John Leyton

Acting

John Leyton

Born February 17, 1939 · Frinton-on-Sea, Essex, England, UK (age 87)

John Dudley Leyton (born 17 February 1936) is an English actor and singer. Leyton as a singer is best known for his hit song "Johnny Remember Me" (written by Geoff Goddard and produced by Joe Meek), which reached number one 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 two in the charts. Alongsid…

Known For

The Great EscapeThe Great Escape · 1963
The Great Escape
7.91963
MovieAdventureDrama
The Nazis, exasperated at the number of escapes from their prison camps by a relatively small number of Allied prisoners, relocate them to a high-security 'escape-proof' camp to sit out the remainder of the war. Undaunted, the prisoners plan one of the most ambitious escape attempts of World War II. Based on a true story.
Von Ryan's ExpressVon Ryan's Express · 1965
Von Ryan's Express
7.11965
MovieWarAction
Von Ryan's Express stars Frank Sinatra as a POW colonel who leads a daring escape from WWII Italy by taking over a freight train, but he has to win over the British soldiers he finds himself commanding.
I'm All Right JackI'm All Right Jack · 1959
I'm All Right Jack
6.61959
MovieComedy
Naive Stanley Windrush looks for a career in a family business. Much to his dismay, he finds work at a munitions factory where he has to start from the bottom, while both the management and the labor union use him as a tool in their fight for power.
Colour Me KubrickColour Me Kubrick · 2005
Colour Me Kubrick
5.72005
MovieComedyDrama
The true story of a man who posed as director Stanley Kubrick during the production of Kubrick's last film, Eyes Wide Shut, despite knowing very little about his work and looking nothing like him.
Guns at BatasiGuns at Batasi · 1964
Guns at Batasi
7.11964
MovieDramaWar
An anachronistic martinet RSM on a remote Colonial African army caught in a local coup d'etat must use his experience to defend those in his care.
Krakatoa, East of JavaKrakatoa, East of Java · 1969
Krakatoa, East of Java
5.81969
MovieActionAdventure
A team of maritime salvage workers are about to embark on a recovery dive. However the 1883 Krakatoa Volcano eruption provides more pressing problems.
The Captain's TableThe Captain's Table · 1959
The Captain's Table
6.01959
MovieComedy
A captain is promoted by his company from tramp steamers to their flagship passenger liner. Although he is a thoroughly competent sailor ready to take charge of such a ship, he is less prepared for the social duties his new position involves, not least the way he in which becomes the target for all the unattached women on board.
Telstar: The Joe Meek StoryTelstar: The Joe Meek Story · 2008
Telstar: The Joe Meek Story
5.52008
MovieDramaMusic
Set against a backdrop of early '60s London, Telstar is the story of the world's first independent record producer, Joe Meek. A maverick genius who enjoyed phenomenal success with Telstar – the biggest selling record of it's time – before bad luck, depression, heartbreak and paranoia led to his downfall.

