Leif Garrett

About Leif Garrett

Leif Garrett (born Leif Per Nervik on November 8, 1961[citation needed]), is an American singer and actor. He became famous as a teen idol and received publicity as an adult for his drug abuse and legal troubles.

Garrett began his acting career as a five-year-old, as he and his sister, Dawn Lyn, worked a variety of small acting jobs. His notable roles as a child actor include his breakthrough as "Jimmy Henderson" in Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, his role as the protagonist's son "Mike Pusser" in the Walking Tall series, and his recurring role as "Zack Russell" on the ABC-TV series Family. He also played the role of Leonard Unger, the son of Felix Unger (Tony Randall), on the ABC-TV series The Odd Couple, a part that was previously played by Willie Aames. In autumn of 1976, Garrett signed a recording contract with Atlantic Records and recorded his first album, Leif Garrett. The album was released in 1977 and his first four singles charted modestly on the US Hot 100, with "Runaround Sue" reaching the highest at #13. In mid-1978, he signed with Scotti Brothers Records and recorded his second album Feel the Need. The album's first single, "I Was Made For Dancin' ", reached #10 on the US Hot 100 and #4 on the British Chart but subsequent singles failed to crack the top 20 in either country. Nevertheless, Garrett 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 the 80s Garrett returned to acting, appearing in a small role as "Bob Sheldon" in the 1983 Francis Ford Coppola film The Outsiders. In 1985, he starred in Shaker Run as a mechanic and in Thunder Alley as the lead singer of a pop band that is torn apart by drugs. Other notable Leif Garrett movies from the decade include Delta Fever and the horror film Cheerleader Camp. After a brief break from 1990 to 1995, Garrett returned to acting and singing, appearing in 1995's low-budget horror film Dominion, touring with The Melvins, and recording vocals for "Smells Like Teen Spirit" on their album The Crybaby. In 1998 he released The Leif Garrett Collection, a greatest hits collection, and in 1999 formed the band Godspeed with Christopher Wade Damerst and Michael Scott (The Distortions, Deadtime Stories). They recorded a 3 song EP on Garrett's own label, Tongue and Groove Records, and debuted on the Rosie O'Donnell Show but broke up after only a few shows. In 2003, Garrett appeared as himself in the David Spade film Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star. He also sang and co-wrote "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.

From 1979 to 1985, Leif Garrett dated actress Nicollette Sheridan. The relationship began when Sheridan was 15 and the two lived together in the home of Garrett's mother. During the late 1980s and early 1990, Garrett dated Justine Bateman.