Veteran art director Les Dilley, responsible for iconic visuals in 'Star Wars' and 'Indiana Jones' franchises, passes away at 84.
Swingin' Through the Silver Screen: A Tribute to Les Dilley
In a world where imagination is the ultimate currency, few have been more generously bankrolled than Leslie Dilley. This visionary art director and production designer, who bade farewell to the mortal coil on May 20th, 20xx, at the ripe age of 84, left an indelible impact on the cinematic landscape with a career spanning an astounding six decades. In a land far, far away known as Rhondda, Wales, this maestro of make-believe was born on the 11th of July, 1941.
As a teenager, Dilley's fascination with the world behind the camera led him to embark on a plastering and construction apprenticeship at the Associated British Picture Corporation at a tender age of 15. Simultaneously, he furthered his formal education, attending Willesden Technical College to hone his architectural and building construction skills.
When he was 23, Dilley swung into action as a plaster worker for "From Russia With Love," before ascending the ranks to become an assistant art director for "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Kelly's Heroes." In 1973, he claimed the coveted position of art director for "The Three Musketeers" and its sequel, setting the stage for his future collaborations.
Dilley's remarkable journey led him to join the UK team for "Star Wars: A New Hope," where he contributed to the creation of R2-D2, the sandcrawler, and Luke Skywalker's landspeeder. His art direction on this Galactic adventure earned him his first Oscar alongside Norman Reynolds.
Continuing his meteoric rise, Dilley moved on to direct art for "Empire Strikes Back," "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "Alien," and "An American Werewolf in London." His production designer credits also include "The Abyss," "Exorcist III," "Invaders From Mars," "Casper," "Black Knight," and "Deep Impact." Additionally, he earned Oscar nominations for "Alien" and "Empire Strikes Back" while sharing wins for "New Hope" and "Raiders" with Reynolds.
With his retirement following the conclusion of "Teacup Travels" in 2017, Dilley left an unparalleled legacy. He positively impacted the film industry for over six decades, with his quirky British humor and lifelong passion for the silver screen evident until the very end. In addition to his noteworthy career achievements, Dilley was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend to many.
The filmfraternity lauded Dilley posthumously, with would-be collaborators such as George Lucas, Ridley Scott, and others hepherding praise his way. Lucas, in particular, highlighted Dilley as his "main contact with the art department, and an all-around great guy. [...] If anybody deserves this award, it's you."
Dilley, who is survived by his loving wife Leslie and five children, shall be deeply missed. A testament to his enduring impact, his legacy lives on in the many iconic films he helped bring to life, as well as in the personal sanctuary he painstakingly constructed as a tribute to his illustrious career.
[Sources: IMDb, Mubi, The Hollywood Reporter]
Consider this just the beginning of your journey into the far-flung realms of cinema. Stay tuned for updates on the latest in Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, the ever-evolving DC Universe, and all things Doctor Who.
- Gizmodo recently published an article about Leslie Dilley's impact on movies, highlighting his contributions to iconic films such as Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Alien.
- In the realm of future technology and entertainment, Io9 offers insights on the potential influence of Les Dilley's work on the visual style of upcoming movies and TV shows, especially in the genres of science fiction and fantasy.
- Dilley's uniquely British humor and masterful art direction continue to captivate movie-goers, with Gizmodo, io9, and Movies-and-TV providing coverage of his extraordinary career and its lasting impact on the industry.
