55th Academy Awards — award ceremony presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences for achievement in filmmaking in 1982
The 55th Academy Awards recognized 1982 film achievements, with Gandhi dominating by winning eight Oscars including Best Picture.
Key Facts
- Date
- April 11, 1983
- Venue
- Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles
- Categories awarded
- 24
- Gandhi awards won
- 8
- US television viewers
- 53.2 million
- Network broadcaster
- ABC
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Each year the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences evaluates films released in the prior calendar year and nominates them across multiple categories, culminating in a formal awards ceremony. The films of 1982, including Gandhi, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Tootsie, and Sophie's Choice, generated strong critical and commercial attention that set the stage for a competitive awards season.
On April 11, 1983, the 55th Academy Awards ceremony took place at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, hosted by Walter Matthau, Liza Minnelli, Dudley Moore, and Richard Pryor. AMPAS presented Oscars in 24 categories; Gandhi led all films with eight awards including Best Picture, while E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial claimed four. The ceremony was produced by Howard W. Koch, directed by Marty Pasetta, and broadcast on ABC.
Gandhi's sweep of eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, cemented its status as one of the most honored films of its era and drew widespread attention to director Richard Attenborough's work. The telecast attracted 53.2 million viewers in the United States, reflecting the broad public interest in Hollywood's annual recognition of cinematic achievement during the early 1980s.