John Leyton
Actor

John Leyton Net Worth

John Leyton was born in 1936 to parents of show business background, but they discouraged him from pursuing a career in acting. After completing his National Service, he studied drama and began singing in night clubs. His big break came when he was cast in the Granada TV series Biggles, and he achieved huge success with his song Johnny Remember Me, which reached number one in the British Hit parade. He went on to appear in two Hollywood movies, The Great Escape and Von Ryan's Express, but eventually drifted back to television work and obscurity.
John Leyton is a member of Actor

Age, Biography and Wiki

Who is it? Actor, Soundtrack, Miscellaneous Crew
Birth Day February 17, 1936
Birth Place  Frinton-On-Sea, Essex, England, United Kingdom
Age 88 YEARS OLD
Birth Sign Pisces
Years active c. 1959—present
Known for Pvt. Wilkes in Guns at Batasi Flight Lt. William Dickes "The Tunneler" in "The Great Escape"
Relatives Hedley Leyton (brother)
Website http://www.johnleyton.com/

💰 Net worth

John Leyton, a multi-talented individual from the United Kingdom, has made a name for himself as an actor, soundtrack artist, and member of the miscellaneous crew. In 2024, his net worth is estimated to range between $100K and $1M. Throughout his career, Leyton has showcased his versatility and passion for the entertainment industry, earning recognition and financial success. With his talent and dedication, it comes as no surprise that his net worth is expected to grow in the coming years. Whether on screen or behind the scenes, John Leyton continues to captivate audiences and contribute to the vibrant world of British entertainment.

Biography/Timeline

1936

John Dudley Leyton (born 17 February 1936 in Frinton-on-Sea, Essex) is an English actor and singer. As a singer he is best known for his hit song "Johnny Remember Me" (written by Geoff Goddard and produced by Joe Meek), which reached Number 1 in the UK Singles Chart in August 1961 despite being banned by the BBC for its death references. His follow-up single, "Wild Wind", reached Number 2 in the charts.

1960

Leyton was a familiar face in film and television during the 1960s. He played himself in the 1962 Dick Lester film It's Trad, Dad!, performing his latest single "Lonely City" in a radio studio. In The Great Escape (1963) he played tunnel designer Willie Dickes, one of the only three characters who successfully make it to freedom. Leyton also cut a single with lyrics to Elmer Bernstein's theme to the film. He also appeared in Guns at Batasi in 1964; Every Day's a Holiday (aka Seaside Swingers in the United States) and Von Ryan's Express starring Frank Sinatra and Trevor Howard in 1965. In Krakatoa, East of Java, in 1969 he played the designer of a diving bell.

1961

Following the success of Biggles, Leyton was persuaded by his manager, Robert Stigwood, to audition as a singer for record Producer Joe Meek, and subsequently recorded a cover version of "Tell Laura I Love Her", which was released on the Top Rank label. In 1961 though, the Top Rank label was taken over by EMI who then issued Leyton's records on their HMV label. EMI had already released Ricky Valance's version of the same song. Leyton's recording was withdrawn from sale, whilst Valance's version reached Number 1 in the UK chart.

1962

A second single - "The Girl on the Floor Above" - was released on the HMV label, but was not a success. His first big hit, "Johnny Remember Me", coincided with his appearance as an actor in the popular ATV television series Harpers West One, in which he played a singer named Johnny Saint Cyr. Leyton performed "Johnny Remember Me" during the show (backed by the Outlaws), and the single subsequently charted at Number 1. His next single, "Wild Wind", reached number 2 in the UK Singles Chart, and later singles also achieved lower chart positions. On 15 April 1962, Leyton performed at the NME Poll-Winners Concert at London's Wembley Pool. But in 1963, Meek and Goddard's association with Leyton ended; that circumstance, combined with the British beat boom, cast Leyton adrift immediately, although he found a lot of acting work in television and film to keep him busy. Despite trying to give Leyton's music more of a 'group' sound by giving him a backing group, 'The LeRoys', his chart career faded out by the beginning of 1964.

1966

From 1966 to 1967, Leyton played the lead role as SOE Royal Navy Lieutenant Nicholas Gage, an expert in demolitions, in Jericho, an American TV series about espionage in the Second World War.

1970

He returned to Britain in the early 1970s and unsuccessfully attempted to re-launch his singing career, signing to the York record label in 1973. A single, "Dancing in the Graveyard c/w. Riversong (York SYK 551) & an L.P., "John Leyton" (York FYK 416) was released that year. A year later (1974) Leyton's cover version of the Kevin Johnson hit, "Rock 'n' Roll (I Gave You the Best Years of My Life c/w. Highway Song. York YR 210.)" was issued in the UK but without success. In the mid 1970s, Leyton starred in the ITV television series, The Nearly Man. Acting roles became fewer and farther between during the 1970s, and by the early 1980s, he was no longer active in show Business.

1990

In the 1990s, however, he began performing in the 'Solid Gold Rock 'n' Roll Show', appearing with artists such as Marty Wilde and Joe Brown. The autumn 2004 tour featured Leyton, Showaddywaddy, Freddy Cannon and Craig Douglas. Leyton has also returned to acting, with a cameo appearance in the 2005 film, Colour Me Kubrick starring John Malkovich.

2006

In May 2006, Leyton released "Hi Ho, Come On England", a re-working of Jeff Beck's "Hi Ho Silver Lining", to coincide with the World Cup in Germany. During the summer of 2007 he filmed a cameo appearance for the Nick Moran film, Telstar. Leyton also topped the bill at the Theatre Royal, Windsor, along with 1960s stars Jess Conrad and Craig Douglas at a concert named "'60s Icons".

2014

Leyton continues to tour the UK and Scandinavia performing his hits (sometimes backed by the Rapiers) and can boast an internet following with his official website. In 2014 John continues to tour with his band the Flames, featuring John James on guitar, Ray Royal on drums and Dale Corcoran on bass guitar.

Some John Leyton images

About the author

Lisa Scholfield

As a Senior Writer at Famous Net Worth, I spearhead an exceptional team dedicated to uncovering and sharing the stories of pioneering individuals. My passion for unearthing untold narratives drives me to delve deep into the essence of each subject, bringing forth a unique blend of factual accuracy and narrative allure. In orchestrating the editorial workflow, I am deeply involved in every step—from initial research to the final touches of publishing, ensuring each biography not only informs but also engages and inspires our readership.