The star studded ceremony was held Sunday night at the Beverly Hilton Hotel here.
"The Artist", directed by Michel Hazanavicius, was adjudged the best motion picture- musical or comedy, and it also won the best original score motion picture award for Ludovic Bourve, as well as the best performance by an actor in a motion picture award- comedy or musical, for Jean Dujardin.
Alexander Payne "The Descendants" walked away with two honours — best motion picture- drama and best actor in a motion picture-drama award for Clooney.
The best actress in a motion picture-drama was won by Meryl Streep for "Iron Lady" for her portrayal of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher. In the best performance by an actress in a motion picture-musical or comedy, Michelle Williams took home the award for her performance in "My Week With Marilyn".
Christopher Plummer and Octavia Spencer picked up the best supporting actors’ trophy for their work in "Beginners" and "The Help" respectively. The ceremony saw veteran actor Morgan Freeman being honoured with the Cecil B. DeMille lifetime achievement award.
Filmmaker Martin Scorsese won the best director for "Hugo", while Woody Allen’s romantic comedy "Midnight In Paris" won the best screenplay gong, and Steven Spielberg’s "The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of The Unicorn" bagged the best animated film trophy.
In the music category, Madonna won the best original song-motion picture for her number "Masterpiece" from her directorial movie "W.E.".
The best foreign language film went to Iranian film "A Separation" and it left behind nominations from China, US, Belgium and Spain.
In the small screen category, "Homeland" came out as a big winner. The show, a thriller series about a person who returns to the US eight years after going missing in Iraq and the resulting suspicion of an intelligence officer, won the best TV series drama. It also helped Claire Danes bag the best performance by an actress in a TV series-drama.
Kelsey Grammer won the best actor award for "Boss".
"Modern Family", a satirical take on three different families, bagged the best television series-musical or comedy award, while the best mini-series or motion picture made for TV went to "Downton Abbey".
The award for best performance by an actor in a TV series-comedy or musical went to Matt LeBlanc and Laura Dern for "Episodes" and "Enlightened" respectively.
Oscar winner Kate Winslet flashed a million-dollar smile when she was called on stage to receive the best performance by an actress in a mini-series or motion picture made for television award for "Mildred Pierce". Actor Idris Elba took the same award in the male category for "Luther".
The gala saw the glitz and glamour of Hollywood with stars like Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Jane Fonda and Helen Mirren on the red carpet.
