Editing Leif Garrett

{{short description|American actor and singer (born 1961)}}
{{about|the singer himself|his self-titled debut album|Leif Garrett (album)}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}}
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{{Infobox musical artist
| name             = Leif Garrett
| image            = Leif Garrett 2017.jpg
| caption          = Garrett in 2017
| birth_name       = Leif Per Nervik
| birth_date       = {{birth date and age|1961|11|8}}
| origin           = {{nowrap|Hollywood, California, U.S.}}
| death_date       = 
| genre            = {{Hlist|[[Bubblegum music|Bubblegum]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/gossip/la-et-mg-leif-garrett-justin-bieber-20130819-story.html |title= Leif Garrett to Justin Bieber: Been there, done that, watch out |last=D'Zurilla |first=Christie  |date=August 19, 2013 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=December 9, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/leif-garrett-mn0000235923 |title=Leif Garrett Biography |last=Dillon |first=Charlotte |work=[[Allmusic]] |access-date=December 9, 2023}}</ref>|[[teen pop]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.grunge.com/384666/the-tragic-real-life-story-of-leif-garrett/ |title=The Tragic Real-life Story Of Leif Garrett |last1=Tanos |first1=Lorenzo |last2=Boone |first2=Brian |date=February 21, 2023 |work=Grunge |access-date=December 9, 2023}}</ref>}}
| occupation       = {{flatlist|
* Actor
* singer
* television personality}}
| instrument       = Vocals, guitar
| years_active     = 1966–present
| label            = [[20th Century Records|20th Century]], [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]], [[Scotti Brothers]], Tongue and Groove, [[Cleopatra Records|Cleopatra]], Golden Lane
| website          = {{URL|http://www.leifgarrett.net/}}
}}

'''Leif Garrett''' (born '''Leif Per Nervik'''; November 8, 1961) is an American actor, singer, and television personality. He worked as a child actor, then in the 1970s became famous as a [[teen idol]] in music. He later received much publicity for his [[drug abuse]] and legal troubles.

==Early life==
Garrett was born in Hollywood, California, to Rik Nervik and actress [[Carolyn Stellar]],<ref name=CelebRehab4.7>''[[Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew]]'', Episode 4.7, [[VH1]], December 29, 2010.</ref> and started his entertainment career at age five. His father was absent for most of his life.<ref name="channelguidemagblog.com">{{cite web|first=Lori|last=Acken|url=http://www.channelguidemagblog.com/index.php/2012/07/05/channel-guide-leif-garrett-interview|title=Channel Guide interviews Leif Garrett!|work=Channel Guide Magazine |publisher=Channelguidemagblog.com|date=July 5, 2012|access-date=December 27, 2012}}</ref> He graduated from high school aged 15.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://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 – Vol. 10 No. 20|date=November 13, 1978|work=People|access-date=April 24, 2017}}</ref>

==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>

==Personal life==
Garrett and actress [[Nicollette Sheridan]] dated on and off for five years until 1985.<ref name="people_garrett">{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1193664,00.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131183511/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1193664,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 31, 2013|title=Leif Garrett Gets 3 Months Behind Bars|first= Stephen M. |last= Silverman|date=May 12, 2006|work= [[People (magazine)|People]]}}</ref> Garrett also dated celebrities such as his former ''Family'' co-star [[Kristy McNichol]],<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/gayv4KjB2ZI Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20151222005047/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gayv4KjB2ZI Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gayv4KjB2ZI |title=WIS-TV "WIS KIDS" – Leif Garrett Interviewed by Joan Barrett (Brady) |via=YouTube |date=June 15, 2011 |access-date=December 27, 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Tatum O'Neal]], and [[Justine Bateman]]. In the 1990s, he was in a long-term relationship with actress Elaine Bilstad, who died in 1999 of a heart ailment.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}

In October 2001, Garrett was in a personal bankruptcy proceeding in a federal court in Los Angeles. Court papers stated his only regular income was a $1,000 monthly gift from his mother. His only listed possessions were his clothes, some household goods and about $350 in cash. Garrett had accumulated a $76,198 debt in unpaid credit card bills over a four-year period.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-nov-01-cl-64076-story.html |title=Hollywood Feels Their Pain |last=Piccalo| first=Gina |website=Los Angeles Times |date=November 1, 2001 |access-date=July 7, 2016}}</ref>

