Editing Leif Garrett (section)

==Career==
{{BLP sources section|date=May 2023}}

===Acting career===
Garrett and his sister [[Dawn Lyn]] worked a variety of acting jobs. They co-starred in the horror movie ''[[Devil Times Five]]'' as juvenile mental patients who go on a murder spree at an isolated ski resort. Dawn and Leif also guest-starred in an episode of ''[[Gunsmoke]]'' as well as ''[[Wonder Woman (TV series)|Wonder Woman]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/archive/an-old-pro-at-17-leif-garrett-has-a-toehold-on-teenage-passions-vol-10-no-20/|title=An Old Pro at 17, Leif Garrett Has a Toehold on Teenage Passions|website=People}}</ref>

Garrett's more notable performances include the breakthrough role of Jimmy Henderson in ''[[Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice]]'' (1969); the protagonist's son Mike Pusser from the ''[[Walking Tall (1973 film)|Walking Tall]]'' movies (1973, 1975, 1977) and the recurring role of Zack Russell on the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] TV series ''[[Family (1976 TV series)|Family]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/archive/cover-story-tatum-kristy-come-of-age-vol-13-no-13/|title=Tatum & Kristy Come of Age|website=People}}</ref> He also played the role of Leonard Unger, the son of Felix Unger ([[Tony Randall]]), on the ABC series ''[[The Odd Couple (1970 TV series)|The Odd Couple]]'', a part that had been previously played by [[Willie Aames]].

In late 1975, Garrett appeared in the role of Endy Karras in a 12-week [[CBS]] drama series ''[[Three for the Road (TV series)|Three for the Road]]'', with [[Alex Rocco]] as his father, Peter Karras, and [[Vincent Van Patten]] as his older brother, John Karras.<ref>{{IMDb title|id=0072576 |title=Three for the Road}}</ref> Garrett's appearance in the program triggered a response from teenage girls and led to his first appearances in teenage magazines, such as ''[[Tiger Beat]]''. Garrett also played alongside [[Lee Van Cleef]] in two [[Spaghetti Western]]s shot mainly in Israel: ''{{Interlanguage link|Kid Vengeance|it|3=L'uomo di Santa Cruz|lt=Kid Vengeance}}'' and ''[[God's Gun]]''. He played the title role in the television film ''[[Peter Lundy and the Medicine Hat Stallion]]'' and also starred in the film ''[[Skateboard (film)|Skateboard]]''.<ref name=NYT>{{cite news|title=Skateboard (1977) Cast, Credits & Awards|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/44970/Skateboard/details|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150523120350/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/44970/Skateboard/details|url-status=dead|department=Movies & TV Dept.|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=2015|archive-date=May 23, 2015}}</ref>

In the early 1980s, Garrett returned to acting, appearing in a small role as Bob Sheldon in the 1983 [[Francis Ford Coppola]] film ''[[The Outsiders (film)|The Outsiders]]''. In 1985, he starred in ''[[Thunder Alley (1985 film)|Thunder Alley]]'' as the lead singer of a pop band that is torn apart by drugs, and in ''[[Shaker Run]]'' as a mechanic. Other notable Garrett movies from the decade include ''Delta Fever'' and the [[horror film]] ''[[Cheerleader Camp]]''. He played a deranged murderer who was in love with his sister in ''[[Party Line (film)|Party Line]]''.

===Music career===
[[File:Leif Garrett 1978.jpg|thumb|Garrett in 1978]]

In late 1976, Garrett signed a five-album recording contract with [[Atlantic Records]]. In early 1977, he released a single called "[[Come Back When You Grow Up]]", and recorded his first album, ''[[Leif Garrett (album)|Leif Garrett]]''. The album was released in July 1977, and his first four singles charted modestly on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]. All of these hits were covers of late 1950s and early 1960s hits such as the [[Dion DiMucci|Dion]] covers "[[Runaround Sue]]" and "[[The Wanderer (Dion song)|The Wanderer]]". In mid-1978, he signed with [[Scotti Brothers Records]] and recorded his second album, ''[[Feel the Need (Leif Garrett album)|Feel the Need]]''. Its first single, "[[I Was Made for Dancin']]", reached number 10 on the US Hot 100 and number 4 on the [[UK Singles Chart]] early in 1979. It became his greatest hit in the US and the UK.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.top40db.net/lyrics/?SongID=79104&By=Artist&Match=Leif+Garrett | title= I Was Made For Dancin' | publisher= Top40DB.net }}</ref>

