The 55th Academy Awards ceremony, organized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), honored films released in 1982 and took place on April 11, 1983, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles beginning at 6:00 p.m. PST / 9:00 p.m. EST. During the ceremony, AMPAS presented Academy Awards (commonly referred to as Oscars) in 24 categories. The ceremony, televised in the United States by ABC, was produced by Howard W. Koch and directed by Marty Pasetta. Actors Walter Matthau, Liza Minnelli, Dudley Moore, and Richard Pryor hosted the show. Matthau and Pryor hosted the gala for the second time; the former was a co-host of the 48th ceremony in 1976 while the latter co-hosted the 49th ceremony held in 1977. Meanwhile, Minnelli and Moore hosted for the first time. Two weeks earlier, in a ceremony held at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on March 27, the Academy Scientific and Technical Awards were presented by host Dyan Cannon.
Gandhi won eight awards, including Best Picture. 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. The telecast garnered 53.2 million viewers in the United States.
Winners and nominees The nominees for the 55th Academy Awards were announced on February 17, 1983, by Academy president Fay Kanin and actor Karl Malden. Gandhi received the most nominations with eleven total; Tootsie came in second with ten. The winners were announced at the awards ceremony on April 11. Best Supporting Actress winner Jessica Lange was the second actress to earn both lead and supporting acting nominations in the same year after Teresa Wright who earned a nomination for Best Actress for 1942's The Pride of the Yankees while winning Best Supporting Actress in the same year for Mrs. Miniver. Louis Gossett Jr. became the first African-American winner for Best Supporting Actor. Awards
Winners are listed first, highlighted in boldface, and indicated with a double dagger (). {| role="presentation" class=wikitable |+ |- | style="vertical-align:top; width:50%;"|
Gandhi – Richard Attenborough, producerE.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 | style="vertical-align:top; width:50%;"|Richard Attenborough – Gandhi Wolfgang Petersen – Das Boot Steven Spielberg – E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Sydney Pollack – Tootsie Sidney Lumet – The Verdict |- | style="vertical-align:top; width:50%;"|
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 | style="vertical-align:top; width:50%;"|
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 |- | style="vertical-align:top; width:50%;"|
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 | style="vertical-align:top; width:50%;"|
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 |- | style="vertical-align:top; width:50%;"|
Gandhi – John BrileyDiner – Barry Levinson E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial – Melissa Mathison An Officer and a Gentleman – Douglas Day Stewart Tootsie – Screenplay by Larry Gelbart and Murray Schisgal; Story by Don McGuire and Larry Gelbart | style="vertical-align:top; width:50%;"|Missing – Costa-Gavras and Donald E. Stewart based on the book The Execution of Charles Horman: An American Sacrifice by Thomas HauserDas 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 |- | style="vertical-align:top; width:50%;"|Begin the Beguine (Spain) in Spanish and English – directed by José Luis GarciAlsino and the Condor (Nicaragua) in Spanish – directed by Miguel Littin Clean Slate (France) in French – directed by Bertrand Tavernier Flight of the Eagle (Sweden) in Swedish and French – directed by Jan Troell Private Life (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) in Russian – directed by Yuli Raizman | style="vertical-align:top; width:50%;"|Just Another Missing Kid – John ZaritskyAfter 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 |- | valign="top" |If You Love This Planet – Edward Le Lorrain and Terre NashGods 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 | valign="top" |A Shocking Accident – Christine OestreicherBallet Robotique – Bob Rogers The Silence – Michael Toshiyuki Uno and Joseph Benson Split Cherry Tree – Jan Saunders Sredni Vashtar – Andrew Birkin |- | valign="top" |Tango – Zbigniew RybczyńskiThe Great Cognito – Will Vinton The Snowman – John Coates | valign="top" |E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial – John WilliamsGandhi – Ravi Shankar and George Fenton An Officer and a Gentleman – Jack Nitzsche