Les Dilley, the Oscar-winning art director and production designer known for his contributions to iconic films such as "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark," has passed away at the age of 84. Dilley died on May 20, 2025, in the USA, due to complications from Alzheimer's disease.

Born Ivor Leslie Dilley on January 11, 1941, in Rhondda, Glamorgan, Wales, Dilley's career in the film industry spanned several decades. His journey began at the age of fifteen with a plastering and construction apprenticeship at the Associated British Picture Corporation, while simultaneously studying architecture and building construction at Willesden Technical College. He started his career as a drafter in the 1960s, later becoming an assistant art director in the early 1970s. His first official role as art director was in 1973 for Richard Lester's "The Three Musketeers."

Dilley's work as an art director continued throughout the 1970s and 1980s, with notable films like "Superman," "An American Werewolf in London," and "Never Say Never Again." He won two Academy Awards for Best Art Direction, the first for "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope" (1977) and the second for "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981), sharing the honors with Norman Reynolds. He also received Academy Award nominations for his work on "Alien," "The Empire Strikes Back," and "The Abyss." His contributions to "Star Wars" included helping to create memorable visuals such as the sandcrawler, Luke's landspeeder, and one of the physical builds of R2-D2, assembled in secrecy. In "Raiders of the Lost Ark," he helped push the boulder that chases Harrison Ford at the beginning of the movie.

In the mid-1980s, Dilley transitioned to the role of production designer, with credits including James Cameron's "The Abyss," "The Exorcist III," "Casper," "Deep Impact," and "Son of the Mask." He even made cameo appearances in some of the films he production designed, such as "Deep Impact" and "Pay It Forward."

Dilley's talent and contributions were recognized with an Outstanding Contribution to Film and Television Award at the British Academy Cymru Awards in 2020. Directors such as George Lucas, Ridley Scott, and James Cameron offered testimonials for the event, with Cameron praising Dilley's work on "The Abyss."

His family released a statement, saying, "Les's legacy lives on in the many iconic films he helped bring to life for over six decades and in his family home he personally built as an homage to his work. His love for the motion picture business was evident to the very end."

Les Dilley is survived by his wife, Leslie, to whom he was married for 38 years, their four children – Sophia, Leslie II, Ivory, and Leslie III – and a daughter, Georgia, from a previous marriage to Amanda Dilley.