Art Director for 'Star Wars' and 'Indiana Jones' series, Les Dilley, passes away at the age of 84.
Renowned Art Director and Production Designer Les Dilley Passes Away at 84
Following a battle with Alzheimer's, Les Dilley, an award-winning art director and production designer, passed away on May 20 at the age of 84. Born in Rhondda, Wales, on July 11, 1941, Dilley commenced his career in film at the age of 15 with a construction and plastering apprenticeship at the Associated British Picture Corporation. His big break came in 1963 when he was a plaster worker on the James Bond film, "From Russia With Love."
Throughout his illustrious career, Dilley worked on a number of critically acclaimed films, starting as an assistant art director on "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Kelly's Heroes." His work as an art director on "The Three Musketeers" and its sequel laid the groundwork for his involvement in the iconic production "Star Wars: A New Hope." In this film, he played a crucial role in creating the physical builds for elements such as R2-D2, the sandcrawler, and Luke's landspeeder.
Dilley's contributions to the sequel, "Empire Strikes Back," and other notable films like "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "Alien," "Superman," and "An American Werewolf in London" further cemented his reputation in the industry. His work on these films earned him multiple Oscar nominations, and he shared wins for Best Art Direction for "Star Wars: A New Hope" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark" with fellow art director Norman Reynolds.
After retiring from his role as a production designer on the British kids' show "Teacup Travels" in 2017, Dilley was honored with an Outstanding Contribution to Film and Television Award by BAFTA's Welsh branch in 2020. George Lucas, Ridley Scott, and other colleagues lauded his work and contributions during the ceremony.
Les Dilley is survived by his wife Leslie and five children. The family described him as a dedicated and loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend who will be deeply missed. His legacy continues in the many iconic films he contributed to for over six decades and in the family home he personally built as a testament to his work in the motion picture industry.
Sources:The Hollywood ReporterIMDBMubi
Les Dilley's work on legendary films, such as "Star Wars: A New Hope" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark," earned him multiple Oscar nominations, making headlines on renowned entertainment websites like io9 and Gizmodo under categories like 'movies' and 'technology.' His contributions to the world of movies-and-tv, spanning over six decades, were honored with an Outstanding Contribution to Film and Television Award by BAFTA's Welsh branch in 2020.
