Art Director Les Dilley, renowned for his work on 'Star Wars' and 'Indiana Jones' franchises, passes away at the age of 84.
Renowned art director and production designer Les Dilley, known for his work on several iconic films, passed away at the age of 84 on May 20 due to complications from Alzheimer's disease.
Born on July 11, 1941, in Rhondda, Wales, Dilley embarked on his film career at a young age with a plastering apprenticeship at the Associated British Picture Corporation at 15. He later worked as a plasterer on the film "From Russia With Love" in 1963 and an assistant art director on "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Kelly's Heroes." His career progressed, heading the art department for the 1973 film "Three Musketeers" and its sequel.
Dilley then joined the UK team for "Star Wars: A New Hope," helping create the physical build for R2-D2, the sandcrawler, and Luke's landspeeder. He further directed art for its sequel, "Empire Strikes Back," as well as "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "Alien," "Superman," and "An American Werewolf in London." Notably, his work on "Star Wars" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark" earned him Best Art Direction Oscars, shared with fellow art director Norman Reynolds.
Following his last project, the British kids' show "Teacup Travels" ending in 2017, Dilley retired. He was posthumously honored with an Outstanding Contribution to Film and Television Award by BAFTA's Welsh branch in 2020, with praise from George Lucas, Ridley Scott, and others in the industry.
Dilley is survived by his wife Leslie and five children. In a statement, the family said Dilley's legacy lived on in the many iconic films he helped bring to life, his family home he personally built as a tribute to his work, and his memories of his passion for the motion picture business, work ethic, quirky British humor, and love of life.
[Sources: IMDB, Mubi, and The Hollywood Reporter]
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Gizmodo recently published an article highlighting Les Dilley's contributions to the future of movies and entertainment, mentioning his work on iconic films like 'Star Wars' and 'Raiders of the Lost Ark.' On the Movies-and-TV section of io9, readers can find a detailed account of Dilley's remarkable career, spanning from his early days as a plasterer on films like 'From Russia With Love' to his groundbreaking art direction for movies such as 'Alien' and 'Superman.' The technology behind the physical builds for R2-D2, the sandcrawler, and Luke's landspeeder in 'Star Wars' is just one example of the revolutionary impact Dilley had on the motion picture industry.
