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Leslie Dilley

Known For
Art

Known Credits
8

Gender
Male

Birthday
January 11, 1941 (85 years old)

Place of Birth
Rhondda, Glamorgan, Wales, UK

Leslie Dilley

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.

Known For

Art

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
1995How to Make an American Quilt...Production Design
1995Casper...Production Design
1994Monkey Trouble...Production Design
1992The Distinguished Gentleman...Production Design
1992Honey, I Blew Up the Kid...Production Design
1991What About Bob?...Production Design
1991Guilty by Suspicion...Production Design
1990The Exorcist III...Production Design
1989The Abyss...Production Design
1988Stars & Bars...Production Design
1986Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold...Production Design
1986Invaders from Mars...Production Design
1985Legend...Supervising Art Director
1983Never Say Never Again...Supervising Art Director
1983Eureka...Supervising Art Director
1981An American Werewolf in London...Art Direction
1981Raiders of the Lost Ark...Art Direction
1980The Empire Strikes Back...Art Direction
1979Alien...Art Direction
1978Superman...Art Direction
1977Star Wars...Art Direction
1974The Four Musketeers...Art Direction
1973The Three Musketeers...Art Direction
1973Scorpio...Assistant Art Director
1971The Devils...Assistant Art Director
New-Gen...Production Design

Crew

1997The Fifth Element...Thanks

Directing

1995How to Make an American Quilt...Second Unit Director
1992Honey, I Blew Up the Kid...Second Unit Director

Acting

2017The Galaxy Britain Built: The British Force Behind Star Warsas Himself
2016Death, Be Not Proud: The Making of "The Exorcist III"as Self
2009Beware the Moon: Remembering 'An American Werewolf in London'as Self
2003Cold Creek Manoras Antique Dealer
2000Pay It Forwardas The Governor
1999The Alien Legacyas Self
1998Deep Impactas Waiter
1997The Peacemakeras New York Priest