About

Known credits:
46
Birthday:
1941-01-11
Place of birth:
Rhondda, Glamorgan, Wales, UK
Website:
Click here

Leslie Dilley

Overview

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

Acting
2017 The Galaxy Britain Built: The British Force Behind Star Wars Actor Himself 59
Average
2016 Death, Be Not Proud: The Making of "The Exorcist III" Actor Self 58
Average
2009 Beware the Moon: Remembering 'An American Werewolf in London' Actor Self 59
Average
2000 Pay It Forward Actor The Governor 70
Good
1999 The Alien Legacy Actor Self 59
Average
1998 Deep Impact Actor Waiter 61
Fair
1997 The Peacemaker Actor New York Priest 59
Average

Directing
1995 How to Make an American Quilt Directing Second Unit Director 60
Fair
1992 Honey, I Blew Up the Kid Directing Second Unit Director 54
Average

Art
2006 Little Man Art Production Design 58
Average
2005 Son of the Mask Art Production Design 45
Bad
2003 Cold Creek Manor Art Production Design 56
Average
2001 Black Knight Art Production Design 55
Average
2000 Pay It Forward Art Production Design 70
Good
2000 Men of Honor Art Production Design 72
Good
1999 Inspector Gadget Art Production Design 48
Bad
1998 Deep Impact Art Production Design 61
Fair
1997 The Peacemaker Art Production Design 59
Average
1996 Diabolique Art Production Design 57
Average
1995 How to Make an American Quilt Art Production Design 60
Fair
1995 Casper Art Production Design 62
Fair
1994 Honey, I Shrunk the Audience Art Production Design 58
Average
1994 Monkey Trouble Art Production Design 58
Average
1992 The Distinguished Gentleman Art Production Design 59
Average
1992 Honey, I Blew Up the Kid Art Production Design 54
Average
1991 What About Bob? Art Production Design 65
Fair
1991 Guilty by Suspicion Art Production Design 60
Fair
1990 The Exorcist III Art Production Design 61
Fair
1989 The Abyss Art Production Design 71
Good
1988 Stars & Bars Art Production Design 58
Average
1986 Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold Art Production Design 54
Average
1986 Invaders from Mars Art Production Design 57
Average
1985 Legend Art Supervising Art Director 61
Fair
1983 Never Say Never Again Art Supervising Art Director 60
Fair
1983 Eureka Art Supervising Art Director 57
Average
1981 An American Werewolf in London Art Art Direction 71
Good
1981 Raiders of the Lost Ark Art Art Direction 78
Good
1980 The Empire Strikes Back Art Art Direction 83
Very good
1979 Alien Art Art Direction 80
Very good
1978 Superman Art Art Direction 70
Good
1977 Star Wars Art Art Direction 81
Very good
1974 The Four Musketeers Art Art Direction 60
Fair
1973 The Three Musketeers Art Art Direction 62
Fair
1973 Scorpio Art Assistant Art Director 59
Average
1971 The Devils Art Assistant Art Director 65
Fair

Crew
1997 The Fifth Element Crew Thanks 74
Good