Oscar Winning Lucasfilm Production Designer Les Dilley Passes Away at 84

Oscar-winning production designer Ivor Leslie “Les" Dilley, known for his work with Lucasfilm, has passed away at the age of 84.

According to Deadline, award winning production designer Ivor Leslie “Les" Dilley has died at the age of 84. Known for his outstanding and iconic work on Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope and Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Dilley died of complications from Alzheimer’s disease on May 20th surrounded by his family.

In a joint statement shared by Dilley’s loved ones, they shared “Les’ 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. When he wasn’t on set, he enjoyed constructing things in his workshop at home, playing ice hockey, and a good cup of tea. In addition to his incredible work ethic, quirky British humour, and love of life, he was a dedicated and loving husband, father, grandfather and friend to many. He will be greatly missed."

Dilley was highly decorated, winning two Academy Awards for his work on A New Hope and Raiders of the Lost Ark. He received nominations for his work on Alien, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back and The Abyss. The Wales-born creative was also honored with a BAFTA Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Cinema in 2020.

Dilley was born on July 11, 1941. After the end of WWII, Dilley and his family relocated from the Rhondda Valley area of South Wales to London. Dilley began his film career at the mere age of 15, where he completed a plastering and construction apprenticeship with the Associated British Picture Corporation all while earning a degree in Architecture and Building Construction at Willesden Technical College. At just 23, Dilley got his first job as a plaster worker on From Russia with Love (1963) before he climbed his way through the industry.

Dilley leaves behind his wife, Leslie, as well as their four children Sophia Dilley, Leslie John Dilley II, Ivory Dilley, EmmaJane Dilley, and his daughter Georgia Dilley from his first marriage. He’s also survived by four grandchildren and many extended family members in England and Wales.