1. John Dudley Leyton was born on 17 February 1936 and is an English retired actor and singer.
16 Facts About John Leyton
1. 2.
John Leyton's films included The Great Escape, Guns at Batasi, Von Ryan's Express and Krakatoa, East of Java.
3.
In 2009, he had a small role in the film Telstar, a biopic based on Joe Meek's life in which John Leyton himself was portrayed by Callum Dixon.
4.
John Leyton went to Highgate School and after completing his national service with the Royal Army Service Corps, he studied drama, paying his way through drama school with bit-part roles in films and on television.
5.
John Leyton's recording was withdrawn from sale, whilst Valance's version reached number one in the UK chart.
6.
On 15 April 1962, John Leyton performed at the NME Poll-Winners Concert at London's Wembley Pool.
7.
In that same year, according to the music journalist Bob Stanley, 'John Leyton headlined a tour with up and coming support act the Rolling Stones.
8.
John Leyton was a familiar face in film and television during the 1960s.
9.
John Leyton cut a single with lyrics to Elmer Bernstein's theme to the film.
10.
John Leyton appeared in Guns at Batasi in 1964, Every Day's a Holiday and Von Ryan's Express starring Frank Sinatra and Trevor Howard in 1965.
11.
From 1966 to 1967, John Leyton played the lead role as Special Operations Executive Royal Navy Lieutenant Nicholas Gage, an expert in demolitions, in Jericho, an American TV series about espionage in the Second World War.
12.
John Leyton returned to Britain in the early 1970s and tried to re-launch his singing career, signing to the York record label in 1973.
13.
In May 2006, John 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.
14.
John Leyton topped the bill at the Theatre Royal, Windsor, along with 1960s stars Jess Conrad and Craig Douglas, at a concert named '60s Icons'.
15.
John Leyton continues to tour the UK and Scandinavia performing his hits and can boast an internet following with his official website.
16.
John Leyton married Diana in 1967 and they had a son, Dominic and daughter, Lara.