Payne began work in the adult film industry in The Back Row in 1973 opposite actor Casey Donovan.
Payne later transitioned to straight roles in the adult industry; his work is considered part of the Golden Age of Porn.
[10][11] He starred opposite Casey Donovan, as a newcomer to New York from Montana exploring the gay sexual society of the locale.
[6] He starred in the 1976 film Kiss Today Goodbye directed by Francis Ellie alongside Peter Zass, as a blue-collar contractor who has a relationship with a staid man working in finance.
[17] Regarding his work on Centurians of Rome and during this period of his career, Metro Weekly called Payne a "70s gay porn icon".
[11][9][14] Barbara Nitke recalled Payne was known in the industry for his skill at improvisation during filming, "George was famous for his ad-libbing.
[11] Writing in The Advocate in 1988, journalist Susie Bright placed Payne's work among the "megastars of gay erotica", including Casey Donovan and Scott Taylor.
[3] In 2019, he made his mainstream acting debut in director Nicolas Winding Refn's television series Too Old to Die Young.