===Legal troubles===
Garrett admitted that he started using drugs when he was 14.<ref name="biography.com"/> On November 3, 1979, five days before his 18th birthday, he crashed a [[Porsche 914]] that was being leased to his mother<ref name="latimes1987">{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-07-22-me-3315-story.html |title=Man Gets $6 Million in Settlement of Bad-Faith Suit Against Insurer – latimes |website=Los Angeles Times |date=July 22, 1987 |access-date=July 7, 2016}}</ref> after a midnight party while he was driving to buy more cocaine. His [[blood alcohol level]] was three times over the legal limit of that time and place,<ref>{{cite web|last=Kimble |first=Mark |url=http://tucsoncitizen.com/morgue2/1999/01/14/213430-calendar/ |title=CALENDAR – Tucson Citizen Morgue, Part 2 (1993–2009) |website=TucsonCitizen.com |date=January 14, 1999 |access-date=July 7, 2016}}</ref> and he was high on [[quaaludes]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/FallConcert/leif-garrett-talks-life-post-stardom-drug-alcohol/story?id=11922158 |title=So There You Are: Leif Garrett Talks About Life Post-Stardom and His Drug and Alcohol Addiction|work=ABC News |date=October 19, 2010 |access-date=July 7, 2016}}</ref> The accident left his passenger and friend, Roland Winkler, a [[paraplegic]].<ref name="cbsnews">[https://archive.today/20130119023248/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-6170622-504083.html Leif Garrett Arrested.] CBS News. February 3, 2010</ref> Garrett had only met Winkler about a month earlier.<ref>Garrett, Leif ''Idol Truth'' (2019) p. 177</ref> Neither Garrett nor Winkler was wearing a seatbelt. Garrett was later tried as a juvenile on drunk-driving charges; his driver's license was suspended for a year and he was placed on a year's probation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-05-27-vw-6406-story.html |title=Tragic Accident Reveals a Family's Strengths – latimes |website=Los Angeles Times |date=May 27, 1985 |access-date=July 7, 2016}}</ref> Winkler sued in January 1980, claiming Garrett was at fault in the accident.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/12/31/A-jury-ruled-Monday-that-entertainer-Leif-Garrett-was/5318473317200/ |title=A jury ruled Monday that entertainer Leif Garrett was... – UPI Archives |work=United Press International |date=December 31, 1984 |access-date=July 7, 2016}}</ref>

In December 1984, Los Angeles Superior Court ordered Garrett's insurers, Transamerica Insurance Co., to pay $3.9 million to Winkler. Jurors assessed total damages in the civil negligence case at $4,215,500, but subtracted 8% of that amount, or $337,240, on the grounds that Winkler contributed to his own injuries by agreeing to ride in a car with a driver who he knew was drunk. Both Garrett and Winkler admitted in court that they were drunk and had taken depressant drugs; the court heard they had each taken equal amounts of alcohol and drugs that night. The panel ordered Garrett to pay $15,000 in punitive damages, which was not diminished by Winkler's partial responsibility. Winkler's attorney, Edward Steinbrecher, attributed the relatively small punitive damage award to Garrett's testimony that his net worth was only $50,000 to $100,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-01-01-me-10243-story.html |title=Insurers Must Pay Rock Star's Injured Passenger |website=Los Angeles Times |date=January 1, 1985 |access-date=July 7, 2016}}</ref> In 1987, Winkler settled for $6&nbsp;million with the Premier Insurance Co., which had insured the firm leasing the Porsche to Garrett's mother.<ref name="latimes1987"/> Garrett and Winkler were reunited in 1999 for an episode of ''[[Behind the Music]]'', where Garrett was relieved to learn that Winkler had no bad feelings towards him and even said that Garrett's actions following the accident had actually saved his life.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2002/09/27/its-a-new-leif-for-former-teen-idol/838eb4b2-d4a0-4ed7-8a8c-e09188339593/|title=It's a New Leif for Former Teen Idol|date=September 27, 2002|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>

Garrett was arrested for possession of cocaine in 1997.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|publisher=MTV |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1441514/leif-garrett-drug-case-dropped-warrant-lifted/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418001328/http://www.mtv.com/news/1441514/leif-garrett-drug-case-dropped-warrant-lifted/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 18, 2016 |title=Leif Garrett Drug Case Dropped, Warrant Lifted |date=December 3, 2001 |access-date=July 7, 2016}}</ref>