Subsequent singles failed to crack the Top 20 in either country, but he continued to record, releasing the albums ''Same Goes for You'' (1979), ''Can't Explain'' (1980) and ''My Movie of You'' (1981) in quick succession. In May 1979, he hosted a TV special, ''Leif'', with guest stars [[Brooke Shields]], [[Marie Osmond]], [[Bob Hope]] and [[Flip Wilson]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://people.com/archive/picks-and-pans-review-the-leif-garrett-special-vol-11-no-20/ |title=Picks and Pans Review: The Leif Garrett Special |website=People}}</ref>

In 1981, Garrett recorded "I Am a Rebel", words and music expressly composed for him by Victorio Pezzolla and produced by [[Richard Finch (musician)|Richard Finch]] of [[KC and the Sunshine Band]], which became the theme song for an Italian TV program entitled ''Il Barattolo''. He mostly stopped recording music in the early 1980s and concentrated on acting for the rest of the decade.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1429351/leif-garrett-arrested-on-the-comeback-trail/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423014255/http://www.mtv.com/news/1429351/leif-garrett-arrested-on-the-comeback-trail/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 23, 2016 |title=Leif Garrett Arrested on the Comeback Trail |publisher=MTV |date=December 7, 1999 |access-date=July 7, 2016}}</ref> He later claimed the producers would not allow him to make music aimed at an adult audience when he reached his early twenties.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://currentincarmel.com/qa-with-former-teen-idol-leif-garrett |title=Q&A with former teen idol Leif Garrett |work=CurrentInCarmel.comb|date=July 23, 2015 |access-date=April 24, 2017}}</ref> In 1986, he provided lead vocals to the song "The Way to Happiness", and backing vocals to the title track of the [[L. Ron Hubbard]] album ''[[The Road to Freedom (L. Ron Hubbard album)|The Road to Freedom]]''.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}}

===1990–2005===
In the mid-1990s, Garrett returned to acting and singing, appearing in the 1995 low-budget horror film ''Dominion'', touring with [[the Melvins]] and recording vocals for their cover of "[[Smells Like Teen Spirit]]" on ''[[The Crybaby (album)|The Crybaby]]'' (2000). In 1998, a greatest hits compilation, ''[[The Leif Garrett Collection]]'', was released. Garrett, however, has stated: "My former record label was bought out. The label was started by me … meaning my music started it, funded it. And then it was bought out by some company that released the Greatest Hits Collection. Not only have I not seen any royalties from that, but they wanted me to promote it—the compensation being a couple of CDs."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.libertynjustice.net/gettoknow_leif.php |title=Liberty n' Justice – LNJ get to know Leif Garrett |publisher=Libertynjustice.net |access-date=May 14, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120413015846/http://www.libertynjustice.net/gettoknow_leif.php |archive-date=April 13, 2012}}</ref>

In the late 1990s, Garrett hosted the series ''8-Track Flashback'' on the cable music channel VH-1, replacing fellow teen idol [[David Cassidy]]. VH-1 went on to feature Garrett in a 1999 episode of its ''[[Behind the Music]]'' series.<ref name="biography.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.biography.com/people/leif-garrett-328692|title=Leif Garrett|work=Biography.com|access-date=April 24, 2017|archive-date=March 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150306174117/http://www.biography.com/people/leif-garrett-328692|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1999, he formed the band Godspeed with Christopher Wade Damerst and [[Michael Scott (musician)|Michael Scott]] (the Distortions, Deadtime Stories). They recorded a three-song EP on Garrett's own label, Tongue and Groove Records.

Garrett's stage work includes playing the title role in ''[[Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat]]'' and, in late 2000, appearing in the [[National Theatre of the Deaf]]'s production of ''A Child's Christmas in Wales''. He also appeared in [[summer stock]] at The Barn Theatre's production of ''Old Timer'' in 2001. In the same year, he voiced himself in the animated television series ''[[Family Guy]]'' episode "[[The Thin White Line (Family Guy)|The Thin White Line]]".

In 2003, Garrett appeared as himself in the [[David Spade]] film ''[[Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star]]''. He co-wrote and sang "Former Child Star" for the film's soundtrack and was one of the singers of "Child Stars on Your Television", which played over the ending credits. He appeared with [[Aaron Carter]] in the 2005 film ''[[Popstar (film)|Popstar]]''.

===2006–present===
In September 2006, Garrett appeared on the celebrity edition of ''[[Fear Factor]]''. He won the grand prize of $50,000. On New Year's Eve 2006, Garrett first appeared in [[Las Vegas]] with retro act Original Idols Live!, hosted by [[Barry Williams (actor)|Barry Williams]]. The show also featured the [[Bay City Rollers]], [[Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods]], and [[the Cowsills]], with selected appearances by [[Merrill Osmond]], [[Tony DeFranco]], and [[Danny Bonaduce]].

