John DeCuir

After studying at the Chouinard Art School, John De Cuir joined Universal in the late 1930s and by the middle of the 40s, he 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 (e.g., "The House on Telegraph Hill" 1951) and musicals ("There's No Business Like Show Business" 1954), De Cuir earned a total of 11 Oscar nominations, winning three: for his Siamese palace in "The King and I" (1956); the sumptuous Egypt of "Cleopatra" (1963); and a recreation of turn-of-the-century Yonkers, NY, in "Hello, Dolly!" (1969). His son, John De Cuir Jr is also a production designer.