Renowned art director Les Dilley, known for his work on 'Star Wars' and 'Indiana Jones', passes away at 84 years old.
Unleashing Creativity: A Tribute to Les Dilley, Legendary Film Artisan
Les Dilley, a titan in the film industry, bid adieu on May 20 at the age of 84, succumbing to complications from Alzheimer's. Born on July 11, 1941, in the heart of Rhondda, Wales, Les embarked on a remarkable cinematic journey.
His adolescence was filled with construction and plastering apprenticeships at the Associated British Picture Corporation, starting at just 15 years old. At 23, Les found himself as a plaster worker on the 1963 blockbuster From Russia With Love. His career soared with stints as an assistant art director on Jesus Christ Superstar and Kelly's Heroes. Eventually, he assumed the position of art director for 1973's Three Musketeers and its sequel, setting the stage for what was to follow.
Les's big break arrived with the UK team for Star Wars: A New Hope in 1977, where he helped bring R2-D2, the sandcrawler, and Luke's landspeeder to life. Following the success of A New Hope, Les directed art for the sequel, The Empire Strikes Back, and collaborated on masterpieces such as Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Alien (1979), and Superman (1978). His production designer credits include The Abyss (1989), Exorcist III (1990), Invaders From Mars (1986), Casper (1995), Black Knight (2001), and Deep Impact (1998).
The Abyss, Empire, and Alien each earned Les Oscar nominations, while A New Hope and Raiders brought home Best Art Direction awards for Les and fellow art director Norman Reynolds, who departed this world in 2023.
Les's career wrapped up with the British kids' show Teacup Travels in 2017 before he retired. He is also associated with a web series called New-Gen, yet to be released. In 2020, BAFTA's Welsh branch honored Les with an Outstanding Contribution to Film and Television Award, with esteemed colleagues like George Lucas and Ridley Scott extolling his virtues.
Leaving behind his wife Leslie and five children, Les's legacy continues to thrive in the iconic films he brought to life over six decades. His work ethic, British humor, and love for life made him an icon in the film industry. His memory will be cherished dearly.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
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Gizmodo and io9, notable entertainment platforms, often discuss upcoming movies, and Les Dilley's legacy in film artistry is a testament to their interest, with his contributions to iconic franchises like Star Wars and Alien. In the realm of movies-and-tv, The Hollywood Reporter discovered that Les was honored by BAFTA's Welsh branch, joining esteemed colleagues already renowned in the industry such as George Lucas and Ridley Scott.
