Former teen idol Leif Garrett’s life took a horrible downward spiral
Throughout his life, the past teen star saw great success and deep failures. His reliance on substance abuse ruined his career.
He was a heartthrob. Leif Garrett started as a child actor, then turned into a 1970s singer, winning over young women.
His face was everywhere, my mother recalls, on teen magazines at the store when she shopped with her parents.
Leif Garrett, born in Hollywood, California, first appeared in the 1969 movie Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, ranking it the year’s sixth top earner at just five years old.
He then acted in Walking Tall and its two follow-ups, and played in The Outsiders in 1983 with Matt Dillon and others.
He was also in TV series like Family, The Odd Couple (1974), Wonder Woman (1978), and CHiPs (1979).
In 1977, his first album Leif Garrett came out, featuring old favorites like The Wanderer and Surfin’ USA.
Garrett felt on top of the world. He toured globally, and his female fans lost control seeing him.
“In Sydney, they flew me in by helicopter, and I used an armored car to avoid fans who once nearly flipped my limo,” he told New York Daily News in 1979.
His songs nearly topped charts, but he clashed with his managers, feeling used.
“I was naturally talented,” he said in an interview, “but needed voice training. One song didn’t even sound like me. That felt like fraud.”
In 1979, his life spiraled after a drunk driving accident injured his friend Ronald Winkler.
His lifestyle didn’t improve. He partied with Freddie Mercury during Queen’s The Game album, learning the rock star ways, he wrote.
Garrett told Fox at his book launch, “At 16, I was immature but grew up fast around adults who partied hard, all at my expense.”
He added, “Despite many tough times and poor choices, my fans remained loyal.”
His legal issues piled up, including drug charges and treatment failures.
He tried a comeback, even joining the show World’s Dumbest and VH1’s Celebrity Rehab, which he claimed led to a relapse.
On Celebrity Rehab, he felt pressured to use on camera, leading to a confrontation.
Despite hardships, Garrett is now sober.
“I ended up back in rehab after a jail stint when I left to care for my cancer-stricken mom,” he says.
He appreciates his fans, keeping every message and photo they sent.
“I’m still touched and thankful for my fans, as they allow me to keep doing what I love,” he said to Closer.