On June 29, 1999, Los Angeles police arrested Garrett in the [[MacArthur Park]] area after he allegedly tried to buy heroin and cocaine from undercover officers.<ref name= LAT22010>{{cite web|title=Former teen idol Leif Garrett arrested on charge of possession of heroin|date=February 3, 2010| first= Richard |last= Winton| url= http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/02/former-teen-idol-leif-garrrett-arrested-for-possession-of-heroin.html |website= Los Angeles Times}}</ref> In March 2001, a Los Angeles judge issued a warrant for his arrest when he failed to attend court for a progress report required by his 1999 conviction.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1441459/leif-garrett-on-the-lam/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418040609/http://www.mtv.com/news/1441459/leif-garrett-on-the-lam/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 18, 2016 |title=Leif Garrett on the Lam |publisher=MTV |access-date=July 7, 2016}}</ref> Two days later, the judge lifted the warrant and dropped the 1999 charges after Garrett submitted evidence that he had completed a rehab program.<ref name="autogenerated1"/>

In 2004, Garrett was arrested for possession of cocaine.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4887658.stm|title=Jail for former teen star Garrett|date=April 7, 2006 |publisher=BBC|access-date=April 24, 2017}}</ref> He pleaded guilty in March 2005 to attempted possession of cocaine-based narcotics and was placed on probation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4628540.stm |title=Entertainment &#124; US star Garrett faces drug charge |work=[[BBC News]] |date=January 19, 2006 |access-date=July 7, 2016}}</ref> When he failed to appear in court in December 2005 for a status report, a warrant was issued for his arrest.<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4635296.stm |title= Drug rehab for US actor Garrett |work=[[BBC News]] |date=January 21, 2006 |access-date=July 7, 2016}}</ref>

On January 14, 2006, when Garrett was arrested on a [[Los Angeles Metro Rail]] platform for not having a ticket, police found heroin in his possession.<ref name= LAT22010 /> Because of the outstanding warrant for violating probation in a cocaine-related arrest, he was held without bail. He agreed to join a strict drug-diversion program, and his release from jail was ordered.<ref name="autogenerated2"/>

Garrett dropped out of the rehabilitation program and was taken into custody again on March 30 after a Superior Court commissioner determined he failed several drug tests while staying in a live-in drug diversion program.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.today.com/popculture/leif-garrett-leaves-rehab-enters-jail-1C9433464|title=Leif Garrett leaves rehab, enters jail|work=Today.com|date=May 12, 2006 |access-date=April 24, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/people/exteen-idol-given-jail-term/2006/05/12/1146940709469.html |title=Ex-teen idol given jail term – People – Entertainment |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=May 12, 2006 |access-date=July 7, 2016}}</ref> Garrett acknowledged he needed more help. On May 11, after failing to complete court-ordered drug rehabilitation, he was sentenced to 90 days in jail and three years' probation.<ref name="crime">{{cite web| url= http://crime.about.com/od/famousdiduno/ig/celebrity_mugshots/leif_garrett.htm| title= Leif Garrett Charged With Possession of Heroin| publisher= About.com| access-date= March 24, 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120205153455/http://crime.about.com/od/famousdiduno/ig/celebrity_mugshots/leif_garrett.htm| archive-date= February 5, 2012| url-status= dead}}</ref> He was given credit for the jail time he had already served since March 30.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://people.com/celebrity/leif-garrett-gets-3-months-behind-bars/|title=Leif Garrett Gets 3 Months Behind Bars|date=May 12, 2006|work=People|access-date=April 24, 2017}}</ref>

On February 1, 2010, Garrett was arrested again for possession of narcotics.<ref name= LAT22010 /> After denying having any drugs in his possession, he finally admitted to police that he had [[black tar heroin]] in his shoe.<ref name="TMZtar">[http://www.tmz.com/2010/02/03/cops-leif-garrett-had-black-tar-heroin/ Leif Garrett Had Black Tar Heroin in Shoe], TMZ.com. February 3, 2010</ref> He posted $10,000 bail and was charged with a felony count of heroin possession.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8497527.stm|work=BBC News| title=Actor Garrett faces heroin charge| date= February 4, 2010|access-date=May 7, 2010}}</ref> On October 18, 2010, he pleaded no contest to heroin possession in Los Angeles and entered a court-ordered rehabilitation program.<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/leif-garrett-sentenced-to-rehab-for-heroin-possession/ |title= Leif Garrett Sentenced to Rehab for Heroin Possession |publisher= Fox News Channel |date=October 15, 2010}}</ref>

