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| Background = solo_singer
| Background = solo_singer
| Birth_name = Leif Per Nervik
| Birth_name = Leif Per Nervik
| Born = {{birth date and age|1961|11|8}}
| Born = {{birth date and age|1961|25|25}}
| Died =
| Died =
| Origin = [[Hollywood, California]], <br />United States
| Origin = [[Hollywood, California]], <br />United States

Revision as of 18:13, 19 December 2010

Leif Garrett

Leif Garrett (born Leif Per Nervik November 8, 1961) is an American singer and actor. He became famous in the late 1970s as a teen idol, but received much publicity in later life for his drug abuse and legal troubles.

Career

Garrett started his entertainment career at age five. He and his sister Dawn Lyn worked a variety of small acting jobs. They co-starred in the horror movie Devil Times Five as juvenile mental patients who almost innocently go on a murder spree at an isolated ski resort. Dawn and Leif also guest-starred in an episode of Gunsmoke.

Leif'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 movies and the recurring role of Zack Russell on the ABC TV series Family. Leif also played the role of Leonard Unger, the son of Felix Unger (Tony Randall), on the ABC series The Odd Couple, a part that previously was 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. His cover version of "Runaround Sue" reached the highest at #13. In mid-1978 he signed with Scotti Brothers Records and recorded his second album, Feel the Need. Its first single, "I Was Made For Dancin'", reached #10 on the US Hot 100 and #4 on the British chart in early-1979. However, 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 1980s 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 break from 1990 to 1995, 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 (2000). In 1998 he released a greatest-hits compilation, The Leif Garrett Collection, and in 1999 formed the band Godspeed with Christopher Wade Damerst and Michael Scott (The Distortions, Deadtime Stories). They recorded a three-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 performances. In 2003 Garrett appeared as himself in the David Spade film Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star. He also 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.

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 September 2006, Garrett appeared on the celebrity edition of Fear Factor. He won the grand prize of US$50,000.

On New Year's Eve 2006, Garrett first appeared in Las Vegas with retro act Original Idols LIVE!, hosted by 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, 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 show, citing soreness and lack of desire to continue.[1]

In November 2007, Garrett released his new album, Three Sides of.... He voiced himself in the animated television series Family Guy episode "The Thin White Line".

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 frequently spoofs his past troubles and public persona, and participates in a wide variety of sketches and skits drummed up for him by the show's producers. Garrett often takes the majority of the show's good-natured abuse from the other celebrities for his past drug use and perceived lack of career success, and is often accused of being the person in the videos. In a 2010 episode, Garrett reenacted his most recent arrest with two actors portraying police officers.

Garrett toured South Korea in May 2010, with shows in Seoul and Busan. This marked the 30th anniversary when Garrett performed in Korea in June 1980. In July 2010 it was announced Garrett was cast for the fourth season of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, which documented Garrett's struggle with addiction to heroin. The season premiered December 1, 2010.[2]

Personal life

Beginning in 1979 Garrett dated English actress Nicolette Sheridan; the two split six years later.[3] Two decades later Garrett credited Sheridan for helping him at the start of his career, and said of her "She's a special person in my life."[4]

In 1979, three days before his 18th birthday, Garrett crashed his car while drunk and under the influence of Quaaludes. The accident left his passenger and best friend Roland Winkler a paraplegic. A guilt-stricken Garrett publicly promised to look after Winkler, as his friend's mother later filed a $25 million negligence lawsuit against him. Garrett insisted that he did not have the money, and the suit was eventually settled out of court for $7.1 million, leaving the friends estranged [5] until Winkler was approached by VH1 to film a 1999 episode of the television series Behind The Music. The episode featured Garrett's reunion with and apology to Winkler. Winkler forgave Garrett and acknowledged that Garrett's actions following the accident may actually have saved his life.[6]

On February 1, 2010, Garrett was arrested again for possession of narcotics. After denying having any drugs in his possession, he finally admitted to police that he had black tar heroin in his shoe. He posted $10,000 bail and was charged with a felony count of heroin possession.[7] On October 18, 2010, Leif Garrett pleaded no contest to heroin possession in Los Angeles and entered a court-ordered treatment program.

Discography

Albums

Chart singles

  • 1977 "Surfin' USA" US #20
  • 1978 "Put Your Head on My Shoulder" US #58
  • 1978 "Runaround Sue" US #13
  • 1978 "The Wanderer" US #49
  • 1979 "I Was Made for Dancin'" US #10, UK #4
  • 1979" "Feel the Need" US #57, UK #38
  • 1979 "When I Think of You" US #78
  • 1980 "I Was Looking for Someone to Love" US #78
  • 1980 "Memorize Your Number" US #60
  • 1981 "Runaway Rita" US #84

Uncharted singles

Other recording appearances

Garrett has 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

Television work

References

  1. ^ Susan Elzey (August 10, 2007). "Reality TV vet tries his hand at rodeo". Retrieved August 10, 2007.
  2. ^ "Celebrity News: Leif Garrett, Rachel Uchitel latest "Celebrity Rehab" patients - Collegenews". Collegenews. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
  3. ^ Stephen M. Silverman (May 12, 2006). "Leif Garrett Gets 3 Months Behind Bars". People Magazine. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ "Behind the Music". VH1 "Behind the music" (transcript on USA Today website). 28 August 2002. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ "The Official Leif Garrett Website - news". Leifgarrett.net. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
  6. ^ "Behind The Music | Show Cast, Episodes, Guides, Trailers, Web Exclusives, Previews". VH1.com. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
  7. ^ "Actor Garrett faces heroin charge". BBC News. February 4, 2010. Retrieved May 7, 2010.

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