Leif Garrett

Leif Garrett, born Leif Per Nervik on November 8, 1961, in Hollywood, California, is an American actor, singer, and television personality who gained prominence as a teen idol in the 1970s. Born to Rik Nervik and actress Carolyn Stellar, Garrett began his entertainment career at the age of five. He was raised largely without his father present and graduated from high school at age 15.

Garrett began acting alongside his sister, Dawn Lyn, appearing in the horror film Devil Times Five and guest-starring on television shows such as Gunsmoke and Wonder Woman. His early notable screen roles included Jimmy Henderson in Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969), Mike Pusser in the Walking Tall film series, and Zack Russell on the ABC drama Family. He also portrayed Leonard Unger on The Odd Couple and Endy Karras on Three for the Road. His work in films and television, including Spaghetti Westerns such as Kid Vengeance and God's Gun, established him as a popular figure in teen magazines like Tiger Beat.

In late 1976, Garrett launched his music career by signing with Atlantic Records, releasing his self-titled debut album in 1977. The record featured covers of late 1950s and early 1960s hits, including "Runaround Sue" and "The Wanderer." After signing with Scotti Brothers Records in 1978, he released the album Feel the Need, which generated his largest commercial hit, "I Was Made for Dancin'." He subsequently released the albums Same Goes for You, Can't Explain, and My Movie of You before scaling back his recording activities in the early 1980s to concentrate on acting.

Garrett played Bob Sheldon in Francis Ford Coppola's 1983 film adaptation of The Outsiders. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, his acting roles included feature films such as Thunder Alley, Shaker Run, Delta Fever, Cheerleader Camp, Party Line, and Dominion. He also returned to music and television, forming the band Godspeed, hosting VH-1's 8-Track Flashback, voicing himself in Family Guy, and performing in theatrical productions like Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

In the 2000s and 2010s, Garrett appeared in films including Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star and Popstar, and participated in reality television series such as Fear Factor, World's Dumbest..., and Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. He continued to perform music, releasing the album Three Sides of... with his band F8, touring internationally, and collaborating with songwriter Craig Else. In 2019, Garrett published an autobiography titled Idol Truth.

Garrett's personal life has included public relationships, financial struggles, and legal issues involving drug use. He dated celebrities including Nicollette Sheridan, Kristy McNichol, Tatum O'Neal, Justine Bateman, and Elaine Bilstad. Following a 1979 motor vehicle accident that left his passenger paralyzed, Garrett faced drunk-driving charges and lengthy civil litigation. In 2001, he filed for federal bankruptcy protection, and over subsequent years he experienced multiple arrests and court-ordered rehabilitation programs related to narcotics possession.