==Discography==

===Albums===
{| class="wikitable" style=text-align:center;
|-
!scope="col" rowspan="2"|Year
!scope="col" rowspan="2"|Album
!scope="col" colspan="2"|Peak chart positions
!scope="col" rowspan="2"|Record label
|-
!scope="col"|[[Billboard 200|US]]
!scope="col"|[[Kent Music Report|AUS]]<br /><ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=121}}</ref>
|-
| 1977
|align=left| ''[[Leif Garrett (album)|Leif Garrett]]''
| 37
| 2
| [[Atlantic Records]]
|-
| 1978
|align=left| ''[[Feel the Need (Leif Garrett album)|Feel the Need]]''
| 34
| 8
|rowspan="4"| [[Scotti Brothers Records]]
|-
| 1979
|align=left| ''Same Goes for You''
| 129
| —
|-
| 1980
|align=left| ''Can't Explain''
| —
| —
|-
| 1981
|align=left| ''My Movie of You''
| 185
| —
|-
| 1998
|align=left| ''[[The Leif Garrett Collection]]''
| —
| —
| [[Rock 'n Roll Records]]
|-
| 2003
|align=left| ''F8''
| —
| —
|
|-
| 2007
|align=left| ''Three Sides of...''
| —
| —
| [[Cleopatra Records]]
|}

===Singles===
{| class="wikitable" style=text-align:center;
|-
!scope="col" rowspan="2"|Year
!scope="col" rowspan="2"|Title
!scope="col" colspan="6"|Peak chart<br />positions
!scope="col" rowspan="2"|Record label
!scope="col" rowspan="2"|[[A-side and B-side|B-side]]
!scope="col" rowspan="2"|Album
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
!scope="col"| [[Billboard Hot 100|US]]
!scope="col"| [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|US<br />AC]]
!scope="col"| [[Kent Music Report|AUS]]<br /><ref name=aus/>
!scope="col"| [[UK Singles Chart|UK]]
!scope="col"| [[Oricon Singles Chart|JPN]]
!scope="col"| [[Bundesverband Musikindustrie|GER]]
|-
|rowspan="3"| 1977
|align=left| "[[Come Back When You Grow Up]]"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|rowspan="1"| [[20th Century Fox Records|20th Century<br />Records]]
| "[[Young World (song)|Young World]]"
|rowspan="1"|
|-
|align=left| "[[Surfin' U.S.A. (song)|Surfin' USA]]"
| 20
| —
| 2
| —
| —
| 6
|rowspan="4"| [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic<br />Records]]
| "Special Kind of Girl"
|rowspan="4"| ''[[Leif Garrett (album)|Leif Garrett]]''
|-
|align=left| "[[Runaround Sue]]"
| 13
| 48
| 8
| —
| —
| 19
| "I Wanna Share a Dream with You"
|-
|rowspan="3"| 1978
|align=left| "[[Put Your Head on My Shoulder (song)|Put Your Head on My Shoulder]]"
| 58
| —
| 24
| —
| —
| —
| "Kari"
|-
|align=left| "[[The Wanderer (Dion song)|The Wanderer]]"
| 49
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| "Love on the Run"
|-
|align=left| "[[I Was Made for Dancin']]"
| 10
| 38
| 2
| 4
| 12
| 10
|rowspan="10"| [[Scotti Brothers Records|Scotti Brothers<br />Records]]
| "Living Without Your Love"
|rowspan="4"| ''[[Feel the Need (Leif Garrett album)|Feel the Need]]''
|-
|rowspan="4"| 1979
|align=left| "[[Sheila (Tommy Roe song)|Sheila]]"
| —
| —
| 63
| —
| —
| —
| "[[Fun, Fun, Fun]]"
|-
|align=left| "[[Feel the Need in Me|Feel the Need]]"
| 57
| —
| 97
| 38
| 72
| 43
| "New York City Nights"
|-
|align=left| "[[When I Think of You (Leif Garrett song)|When I Think of You]]"
| 78
| 11
| —
| —
| —
| —
| "New York City Nights"
|-
|align=left| "Memorize Your Number"
| 60
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| "Moonlight Dancin'"
|rowspan="2"| ''Same Goes for You''
|-
|rowspan="3"| 1980
|align=left| "I Was Looking for Someone to Love"
| 78
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| "Little Things You Do"
|-
|align=left| "You Had to Go and Change on Me"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| "Roweena"
|rowspan="1"| ''Can't Explain''
|-
|align=left| "New York City Nights"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| 56
| —
| "I Was Made For Dancin'"
|rowspan="1"|
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1981
|align=left| "Uptown Girl"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| 74
| "Just Like a Brother"
|rowspan="2"| ''My Movie of You''
|-
|align=left| "Runaway Rita"
| 84
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| "Just Like a Brother"
|-
|}

===Other recording appearances===
Garrett has also sung on releases by [[the Melvins]] (''The Crybaby''), [[the Crush Ups]] ("Betty Ford for X-Mas") and [[Liberty n' Justice]] ("Sight Unseen" on ''Soundtrack of a Soul''), among others.

