Les Dilley, ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Indiana Jones’ Art Director, Dies at 84

Les Dilley, the award-winning art director and production designer on a number of films, passed away on May 20 at age 84 from Alzheimer’s complications. Born July 11, 1941 in Rhondda, Wales, Dilley began his film career with a construction and plastering apprenticeship at the Associated British Picture Corporation when he was 15. At age 23, he was a plaster worker on 1963’s From Russia With Love, then an assistant art director on Jesus Christ Superstar and Kelly’s Heroes. After being an art director for 1973’s Three Musketeers and its 1974 sequel, he joined the UK team for Star Wars: A New Hope, and helped to create a physical build for R2-D2, the sandcrawler, and Luke’s landspeeder. He proceeded to direct art for its sequel, Empire Strikes Back, along with Raiders of the Lost Ark, Alien, Superman, and An American Werewolf in London. His production designer credits include The Abyss, Exorcist III, Invaders From Mars, Casper, Black Knight, and Deep Impact. While Abyss, Empire, and Ali ... Read full article.