The stars sparkled at last night’s Golden Globe Awards, but those in the spotlight stayed humble and honored their families in some hear felt acceptance speeches. “My family is the most amazing family in the world,” Natalie Portman said in accepting the award for best supporting actress in the film “Closer.” She specifically mentioned her father, whom she called “the nicest smartest dad, friend, and rock star.”

The daughter of Jayne Mansfield, Mariska Hargitay, had her father in tears when she accepted the award for best actress in the television drama series “Law and Order: SVU.” “Forty-nine years ago my mother accepted an award and my father was with her; tonight I have my father with me. You are my hero. You’ve taught me by your example and I love you,” she said.

Jamie Foxx also shed a few tears and thanked his grandmother while accepting the award for best actor in a film for “Ray.”

Even though the hot gossip in Hollywood centered around the breakup of Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt, many of LaLa Land’s power couples seemed as happy as ever. Hand-holding was de rigeur for celebrity husband and wives, such as Natasha Richardson and Liam Neeson (best actor nominee for “Kinsey”); William Macy and Felicia Huffman (both nominees), Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards (showing her pregnancy in a lovely draped gown), and Warren Beatty and Annette Bening (who won best actress in a comedy or musical film for her role in “Being Julia”). During her acceptance speech, Ms. Bening thanked her husband for a pizza lunch. The winner of best actress in a drama film, for her role as a boxer in “Million Dollar Baby,” Hilary Swank, also saved her last thank you for her husband, Chad Lowe. “You’re my rock, your support, I can’t even describe it, you’re my everything,” Ms. Swank said.

There was the cast of “Entourage” – and then there was the Williams family entourage. Robin Williams, who won the Cecil B. DeMille award, strolled down the red carpet with his wife, Marsha, and three children, Cody, Zelda, and Zachary. They didn’t say much to the camera, but stood dutifully next to dad in their formal attire (though Zachary wore sneakers with his tuxedo).

Morgan Freeman, whose latest is “Million Dollar Baby,” brought along his granddaughter as his date.

Actress Virginia Madsen, a nominee for best supporting actress in “Sideways,” didn’t have her son with her. Instead, she showed off the lucky charm he gave her: a skeleton-like toy figure that fit in the palm of her hand.

Those who appeared on the pre-awards shows used their brief time to acknowledge family at home. “Hello to my entire family in Brooklyn,” said Mos Def, who was nominated for the television movie “Something the Lord Made.”

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which presents the awards, has a tradition of involving a son or daughter of a famous person in its show. This year, Best Director Clint Eastwood’s 16-year-old daughter Kathryn Eastwood served as “Miss Golden Globe” during the ceremony, as noted by presenters Claire Danes and Topher Grace.

The emphasis on the family was just one way the ceremony reflected a shift. In contrast to past years, the women’s attire was glamorous, but prim – there was little cleavage or leg showing.

California Governor Schwarzenegger and his wife, Maria Shriver, were at the ceremony at the Beverly Hills Hilton. But it was the star-friendly President Clinton who linked in via satellite from New York to “thank and salute the entertainment community for its generous response to the tsunami tragedy.” He noted that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association “was one of the first groups to make a substantial contribution.”

Mr. Clinton reminded Americans that the tragedy shows the frailty of life and the strength of the human spirit.

2005 GOLDEN GLOBE AWARD WINNERS

FILM
DRAMA “The Aviator”
MUSICAL OR COMEDY “Sideways”
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM “The Sea Inside” (Spain)
ACTOR, DRAMA Leonardo DiCaprio (“The Aviator”)
ACTRESS, DRAMA Hilary Swank (“Million Dollar Baby”)
ACTOR, MUSICAL OR COMEDY Jamie Foxx (“Ray”)
ACTRESS, MUSICAL OR COMEDY Annette Bening (“Being Julia”)
SUPPORTING ACTOR Clive Owen (“Closer”)
SUPPORTING ACTRESS Natalie Portman (Closer)
DIRECTOR Clint Eastwood (“Million Dollar Baby”)
SCREENPLAY Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor (“Sideways”)
ORIGINAL SCORE Howard Shore (“The Aviator”)
ORIGINAL SONG “Old Habits Die Hard” (“Alfie”)

TELEVISION
DRAMA SERIES “Nip/Tuck”
MUSICAL OR COMEDY SERIES “Desperate Housewives”
MINISERIES OR MADE-FOR-TELEVISION FILM “The Life and Death of Peter Sellers”
ACTOR, DRAMA SERIES Ian McShane (“Deadwood”)
ACTRESS, DRAMA SERIES Mariska Hargitay (“Law & Order: SVU”)
ACTOR, MUSICAL OR COMEDY SERIES Jason Bateman (“Arrested Development”)
ACTRESS, MUSICAL OR COMEDY SERIES Teri Hatcher (“Desperate Housewives”)
ACTOR, MINISERIES OR MADE-FOR-TELEVISION FILM Geoffrey Rush (“The Life and Death of Peter Sellers”)
ACTRESS, MINISERIES OR MADE-FOR-TELEVISION FILM Glenn Close (“The Lion in Winter”)
SUPPORTING ACTOR William Shatner (“Boston Legal”)
SUPPORTING ACTRESS Anjelica Huston (“Iron Jawed Angels”)