==Filmography==
* ''[[Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice]]'' (1969)
* ''[[Walking Tall (1973 film)|Walking Tall]]'' (1973)
* ''[[Peopletoys|Peopletoys (Devil Times Five)]]'' (1974)
* ''[[Macon County Line]]'' (1974)
* ''[[Walking Tall Part 2]]'' (1975)
* ''[[God's Gun]]'' (1976)
* ''[[Paper Tigers (1977 film)|Paper Tigers]]'' (1977){{cn|date=February 2025}}
* ''[[Kid Vengeance]]'' (1977)
* ''[[Walking Tall: Final Chapter]]'' (1977)
* ''[[Peter Lundy and the Medicine Hat Stallion]]'' (1977)
* ''[[Skateboard (film)|Skateboard]]'' (1978)
* ''[[Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (film)|Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band]]'' (1978)
* ''Longshot'' (1981)
* ''[[The Outsiders (film)|The Outsiders]]'' (1983)
* ''[[Shaker Run]]'' (1985)
* ''[[Thunder Alley (1985 film)|Thunder Alley]]'' (1985)
* ''Delta Fever'' (1987)
* ''[[Cheerleader Camp]]'' (1987)
* ''[[Party Line (film)|Party Line]]'' (1988)
* ''[[The Banker (1989 film)|The Banker]]'' (1989)
* ''[[The Spirit of '76 (1990 film)|The Spirit of '76]]'' (1990)
* ''Dominion'' (1995)
* ''The Whispering'' (1996)
* ''The Next Tenant'' (1998)
* ''[[I Woke Up Early the Day I Died]]'' (1998)
* ''The Art of a Bullet'' (1999)
* ''[[Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star]]'' (2003)
* ''[[Popstar (film)|Popstar]]'' (2005)
* ''Circumstances of Fate'' (2006)
* ''Fish Mich'' (2009)

==Television work==
* ''[[Nanny and the Professor]]'' ("The Human Element") (1970)
* ''[[Black Noon]]'' (1971)
* ''[[Cannon (TV series)|Cannon]]'' ("Death Is a Double-Cross") (1971)
* ''[[Family Affair]]'' ("Heroes Are Born") (1971)
* ''[[The F.B.I. (TV series)|The F.B.I.]]'' ("The Deadly Species") (1972 season 7 episode 24)
* ''[[Ghost Story (TV series)|Circle of Fear]]'' (1973)
* ''Strange Homecoming'' (1974)
* ''[[The Odd Couple (1970 TV series)|The Odd Couple]]'' ("The Frog") (1974)
* ''The Last Survivors'' (1975)
* ''Three for the Road'' (1975)
* ''[[Flood!]]'' (1976)
* ''Peter Lundy and the Medicine Hat Stallion'' (1977)
* ''[[The Hanna-Barbera Happy Hour]]'' (1978)
* ''[[Family (1976 TV series)|Family]]'' (1978)
* ''[[Wonder Woman (TV series)|Wonder Woman]]'' ("My Teenage Idol is Missing") (1978 season 3 episode 1)
* ''[[CHiPs]]'' (two-part episode "Roller Disco") (1979)
* ''[[Superboy (TV series)|Superboy ("Bringing Down The House")]]'' (1988)
* ''[[VH1's 8-Track Flashback]]'' (1995–1996)
* ''[[Behind the Music]]'' (1999)
* ''[[Family Guy]]'' ("The Thin White Line") (2001)
* ''[[The Weakest Link]]'' (2001)
* ''American Black Beauty'' (2005)
* ''[[Fear Factor|Celebrity Fear Factor (2005)]]''
* ''Ty Murray's Celebrity Bull Riding Challenge'' (2007)
* ''[[truTV Presents: World's Dumbest...]]'' (2008–2013)
* ''[[Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew]]'' (2010)
* ''Behind the Music: Remastered'' (2010)
* ''Behind the Music'' (2022)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* Garrett, Leif and Epting, Chris (2019). ''Idol Truth: A Memoir''. Post Hill Press.
* Holmstrom, John (1996). ''The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995''. Norwich: Michael Russell. p.&nbsp;338.

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://www.leifgarrett.net/}}
* {{IMDb name|0308161}}

{{Leif Garrett}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Garrett, Leif}}
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American male child actors]]
[[Category:American male pop singers]]
[[Category:American child singers]]
[[Category:American dance musicians]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:American people convicted of drug offenses]]
[[Category:Male actors from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:American people of Norwegian descent]]
[[Category:Atlantic Records artists]]
[[Category:Scotti Brothers Records artists]]