About John Decker
Lived 1895 – 1947 (aged 51–52). John Decker was a German and American caricaturist, painter, scenographer, art forger and artist.
John Decker (born Leopold von der Decken; November 8, 1895 – June 8, 1947) was a painter, set designer and caricaturist in Hollywood during the 1930s and 1940s.
Life and work Leopold von der Decken was born in Berlin, Germany. 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 1921, he changed his name to John Decker and emigrated to America,
Decker's grandfather Graf Georg von der Decken was a member of the German Reichstag. Like his grandson, George was an artist and created huge oil paintings of his castle, paintings for the neighbouring church, and carved wooden sculptures.
Gallery The Silver Screen, caricature studies of Hollywood actors and actresses of the 1920s and 1930s to a mural decoration 1941:
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in John Decker's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped John Decker's
Frequently asked questions
Who was John Decker?
German artist (1895-1947)
When was John Decker born?
John Decker was born in 1895 in Berlin.
When did John Decker die?
John Decker died in 1947 in Hollywood.
What was John Decker's occupation?
John Decker was a caricaturist, painter, scenographer, art forger and artist.
What nationality was John Decker?
John Decker was German and American.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: John Decker (artist)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Decker. https://biography.guide/john-decker/
MLA: "John Decker." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-decker/.
Chicago: "John Decker." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-decker/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:17 UTC