20 Biggest Surprises in Golden Globes History2 of 21
Pia Zadora's Questionable Win
When Pia Zadora was named "New Star of the Year in a Motion Picture" in 1982, the outcry was immediate. Not only did she edge out Elizabeth McGovern and Howard E. Rollins Jr. of Ragtime, as well as Kathleen Turner (Body Heat), but the award also gave the impression that her ultra-rich husband at the time, Meshulam Riklis, had bought her award. Riklis had flown voting members to his casino in Las Vegas and hosted lavish screenings at his home. The category was retired in 1984.
When Pia Zadora was named "New Star of the Year in a Motion Picture" in 1982, the outcry was immediate. Not only did she edge out Elizabeth McGovern and Howard E. Rollins Jr. of Ragtime, as well as Kathleen Turner (Body Heat), but the award also gave the impression that her ultra-rich husband at the time, Meshulam Riklis, had bought her award. Riklis had flown voting members to his casino in Las Vegas and hosted lavish screenings at his home. The category was retired in 1984.
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Photo by CBS Photo Archive - © 1982 CBS Photo Archive - Image courtesy gettyimages.com