John DeCuir was a Hollywood art director and production designer known for his elaborate set designs that were illustrated with his own watercolor paintings. He studied at the Chouinard Art School, joined Universal in the late 1930s, and by the mid-1940s was designing sets. In 1949, he signed with 20th Century Fox where he worked on productions noted for their elaborate sets. At home with dramatic material, musicals, and comedy DeCuir earned eleven Oscar nominations, winning three: The King and I, Cleopatra, and Hello, Dolly!. His son, John DeCuir, Jr. is also a production designer. 

June 4th, 1918 in San Francisco  /  Died:   Oct 29th, 1991 - aged 73