Biography

John S. Detlie was born on December 23, 1908 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA. He is known for Bitter Sweet (1940), Strike Up the Band (1940) and Lady Be Good (1941). He was married to Virginia Crowell Detlie and Veronica Lake. He died on November 30, 2005 in Westlake Village, California, USA.

Detlie was the first husband (14 years older) of film star Veronica Lake, by whom he had 2 children, Elaine Detlie (born 21 August 1941) and William Detlie (who lived from 8-15 July 1943, before dying in infancy).

He earned degrees in architecture from the University of Pennsylvania.

John Detlie went on to serve in the Army in World War II, including directing the camouflage of the Boeing plant in Seattle. He went on to a ca reer in architecture, designing a number of large churches and parts of downtown Honolulu. He is also an accomplished artist, in water colors, acrylics and oils. His brother, Stanley Detlie was a recognized set designer in the 1930s and 1940s. He is now living in California, with his wife of 48 years, Virginia.