Venerable Les Dilley, eminent art director known for his work on 'Star Wars' and 'Indiana Jones', passes away at 84 years old.
Farewell to Legendary Art Director, Les Dilley 💔
In an uplifting yet poignant farewell, the artistic and cinematic world bid adieu to Les Dilley, a renowned art director, designer, and visionary who graced our screens with his unforgettable masterpieces for over six decades. Les departed on May 20, at the age of 84, succumbing to the peculiar twists and challenges of Alzheimer's disease.
Born on July 11, 1941, in the picturesque town of Rhondda, Wales, Dilley embarked upon a remarkable journey that began with a construction and plastering apprenticeship at the Associated British Picture Corporation at the tender age of 15. Little did he know that this humble initiation would set him on the path to greatness.
By the age of 23, Dilley was a plaster worker on the timeless classic, From Russia With Love, before ascending to the role of an assistant art director on Jesus Christ Superstar and Kelly's Heroes. He then showcased his skills as an art director for the 1973 blockbuster, Three Musketeers, and its sequel, helping to sculpt R2-D2, the sandcrawler, and Luke's landspeeder for the iconic Star Wars: A New Hope.
Les' artistic genius did not stop there; he then directed the art for Empire Strikes Back, along with Raiders of the Lost Ark, Alien, Superman, and An American Werewolf in London. His production designer credits expanded to include 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 wins for Best Art Direction, shared with fellow art director Norman Reynolds, who passed away in 2023.
After wrapping up his work on the beloved British kids' show Teacup Travels, Dilley chose to hang up his artistic apron and retire. At the time of writing, IMDB and Mubi credit him on a web series called New-Gen, yet to be released. In 2020, the British Academy Cymru Awards, BAFTA's Welsh branch, recognized his outstanding contribution to film and television with an honorary award.
Lucas, Scott, and other collaborators showered him with accolades at the ceremony, with Lucas describing him as his "main contact with the art department, and an all-around great guy. If anybody deserves this award, it's you." Dilley is survived by his wife Leslie and five children, who shared that his legacy "lives on in the many iconic films he helped bring to life and in his personally built family home, 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."
As we bid farewell to Les Dilley, let's savor the magic he wove into our lives through the big and small screens, forever etching his name in the annals of the cinematic world.
(Wondering about Les Dilley's work with Lucas, Spielberg, and Scott? His collaboration with these visionary directors has left an indelible mark and cements his status as a titan in the film industry [3].)
- In the future, cinema enthusiasts will continue to be captivated by Les Dilley's legendary art direction, as his work with Lucas, Spielberg, and Scott lives on in iconic films like Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Alien.
- Gizmodo and io9 may yet delve into the intricate details of Les Dilley's latter days, exploring his collaborations with some of the industry's most visionary directors and his post-production work on New-Gen, a web series set for release.
- As our entertainment landscape moves forward with the advancement of technology, especially in movies-and-tv, Les Dilley's legacy remains an inspiration – his indelible artistry forever shaping the future of cinematic aesthetics.
