Acclaimed Art Director in 'Star Wars' and 'Indiana Jones' Franchises, Les Dilley, Passes Away at 84 Years of Age
Renowned Art Director and Production Designer Leslie Dilley, age 84, Passes Away
Leslie Dilley, a multiple award-winning art director and production designer, passed away on May 20, due to complications from Alzheimer's. Born on July 11, 1941, in Rhondda, Wales, Dilley embarked on his film career at the tender age of 15 as a plaster worker on the James Bond film, "From Russia With Love."
At 23, Dilley, credited then as Ivor Leslie Dilley, was a plaster worker on "From Russia With Love," progressing to become an assistant art director on "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Kelly's Heroes." He advanced further, becoming an art director for the 1973 film "Three Musketeers" and its 1974 sequel. It was these roles that led to his joining the UK team for "Star Wars: A New Hope."
In "Star Wars: A New Hope," Dilley played a crucial part in creating the physical build for R2-D2, the sandcrawler, and Luke's landspeeder. He continued his art direction work in the sequel "The Empire Strikes Back," along with "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "Alien," "Superman," and "An American Werewolf in London." Among others, "A New Hope" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark" awarded him Oscars for Best Art Direction, shared with fellow art director Norman Reynolds.
After wrapping up art direction for the British kids' show "Teacup Travels" in 2017, Dilley retired. His IMDb and Mubi credits list him as a contributor to the web series "New-Gen," currently yet to be released. In 2020, the British Academy Cymru Awards honored him with an Outstanding Contribution to Film and Television Award. He was praised at the ceremony by industry greats, including George Lucas, Ridley Scott, and others who worked with him over the years.
Survived by his wife Leslie and five children, Dilley's family remembered him as a "devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend." They acknowledge his "incredible work ethic, quirky British humor, and love of life." His family home, an homage to his work, serves as a testament to his lasting impact on the motion picture industry, and his legacy will live on in the "many iconic films" he helped bring to life during his six-decade career.
[The Hollywood Reporter]
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Leslie Dilley, renowned for Oscar-winning art direction in movies like "Star Wars: A New Hope" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark," also contributed to upcoming web series "New-Gen." Gizmodo and Movies-and-TV, indulge in discussions about the future of technology and entertainment, may also cover Dilley's contributions to the motion picture industry. In the future, we may reflect on the impact of his work in iconic films on the evolution of movie-making.
