George Layton (born George Michael William Rafael Löwy; 2 March 1942) is a British actor, director, and television comedy writer best known for three television roles – junior doctor Paul Collier in the comedy series Doctor in the House and its sequels Doctor at Large, Doctor in Charge and Doctor at the Top, Bombardier 'Solly' Solomons in the first two series of It Ain't Half Hot Mum, and Des the mechanic in early episodes of Minder. His TV writing credits include episodes of several of the "Doctor" series as well as episodes of Robin's Nest, and Executive Stress.
Early life
Layton was born George Michael William Rafael Löwy in Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire, England to Fritz and Edith Löwy (née Hecht), the second of three children (an older brother, Peter and a younger sister, Viv). Both of Layton's parents were Austrian Jews who fled their native Vienna to England just before the outbreak of the Second World War. His grandfather, Victor Hecht fled to England with his wife and sent the letter to George's parents that led them to moving to the UK. They lived in a house in Manningham, Bradford, where they shared a house with another family of refugees Layton's father had met (in total four adults and six children). He graduated in 1962. Layton auditioned for the role of Terry Collier for the show The Likely Lads, however the producers deemed that he was not a big enough of a household name yet, giving the role to James Bolam. Bombardier Solomons was written out of the show, and in the first episode of the third series, it is written that he was demobbed. Layton still remained friends with Perry and Croft. and later took over the role of Fagin from Roy Hudd in 1979 in the first London revival of Oliver! at the Albery Theatre. He also appeared in two episodes of The Sweeney. and made a few early appearances as himself on the light entertainment BBC1 consumer show That's Life!.
In the 1980s,he played the recurring character 'Des' in the hit comedy-drama Minder. In a 2021 interview with Paul Stenning, Layton described how he left Minder temporarily as he had committed to a pantomime and now bitterly regrets he lost his role in the show. From 1999 to 2000, he appeared in all fourteen episodes of the show Sunburn, starring Michelle Collins. In 2011, he played a love interest to Pat Butcher on EastEnders.
Personal life
Layton lives in North London with his second wife, Moya Smylie, who he met in 1974 and married three years later.