longtime 'Star Wars' and 'Indiana Jones' art director Les Dilley passes away at 84 years old.
Acclaimed Art Director and Production Designer Les Dilley Passes Away at 84
Following a battle with Alzheimer's complications, Les Dilley, the highly esteemed art director and production designer with a six-decade-long career in film, passed away on May 20 at the age of 84. Born on July 11, 1941, in Rhondda, Wales, Dilley began his film career at the tender age of 15 as a construction and plastering apprentice at the Associated British Picture Corporation. Over the years, he held various roles, including plaster worker on the 1963 James Bond film "From Russia With Love," assistant art director for "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Kelly's Heroes," and art director for 1973's "The Three Musketeers" and its sequel.
His breakthrough came when he joined the team for "Star Wars: A New Hope" in 1977, working alongside fellow art director Norman Reynolds to create physical builds for iconic props such as R2-D2, the sandcrawler, and Luke's landspeeder. Dilley's work expanded to other notable productions, including the sequel "Empire Strikes Back," "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "Alien," "Superman," and "An American Werewolf in London." He received Oscar nominations for his work on "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Alien," as well as shares of two wins for Best Art Direction for "Star Wars: A New Hope" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark," both with Reynolds.
After working on the British kids' show "Teacup Travels," which ended in 2017, Dilley retired. His final credits included a web series called "New-Gen," yet to be released at the time of writing. In 2020, Dilley was honored with the Outstanding Contribution to Film and Television Award by the Welsh branch of the British Academy Cymru Awards. The ceremony saw tributes from industry legends such as George Lucas, Ridley Scott, and others who had worked with him throughout his career.
Dilley is survived by his wife Leslie and five children. In a statement, the family said, "His legacy lives on in the many iconic films he helped bring to life for over six decades and in his family home he personally built as an homage to his work. His love for the motion picture business was evident to the very end. In addition to his incredible work ethic, quirky British humor, and love of life, he was a dedicated and loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend to many. He will be greatly missed."
[Based on information from The Hollywood Reporter]
Reflecting on Dilley's career, it is marked by his significant contributions to some of cinema's most iconic and Oscar-nominated productions, such as "Star Wars" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark," which continue to hold influence and remain celebrated for their pioneering visuals and timeless appeal.
Les Dilley's impact on films can still be seen on platforms like Io9 and Gizmodo, where his work on movies like 'Star Wars' and 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' are often discussed under the categories of 'movies-and-tv' and 'entertainment'. His contributions to the future of technology in cinema are evident, as contemporary films continue to draw inspiration from his groundbreaking designs. Despite his retirement, Dilley's legacy extends beyond the silver screen, impacting the lives of those in the entertainment industry, as evident in tributes from industry legends like George Lucas and Ridley Scott.
