Leslie Dilley
Born: 1941-01-11 in Rhondda, Glamorgan, Wales, UK
Died: 2025-05-20
Known For: Art
Biography
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.
Filmography
2017
2006
- Little Man ... (Production Design)
2005
- Son of the Mask ... (Production Design)
2003
- Cold Creek Manor ... (Production Design)
2001
- Black Knight ... (Production Design)
2000
- Men of Honor ... (Production Design)
- Pay It Forward as The Governor
1999
- Inspector Gadget ... (Production Design)
- The Alien Legacy as Self
1998
- Deep Impact as Waiter
1997
- The Fifth Element ... (Thanks)
- The Peacemaker as New York Priest
1996
- Diabolique ... (Production Design)
1995
- Casper ... (Production Design)
- How to Make an American Quilt ... (Production Design)
1994
- Monkey Trouble ... (Production Design)
1992
- Honey, I Blew Up the Kid ... (Production Design)
- The Distinguished Gentleman ... (Production Design)
1991
- What About Bob? ... (Production Design)
- Guilty by Suspicion ... (Production Design)
1990
- The Exorcist III ... (Production Design)
1989
- The Abyss ... (Production Design)
1988
- Stars & Bars ... (Production Design)
1986
- Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold ... (Production Design)
- Invaders from Mars ... (Production Design)
1985
- Legend ... (Supervising Art Director)
1983
- Never Say Never Again ... (Supervising Art Director)
- Eureka ... (Supervising Art Director)
1981
- Raiders of the Lost Ark ... (Art Direction)
- An American Werewolf in London ... (Art Direction)
1980
- The Empire Strikes Back ... (Art Direction)
1979
- Alien ... (Art Direction)
1978
- Superman ... (Art Direction)
1977
- Star Wars ... (Art Direction)
1974
- The Four Musketeers ... (Art Direction)
1973
- Scorpio ... (Assistant Art Director)
- The Three Musketeers ... (Art Direction)
1971
- The Devils ... (Assistant Art Director)