John Decker

John Decker (b. Leopold von der Decken, 1895 in Germany – June 8, 1947 in Hollywood) was a notable painter, set designer and caricaturist in Hollywood during the 1930s and 1940's.

As a teenager, he lived in London, painting scenery in theatres; this was interrupted by the advent of the First World War, when he was arrested as an enemy alien and interned on the Isle of Man. In 1922, he emigrated to America, where he worked as a cartoonist for the New York Evening World until 1928, when he moved to Hollywood and took up fine art. Many film stars, including Errol Flynn, Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo, and the Marx Brothers, commissioned Decker to paint their portraits, and many of his works were used in films: the paintings of the frustrated artist protagonist in Fritz Lang's 1945 film "Scarlet Street" were actually by Decker. He died on June 8, 1947. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=John Decker Dies. Coast Artist, 52. Painted Portraits of Screen Stars in Styles of Masters. Won J. B. Payne Medal |url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0A16FB3B5A147B93CBA9178DD85F438485F9 |quote=Decker, Hollywood artist, bon vivant and close friend of the late John Barrymore, died tonight after undergoing- ... |publisher=New York Times |date=June 9, 1947 |accessdate=2007-08-21 ]

References

External links

* [http://www.calart.com/Data/Artists/John_Decker.asp Capsule biography of Decker]

Further reading

* Jordan, C. Stephen, "Bohemian Rogue: The Life of Hollywood Artist John Decker" (ISBN 0-8108-5159-8) Scarecrow Press, 2005
* Mank, Gregory William with Charles Heard and Bill Nelson "Hollywood’s Hellfire Club: The Misadventures of John Barrymore, W.C. Fields, Errol Flynn and 'The Bundy Drive Boys' ” (ISBN 978-1-932595-24-6) Feral Press, 2008