In August 2007, [[Country Music Television]] (CMT) cast Garrett in the short-lived ''Ty Murray's Celebrity Bull Riding Challenge'', among nine celebrities appearing on the show. However, he quit after one episode, citing soreness and lack of desire to continue.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.registerbee.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=DRB/MGArticle/DRB_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173352327754|title= Reality TV vet tries his hand at rodeo|first= Susan|last= Elzey|access-date= August 10, 2007|date= August 10, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url= https://archive.today/20070928060953/http://www.registerbee.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=DRB/MGArticle/DRB_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173352327754|archive-date= September 28, 2007}}</ref>

In November 2007, Garrett released the album ''Three Sides of...'', which constituted songs he recorded with his current band F8 and his 1990s band Godspeed as well as some new songs.

In 2008, the producers of [[TruTV]]'s ''[[The Smoking Gun Presents: World's Dumbest...]]'' added Garrett to their cast, which features comedic commentary from celebrities like Garrett who have had brushes with the law. Garrett has frequently spoofed his troubled past and participates in a wide variety of sketches and skits written specially for him by the show's producers. In a 2010 episode, Garrett reenacted his recent arrest with two actors, including [[Todd Bridges]], another show regular, portraying police officers.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}

Garrett toured [[South Korea]] in May 2010, with shows in [[Seoul]] and [[Busan]]. This marked the 30th anniversary of Garrett's first performance in Korea since June 1980. He embarked on another tour of the country in 2013.

Garrett was a cast member in the [[List of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew episodes#Season 4|fourth season]] of ''[[Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew]]'', which documented Garrett's struggle with addiction to heroin. The season premiered December 1, 2010.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.collegenews.com/index.php?/article/celebrity_news_leif_garrett_rachel_uchitel_celebrity_rehab_patients_071920101332265|title=Celebrity News: Leif Garrett, Rachel Uchitel latest "Celebrity Rehab" patients|publisher=Collegenews|access-date=September 2, 2010}}</ref> Garrett's sister, Dawn Lyn, and mother, Carolyn Stellar (November 6, 1934 – September 2, 2022), who was battling Stage 4 lung cancer, both appeared in Episode 7, which was filmed during Family Day, when the recovering addicts were visited by their loved ones to discuss how their addiction affected their family relationship.<ref name=CelebRehab4.7/>
[[File:Leif Garrett 11 12 2016 -4 (30846282622).jpg|thumb|Garrett performing in 2016]]
In the early 2010s, Garrett began collaborating with punk rock artist and songwriter [[Craig Else]]. He released two singles on the Internet, sharing Else's credits, "Everything" (released in 2010) and "Help You, Make You" (released in 2012). The two also recorded a cover of [[Neil Young]]'s "[[Old Man (song)|Old Man]]".

He published an autobiography entitled ''Idol Truth'' in 2019.<ref name="thevinyldistrict.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thevinyldistrict.com/storefront/2019/02/tvd-radar-leif-garrett-idol-truth-a-memoir-in-stores-7-16/|title=TVD Radar: Leif Garrett, Idol Truth: A Memoir in stores 7/16 - The Vinyl District|date=December 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203151051/https://www.thevinyldistrict.com/storefront/2019/02/tvd-radar-leif-garrett-idol-truth-a-memoir-in-stores-7-16/|access-date=September 3, 2021|archive-date=December 3, 2019}}</ref> In the biography and related interviews, Garrett explained that in multiple tracks in his earlier albums, [[Jim Haas]], actually replaced his vocals entirely. The producers had wanted him to "smooth" Garrett's uneven vocals, but made the choice sometimes to replace Garrett entirely on his own albums. In some cases, Garrett's producers even brought in Haas to sing for Garrett behind a curtain during some live concert tour performances.<ref name="Leif1">{{cite news |last1=Nolasco |first1=Stephanie |title=Former teen idol Leif Garrett explains descent into hard drugs: 'There has always been more to my story' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/leif-garrett-teen-idol-memoir |access-date=June 29, 2021 |work=Fox News |date=January 4, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Leif2">{{cite news |last1=Ruggiero |first1=Bob |title=Leif Garrett: An American Idol |url=https://www.houstonpress.com/music/things-to-do-read-the-idol-truth-by-leif-garrett-11417712 |access-date=June 29, 2021 |work=[[Houston Press]] |date=January 10, 2020}}</ref>