During the ceremony actress Sarah Cunningham, wife of actor John Randolph, suffered an asthma attack in the lobby and died.
Best Actress Winner Geraldine Page received a two minute standing ovation when she was presented with her award.
The heckling audience members Statler and Waldorf from The Muppet Show (1976) were featured through the broadcast, making occasional comments before commercial breaks.
Security was tight around the ceremony because it took place on a very day that Ronald Reagan sent troops to bomb Libya.
Twelve people were nominated for Best Original Score for The Color Purple (1985), the most ever nominated for a single award. They lost to John Barry for Out of Africa (1985).