John Leyton was born on February 17th, 1936, in Frinton-On-Sea, Essex, England, to parents with a background in the show business. His father owned several cinemas, and his mother, known as 'Babs Walters,' was an actress on the London stage. From a young age, John exhibited a passion for acting, but his parents attempted to dissuade him, preferring that he join the family rope business, as they believed the entertainment industry was too challenging to break into.
Undeterred, John pursued his dream and worked with his parents for a time before being drafted into the Royal Army Service Corps to complete his National Service. Upon his return, he enrolled in the Actor's Workshop to hone his craft. To supplement his income, John turned to his love of singing, imitating famous crooners like Frankie Laine and Johnnie Ray in local nightclubs.
After completing his drama training, John joined the York Repertory Theatre as a juvenile lead and was subsequently signed by manager Robert Stigwood for television work in London. His breakthrough role came in the Granada TV series Biggles (1960),which garnered him a significant following.
However, it was his portrayal of singer Johnny St. Cyr in the ATV series Harpers West One (1961) that catapulted him to fame. The show's theme song, "Johnny Remember Me," became a massive hit, topping the British Hit Parade for seven weeks and launching John's pop singing career. His follow-up single, "Wild Wind," reached number two on the charts, and he released several more singles, although none achieved the same level of success.
As his pop career continued to thrive, John's acting opportunities became limited, and he eventually found himself back in Hollywood, starring in major films such as The Great Escape (1963) and Von Ryan's Express (1965). Although he continued to appear in films and television shows, his fame began to wane, and he eventually faded into obscurity, returning to television work and eventually disappearing from the public eye.
