Prominent art director Les Dilley, responsible for visual aesthetics in films like 'Star Wars' and 'Indiana Jones', passes away at the age of 84.
Art Director and Production Designer Legend Les Dilley Dies at 84
In a somber moment, the world of film lost an iconic figure, Les Dilley. On May 20, the multi-award-winning art director and production designer took his final bow at 84, succumbing to Alzheimer's complications.
Born sunny-side up on July 11, 1941, in Rhondda, Wales, Dilley kick-started his film odyssey with a construction and plastering apprenticeship at the Associated British Picture Corporation at the tender age of 15. Fast forward to 23, he was grouting his way through the walls of From Russia With Love as a plaster worker. Next, he carved an assistant art director role on Jesus Christ Superstar and Kelly's Heroes. After nailing the art director spot on 1973’s Three Musketeers and its sequel, he hopped aboard the UK team for Star Wars: A New Hope, helping craft the physical build for R2-D2, the sandcrawler, and Luke's landspeeder.
Dilley leveled up his artistic prowess on the sequel, Empire Strikes Back, alongside blockbusters like Raiders of the Lost Ark, Alien, Superman, and An American Werewolf in London. His production designer credits span The Abyss, Exorcist III, Invaders From Mars, Casper, Black Knight, and Deep Impact. While Abyss, Empire, and Alien each earned him Oscar nominations, New Hope and Raiders earned him the prestigious award for Best Art Direction, a shared victory with fellow art director Norman Reynolds, who bid farewell in 2023.
With a career that wrapped up on the British kids' show Teacup Travels in 2017, Dilley hung up his brushes and retired. The web series New-Gen might not have released yet, but his name graces the roster, as per IMDB and Mubi. In 2020, BAFTA's Welsh branch—the British Academy Cymru Awards—recognized his illustrious journey, presenting him with an Outstanding Contribution to Film and Television Award. His accomplishments were showered with praise from industry heavyweights such as George Lucas and Ridley Scott, who praised his quirky British humor, tireless work ethic, and unwavering love for the motion picture industry.
Les Dilley is survived by his spouse Leslie and five children. In a heartfelt statement, the family emphasized his lasting legacy, which still illuminates the big screen through the iconic films he touched for over six decades. They described his custom-built family home, an homage to his love for cinema, and expressed how his spirit would continue to shine in the art department, making a lasting impact on future generations.
Rest in peace, Les Dilley. Your cinematic journey will forever echo in our hearts.
[via The Hollywood Reporter]
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- Portal sites such as io9, Gizmodo, and Movies-and-TV are likely to highlight Les Dilley's contributions in the realms of movies and entertainment, given his acclaimed work on films like Star Wars, Alien, and Superman.
- As we venture into the future of cinematic excellence, with upcoming releases from Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, and Doctor Who, it's essential to remember the likes of Les Dilley, whose innovative work laid the foundation for today's modern blockbusters.
- In the future, Dilley's legacy will continue to inspire artists in the entertainment industry, leaving an indelible mark on productions, much like his custom-built family home that serves as a testament to his enduring love for cinema.