Movies

The Great EscapeThe Great Escape · 1963
The Great Escape
7.91963
MovieAdventureDrama
The Nazis, exasperated at the number of escapes from their prison camps by a relatively small number of Allied prisoners, relocate them to a high-security 'escape-proof' camp to sit out the remainder of the war. Undaunted, the prisoners plan one of the most ambitious escape attempts of World War II. Based on a true story.
Von Ryan's ExpressVon Ryan's Express · 1965
Von Ryan's Express
7.11965
MovieWarAction
Von Ryan's Express stars Frank Sinatra as a POW colonel who leads a daring escape from WWII Italy by taking over a freight train, but he has to win over the British soldiers he finds himself commanding.
I'm All Right JackI'm All Right Jack · 1959
I'm All Right Jack
6.61959
MovieComedy
Naive Stanley Windrush looks for a career in a family business. Much to his dismay, he finds work at a munitions factory where he has to start from the bottom, while both the management and the labor union use him as a tool in their fight for power.
Colour Me KubrickColour Me Kubrick · 2005
Colour Me Kubrick
5.72005
MovieComedyDrama
The true story of a man who posed as director Stanley Kubrick during the production of Kubrick's last film, Eyes Wide Shut, despite knowing very little about his work and looking nothing like him.
Guns at BatasiGuns at Batasi · 1964
Guns at Batasi
7.11964
MovieDramaWar
An anachronistic martinet RSM on a remote Colonial African army caught in a local coup d'etat must use his experience to defend those in his care.
Krakatoa, East of JavaKrakatoa, East of Java · 1969
Krakatoa, East of Java
5.81969
MovieActionAdventure
A team of maritime salvage workers are about to embark on a recovery dive. However the 1883 Krakatoa Volcano eruption provides more pressing problems.
The Captain's TableThe Captain's Table · 1959
The Captain's Table
6.01959
MovieComedy
A captain is promoted by his company from tramp steamers to their flagship passenger liner. Although he is a thoroughly competent sailor ready to take charge of such a ship, he is less prepared for the social duties his new position involves, not least the way he in which becomes the target for all the unattached women on board.
Telstar: The Joe Meek StoryTelstar: The Joe Meek Story · 2008
Telstar: The Joe Meek Story
5.52008
MovieDramaMusic
Set against a backdrop of early '60s London, Telstar is the story of the world's first independent record producer, Joe Meek. A maverick genius who enjoyed phenomenal success with Telstar – the biggest selling record of it's time – before bad luck, depression, heartbreak and paranoia led to his downfall.
Danger WithinDanger Within · 1959
Danger Within
6.31959
MovieWar
Drama set in an Italian prisoner of war camp during World War 2, where a group of British soldiers find their plans for escape thwarted by a mysterious traitor in their midst.
The Unexpected Return of Mr. MeekThe Unexpected Return of Mr. Meek
The Unexpected Return of Mr. Meek
MovieDocumentary
A feature-length music documentary that explores the groundbreaking career and queerness of Joe Meek, a pioneering 1960s British record producer. Celebrated for shaping modern music with innovative techniques and collaborations with icons like David Bowie, Meek's story is also marked by his struggle as a gay man in an era when homosexuality was illegal in the UK. The film uses AI to bring Meek’s voice back to narrate his own story, shedding light on his mental health battles and the dark, hostile environment he faced. Contemporary artists reimagine his unreleased tracks, connecting past and present while revealing new perspectives on his tragic life and legacy as a queer icon.
SchizoSchizo · 1976
Schizo
5.61976
MovieDramaHorror
A recently-married woman who has been labeled as mentally unstable, begins to suspect that someone close to her is the culprit in a sudden string of murders.
Dangerous Davies: The Last DetectiveDangerous Davies: The Last Detective · 1981
Dangerous Davies: The Last Detective
6.21981
MovieCrimeComedy
When D. C. Dangerous Davies, not held in high regard by his superiors, is assigned to find a notorious criminal kingpin, he uncovers the details of 15-year-old cold case.
Every Day's a HolidayEvery Day's a Holiday · 1965
Every Day's a Holiday
7.01965
MovieComedyMusic
A group of teenagers take jobs at a holiday camp for the summer and enter a TV talent show
The IdolThe Idol · 1966
The Idol
4.91966
MovieDrama
A rebellious student embarks on an affair with the mother of his best friend, leading to disastrous consequences.
It's Trad, Dad!It's Trad, Dad! · 1962
It's Trad, Dad!
5.71962
MovieComedyMusic
The hero and heroine want to popularize trad jazz in their town. Some older people feel displeased about trad jazz, and prevent their trying. The hero and heroine go to a London television studio to ask trad jazz musicians to perform in concert.
A Life in the Death of Joe MeekA Life in the Death of Joe Meek · 2013
A Life in the Death of Joe Meek
9.02013
MovieDocumentary
This documentary chronicles the rise, fall and resurrection of Joe Meek. It shows, due in equal measures to his pioneering DIY recording techniques, hit-making philosophy and a life full of social, psychological and sexual obstacles.
Baby TalkBaby Talk · 1981
Baby Talk
7.01981
MovieDramaTV Movie
It's such a simple, natural thing to have a baby, thinks Mary. But she and husband Paul are preoccupied with their careers. Can their young neighbour Tessa help, or are the emotions around a new baby more complex than anyone had expected?
The Very Strange Story of the Legendary Joe MeekThe Very Strange Story of the Legendary Joe Meek · 1991
The Very Strange Story of the Legendary Joe Meek
8.01991
MovieMusicDocumentary
Documentary about the influential pop composer and record producer Joe Meek, who died in dramatic circumstances in 1967 after a bizarre childhood and a career, often controversial, which spanned the period from the mid-50s to the rise of the Beatles in the 60s. At the end of his life he was suffering from paranoid delusions that people were watching him through walls. Alan Lewens' film charts an Ortonesque tale of post-war Britain.

TV Shows

Ready Steady Go!Ready Steady Go! · 1963
Ready Steady Go!
7.01963
Series
Ready Steady Go! is one of the UK's first rock/pop music television programmes and was a forerunner of MTV-type programming. It was conceived by Elkan Allan, head of Rediffusion TV. Allan was assisted by record producer/talent manager Vicki Wickham, who became the show's producer, and Michael Lindsay-Hogg who was appointed the show's director in 1965. It was broadcast from August 1963 until December 1966. It was produced by Associated-Rediffusion the weekday ITV contractor for London, called Rediffusion-London post 1964. The live show was eventually networked nationally. The show gained its highest ratings on 20 March 1964 when it featured the Beatles being interviewed and performing their songs "It Won't Be Long", "You Can't Do That" and "Can't Buy Me Love" - the last of which was a hit at the time. RSG! USA! was a Dick Clark production in 1964. A trademark infringement ended the show after six episodes. Its last episode was broadcast on 23 December 1966.
JerichoJericho · 1966
Jericho
7.31966
SeriesDrama
Jericho is an American espionage series set during World War II. The series stars John Leyton, Don Francks and Marino Masé as secret agents, and aired on CBS from September 1966, to January 1967.
Jukebox HeroesJukebox Heroes · 2001
Jukebox Heroes
2001
SeriesDocumentary
Series on the unsung heroes of British pop.
The Nearly ManThe Nearly Man · 1974
The Nearly Man
10.01974
Series
The Nearly Man was a UK TV series from the mid-1970s created by Arthur Hopcraft about a middle-class Labour MP. Originally screened on ITV on 4 August 1974, the series won the Broadcasting Press Guild award for the best single play on British television in 1974. The series was filmed in London by Granada Television, in black and white. Some episodes were directed by British director John Irvin. The main cast included Tony Britton as the lead character, Anne Firbank, John Leyton, and Ian McCulloch.
BigglesBiggles · 1960
Biggles
7.51960
Series
Biggles was a Detective Air Inspector attached to Scotland Yard. Helping him was Ginger & Bertie and they fought against villains like von Stalhein. Aimed at a younger audience there was plenty of action, excitement, death traps and even some flying with each adventure ending in a cliff hanger with the viewers told to tune in next week for more daring adventures.