers	"Up Where We Belong" from An Officer and a Gentleman
Stephen Bishop	Performer	"It Might Be You" from Tootsie
Peter Allen Bernadette Peters Academy Awards Chorus	Performers	Salute to Irving Berlin: "Alexander's Ragtime Band", "I Love a Piano", "Play a Simple Melody", "It's a Lovely Day Today", "Blue Skies", "I Got the Sun in the Mornin' (and the Moon at Night)", "Let's Face the Music and Dance", "Let Yourself Go", "Puttin' On the Ritz", "Top Hat, White Tie and Tails", "Steppin' Out with My Baby", "Shakin' the Blues Away", "What'll I Do", "A Pretty Girl Is like a Melody" and "There's No Business Like Show Business"
Melissa Manchester	Performer	"If We Were in Love" from Yes, Giorgio
Academy Awards Chorus	Performers	"That's Entertainment"

Multiple nominations and awards

These films had multiple nominations: 11 nominations: Gandhi 10 nominations: Tootsie 9 nominations: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial 7 nominations: Victor/Victoria 6 nominations: Das Boot and An Officer and a Gentleman 5 nominations: Sophie's Choice and The Verdict 4 nominations: Missing 3 nominations: Poltergeist 2 nominations: Annie, Blade Runner, Frances, La Traviata, Tron and The World According to Garp

The following films received multiple awards. 8 wins: Gandhi 4 wins: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial 2 wins: An Officer and a Gentleman

See also

• 40th Golden Globe Awards
• 3rd Golden Raspberry Awards
• 1982 in film
• Submissions for the 55th Academy Award for Best Foreign Film
• 25th Grammy Awards
• 34th Primetime Emmy Awards
• 35th Primetime Emmy Awards
• 36th British Academy Film Awards
• 37th Tony Awards

References

1. "The 55th Academy Awards (1983) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved October 9, 2011.
2. "The Official Academy Awards Database". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Select "1982" in the "Award Year(s)" drop-down menu and press "Search".