Renowned art director Les Dilley, known for his work on 'Star Wars' and 'Indiana Jones' franchises, passes away at age 84.
Known for his quirky British humor and prolific six-decade career, Les Dilley - the highly acclaimed art director and production designer - has bid us adieu on May 20, following complications from Alzheimer's disease. Born on July 11, 1941, in Rhondda, Wales, Dilley embarked on a journey that took him from a plastering apprenticeship to the nitty-gritty of Oscar-winning film sets.
At 15, Dilley began his film career as an apprentice at the Associated British Picture Corporation. By the age of 23, he was Edward's plaster worker on "From Russia With Love," and later an assistant art director on "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Kelly's Heroes." His big break came in 1973, when he secured the position of art director for "The Three Musketeers" and its sequel.
Seizing the opportunity, Dilley joined the UK team for "Star Wars: A New Hope" and lent his creative touch to the physical construction of R2-D2, the sandcrawler, and even Luke's landspeeder. This was just the beginning of Dilley's journey in the galaxy far, far away - he proceeded to direct art for the sequel, "Empire Strikes Back."
But Dilley's contributions to the sci-fi saga didn't stop there. His exceptional work earned him Academy Award nominations for "Empire" and "Alien," and shared wins for Best Art Direction for "New Hope" and "Raiders." These victories, which he shared with fellow art director Norman Reynolds, marked him as a force to be reckoned with in the film industry.
Throughout his career, Dilley continued to awe audiences with his work on beloved films like "Superman," "An American Werewolf in London," "The Abyss," "Exorcist III," "Invaders From Mars," "Casper," "Black Knight," and "Deep Impact." Of all the movies he worked on, "Abyss," "Empire," and "Alien" are undoubtedly standouts.
In his retirement, Dilley continued to enjoy the simple pleasures in life, like constructing items in his workshop and playing ice hockey. His contributions to the motion picture industry were celebrated in 2020, when the British Academy Cymru Awards bestowed upon him the Outstanding Contribution to Film and Television Award. Praises poured in from industry giants like George Lucas, who described Dilley as his "main contact with the art department, and an all-around great guy."
Dilley leaves behind his adoring wife Leslie and five children. Touched by their loss, the family shared a heartfelt statement reminding us of Dilley's undeniable impact on cinema and those close to him. The love he showed to his family, friends, and colleagues will forever be remembered.
Rest in peace, Les Dilley - you've forever etched your creative spirit into the sands of time.
Sources:
The Hollywood Reporter
IMDB
Mubi
Stay tuned for the latest news on Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, DC Universe, and Doctor Who!
As we bid farewell to Les Dilley, a legendary art director whose contributions shaped the future of movies, let's keep an eye on tech-related news at Gizmodo’s ‘Movies-and-TV’ section. Or, perhaps, you’ll find a insightful discussion on Les Dilley's life and work on io9, a platform dedicated to entertainment and science fiction. It's through the legacy of trailblazers like Dilley that we can look forward to an exciting future in the realm of movies and technology.
