Leslie Dilley
Art
- Born
- January 11, 1941 · Rhondda, Glamorgan, Wales, UK
- Died
- May 20, 2025 (age 84)
Leslie Dilley (January 11, 1941 — May 20, 2025) was a Welsh art director and production designer. During his career from the 1970s to 2000s, he won the Academy Award for Best Art Direction twice for Star Wars (1977) and Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). Dilley received additional Best Art Direction nominations for Alien (1979), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), and The Abyss (1989). Apart from art direction, Dilley was a production designer for The Exorcist III (1990), Casper (1995), and Son of the Mask (2005).
In 1941, Dilley was born in Rhondda Valley, South Wales. Growing up, Dilley and his family moved to London and lived in Wembley Park. For his post-secondary education, Dilley studied architecture at Willesden Technical College. While working as an apprentice plasterer during college, Dilley was encouraged by a classmate to apply at Pinewood Studios. After Pinewood told him there were no open positions available, Dilley completed a five year plastering apprenticeship at the Associated British Picture Corporation.
Known for
Star Wars
May 25, 1977
The Empire Strikes Back
May 20, 1980
Alien
May 25, 1979
Raiders of the Lost Ark
June 12, 1981
Casper
May 26, 1995
Superman
December 14, 1978
The Abyss
August 9, 1989
Deep Impact
May 8, 1998
An American Werewolf in London
August 21, 1981
Men of Honor
September 13, 2000
Pay It Forward
October 20, 2000
Son of the Mask
February 11, 2005
Behind the camera35
- 2006Little Man Production Design
- 2005Son of the Mask Production Design
- 2003Cold Creek Manor Production Design
- 2001Black Knight Production Design
- 2000Pay It Forward Production Design
- 2000Men of Honor Production Design
- 1999Inspector Gadget Production Design
- 1998Deep Impact Production Design
- 1997The Peacemaker Production Design
- 1996Diabolique Production Design, Second Unit Director