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HistoryCentral Est. 1996
8320th C.
1983
The 20th Century Almanac · The Eighties

1983

Major Events · Sports · Music · Screen · Prizes

A Soviet fighter shot down Korean Air Lines Flight 007, killing 269, while a suicide bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut left 241 Americans dead and U.S. forces invaded Grenada. Cold War tensions peaked over Pershing missiles; Terms of Endearment won Best Picture.

A Year in Review
Best Picture
Terms of Endearment
Nobel · Literature
—
World Series
Baltimore Orioles vs. Philadelphia Phill
No. 1 Song
Down Under
Top TV
—
Academy · Actor
Ben Kingsley

Major Events of 1983

5 events
US deploys Pershing Missiles; USSR backs out of talksKorean airliner shot downNorthern Chad seized by Libyans and RebelsUS peacekeepers killed in LebanonUS invades Grenada

Sports Highlights

Champions of 1983

Champions

NBAPhiladelphia 76ers vs. LA Lakers Series: 4-2
NCAA FootballMiami-Fl Record: 11-1-0
Heisman TrophyMike Rozier, Nebraska, RB points: 1,801
Stanley CupNew York Islanders vs. Edmunton Oilers Series: 4-0 Super Bowl XVII: Washington Redskins vs. Miami Dolphins Score: 27-17 US Open Golf:Larry Nelson Score: 280 Course: Oakmont CC Location: Oakmont, PA World Cup Soccer: Italy vs. West Germany Score: 3-1
World SeriesBaltimore Orioles vs. Philadelphia Phillies Series: 4-1

Top Music of 1983

The year on the charts

Top Songs

  1. Down Under Men at Work
  2. Africa Toto
  3. Baby, Come to Me Patti Austin & James Ingram
  4. Billie Jean Michael Jackson
  5. Come on Eileen Dexys Midnight Runners
  6. Beat It Michael Jackson
  7. Let's Dance David Bowie
  8. Flashdance What a Feeling" ... Irene Cara
  9. Every Breath You Take The Police
  10. Sweet Dreams Eurythmics

Grammy Awards

Record of the Year
"Beat it" ... Michael Jackson
Song of the Year
"Every Breath You Take" ... Sting Best Album: "Thriller" ... Michael Jackson Male Vocalist: Michael Jackson ... "Thriller" Female Vocalist: Melissa Manchester... Irene Cara ... "Flashdance ... What a Feeling"

Screen & Television

At the box office & on the air

Top Movies

  1. Best Friends
  2. The Big Chill
  3. Blue Thunder
  4. The Dark Crystal
  5. 48 Hours
  6. Flashdance
  7. Gandhi
  8. High Road To China
  9. Jaws 3-D
  10. Mr. Mom

Academy Awards

Honoring 1983
Best Picture
Terms of Endearment
Best Director
James L. Brooks
Terms of Endearment
Best Actor
Ben Kingsley
Robert Duvall
Best Actress
Shirley MacLaine
Terms of Endearment

Nobel & Pulitzer Prizes

The year in letters & science

Pulitzer Prizes

Drama
Marsha Norman ... " 'night Mother"
Fiction
Alice Walker ... "The Color Purple"
History
Rhys L. Issac ... "The Transformation of Virginia, 1740-1790" International Reporting: Thomas L. Friedman ... "New York Times" & Loren Jenkins ... "Washington Post" National Reporting: Staff ... "Boston Globe"
Public Service
"Jackson (MS) Carion-Ledger"