Poltergeist – Jerry Goldsmith Sophie's Choice – Marvin Hamlisch |- | valign="top" |Victor/Victoria – Song Score by Henry Mancini and Leslie Bricusse; Adaptation Score by Henry ManciniAnnie – Adaptation Score by Ralph Burns One from the Heart – Song Score by Tom Waits | valign="top" |"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 |- | valign="top" |E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial – Robert Knudson, Robert Glass, Don Digirolamo and Gene CantamessaDas 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 | valign="top" |E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial – Charles L. Campbell and Ben BurttDas Boot – Mike Le Mare Poltergeist – Stephen Hunter Flick and Richard Anderson |- | valign="top" |Gandhi – Art Direction: Stuart Craig and Robert W. Laing; Set Decoration: Michael SeirtonAnnie – 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 | valign="top" |Gandhi – Billy Williams and Ronnie TaylorDas Boot – Jost Vacano E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial – Allen Daviau Sophie's Choice – Néstor Almendros Tootsie – Owen Roizman |- | valign="top" |Quest for Fire – Sarah Monzani and Michèle BurkeGandhi – Tom Smith | valign="top" |Gandhi – John Mollo and Bhanu AthaiyaLa Traviata – Piero Tosi Sophie's Choice – Albert Wolsky Tron – Elois Jenssen and Rosanna Norton Victor/Victoria – Patricia Norris |- | valign="top" |Gandhi – John BloomDas Boot – Hannes Nikel E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial – Carol Littleton An Officer and a Gentleman – Peter Zinner Tootsie – Fredric Steinkamp and William Steinkamp | valign="top" |E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial – Carlo Rambaldi, Dennis Muren and Kenneth F. Smith'''Blade Runner – Douglas Trumbull, Richard Yuricich and David DryerPoltergeist – Richard Edlund, Michael Wood and Bruce Nicholson
Honorary Academy Award To Mickey Rooney in recognition of his 60 years of versatility in a variety of memorable film performances.
Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award The award recognizes individuals whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the motion picture industry.
Walter Mirisch
Films with multiple nominations and awards
+ Films with multiple nominations Nominations Film 11 Gandhi 10 Tootsie 9 E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial 7 Victor/Victoria 6 Das Boot An Officer and a Gentleman 5 Sophie's Choice The Verdict 4 Missing 3 Poltergeist 2 Annie Blade Runner Frances La Traviata Tron The World According to Garp
+ Films with multiple wins Awards Film 8 Gandhi 4 E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial 2 An Officer and a Gentleman
Presenters and performers The following individuals, listed in order of appearance, presented awards or performed musical numbers.
Presenters + Name(s) Role Announcer for the 55th Academy Awards (AMPAS President) Gave opening remarks welcoming guests to the awards ceremony Jack Valenti Presenters of the award for Best Foreign Language Film Susan Sarandon Presenters of the award for Best Supporting Actor Cornel Wilde Presenters of the award for Best Makeup Kristy McNichol Presenters of the awards for Best Animated Short Film and Best Live Action Short Film Presenter of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award to Walter Mirisch Plácido Domingo Presenters of the awards for Best Original Score and Best Original Song Score and Its Adaptation or Adaptation Score Ann Reinking Presenters of the award for Best Costume Design Eddie Murphy Presenters of the award for Best Visual Effects Carl Weathers Presenters of the award for Best Sound Effects Editing David L. Wolper Presenters of the awards for Best Documentary Short Subject and Best Documentary Feature William Shatner Presenters of the award for Best Art Direction Nastassja Kinski Presenters of the award for Best Cinematography Presenter of the Academy Honorary Award to Mickey Rooney David Keith Presenters of the award for Best Sound Raquel Welch Presenters of the award for Best Film Editing Presenter of the award for Best Original Song Sigourney Weaver Presenters of the award for Best Supporting Actress Presenter of the awards for Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen and Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium Presenter of the award for Best Director Presenter of the award for Best Actress Presenter of the award for Best Actor Presenter of the award for Best Picture
Performers