Where Is Leif Garrett Now – What Is He Doing Now?

Where Is Leif Garrett Now? Garrett, along with Shaun and David Cassidy. The Bay City Rollers, are the names that come to every people’s mind when thinking of 1970s teen idols.

Like modern-day counterparts like Justin Bieber, Garrett won the hearts of young fans worldwide with his combination of boyish good looks as well as earworm-worthy bubblegum pop songs.

He was ostensibly the wholesome, inoffensive alternative to the mostly sexually-charged disco acts and alcohol-fueled rock bands of the era, not only for his pre-teen and teenage girl fanbase but also for their parents.

During the 1970s, he was a teen idol. Every young lady desired to see his pictures in magazines such as Teen Beat. He began acting as a child and continued into his twenties and was also a musician.

Sadly, drug addiction led him down the wrong path and into legal trouble for decades. Nonetheless, Leif Garrett has bounced back several times over the last few decades through music, acting, and satirizing his legal problems.

He even released his autobiography “Idol Truth” this year. What became of Leif Garrett?

Facts About Leif Garrett

Where Is Leif Garrett Now: What Is He Doing?

Lief Garrett is still working on his music, but he hasn’t done much acting in the last decade. He is now 60 years old and sober.

He released his autobiography “Idol Truth,” in the year 2019. The star tells the story of his sudden rise to stardom as a teen idol, as well as the glamour, loneliness, and isolation that came with it as he was led around by handlers. He describes the good times, the quick fall from grace that followed his 1979 car accident, and the ensuing drug and money problems.

It’s a sad story about a young man who became one of the world’s most famous stars at a young age and then lost what could have been early.

He had to go through many ups and down in his early life. However, he must live peacefully now as his life taught him a big lesson.

Currently, he resides in Los Angeles, California, and is keeping his life lowkey. He has already faced much drama in his life to deal with anything more.

Leif Garrett Early Life and Career

Leif Garrett was born in Hollywood, California, on November 8, 1961.

Rik Nervik, Leif’s father, was rarely present when he was a child. He shared a home with his mother, Carolyn Steller, and sister, Dawn Lyn.

Later, the actor began acting at age five, co-starring with his sister in films such as “Devil Times Five” and the television series “Gunsmoke.” In the 1969 film “Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice,” Leif played the young Jimmy Henderson.

During the 1970s, Leif appeared in three “Walking Tall” films, played Felix Unger’s (Tony Randall) son on “The Odd Couple,” and had a recurring role on “Family.”

Leif Garrett Career As A Teen Idol

Lief Garrett rose to prominence as a child and later as a teen actor in the 1975 CBS miniseries “Three For the Road.” The 12-week series followed a father and his two sons as they mourned the passing of their mother. They trade in their horse for an RV and travel across America.

After fans noticed his good looks, Garrett became a teen idol and later went on to have roles in television and film. He played the title role in “Peter Lundy and the Medicie Hat Stallion,” as well as other roles in television and film.

The star would later appear in “Skateboard” and “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” He continued to appear as a guest star on TV shows such as “CHIPs” and “Wonder Woman.”

Leif Garrett had a successful pop, disco, and rock career in addition to his acting career. In 1976, he signed a five-record contract with Atlantic Records.

He covered songs such as “Surfin’ USA,” “Runaround Sue,” and “Put Your Head On My Shoulder,” as well as recording his music on the records’ B sides.

Garrett signed with Scotti Brothers Records in 1978. Later, he worked with the label until the early 1980s. Garrett hosted the television special “Lief” in May 1979, which featured Marie Osmond, Brooke Shields, Flip Wilson, and Bob Hope.

Leif Garrett’s Tragedy

Unfortunately, Lief Garrett began using drugs when he was only 14 years old. Tragic events occurred on November 3, 1979.

He was driving his mother’s Porsche when he crashed it. The star was discovered to be inebriated and to have taken quaaludes.
Roland Winkler, his best friend, and a fellow passenger were paralyzed in the accident. After being tried in juvenile court, Garrett was sentenced to one-year probation and a one-year license suspension.

In 1987, Winkler sued the insurance company and received a $6 million settlement. The actor was ordered to pay $15,000 in punitive damages and would be haunted by guilt for the rest of his life.

Winkler and Garrett reunited on “Behind the Music” in 1999. Garrett was relieved to discover that Winkler was not bitter. Sadly, Winkler passed away in the year 2017.

Leif Garrett Went Through Drugs and Bankruptcy

Lief Garrett has struggled with drug addiction since his 1979 car accident, which has cost him a successful acting and music career. He continued to act on and off throughout the 1980s, but his music career faded.

The star was still struggling with drugs. Garrett was also taken by police officers in 1997 for cocaine possession and again in 1999 for attempting to buy cocaine and other harmful stuff from an undercover police officer.

Throughout the 2000s, he was involved in legal issues. He was again taken by the cops for possession in 2004, 2006, and 2010 and was sentenced to drug rehab on several occasions. Finally, Garrett declared bankruptcy in Los Angeles, California, in 2001.

Leif Garrett Returning to Acting and Music

Despite his ongoing drug and money problems, Garrett has continued to appear on television specials, usually mocking his legal troubles. He’s also resumed his musical career.

The star formed Godspeed with three other musicians in 1999. They released a three-song EP and performed a few times.
Tounge in Groove is Garrett’s own record label. He co-wrote and recorded a song for David Spade’s 2003 film “Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star.”

Garrett also played himself in the film. Lief Garrett appeared in the Las Vegas show “Original Idols Live!” in 2006. Tony DiFranco, Danny Bonaduci, and The Bay City Rollers were also part of the retro act.

The star returned to South Korea in 2010 to mark the 30th anniversary of his first visit. In 2013, he returned. Meanwhile, Garrett has been working with punk rock artist Craig Else. They released a few songs and covered Neil Young’s “Old Man.”

In terms of his acting career, Lief made a comeback by mocking his former teen idol status. He was the host of VH1’s “The Lief Garrett Collection.”

Likewise, he won $50,000 after appearing on an episode of “Fear Factor.” Garrett parodied his previous legal problems on CMT’s “Ty Murray’s Celebrity Bull Riding Challenge” and TrueTV’s “The Smoking Gun Presents: World’s Dumbest.”

Garrett addressed his drug addiction publicly in 2010 when he appeared on the 4th season of “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.” His mother and sister even appeared on the show to address the issue. Garrett has also dabbled in acting.

He appeared in a production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” in 2000 and did summer stock theater at The Barn Theatre in 2001.

Some FAQs

What is leif garrett doing now?

Garrett is now sober, and in his memoir “Idol Truth,” which chronicles his journey to Hollywood and how everything went wrong, he shares his story. He is currently staying lowkey and living his life peacefully.

Is Leif Garrett still addicted to drugs?

Garrett went through a devastating downfall as soon as he became famous, and he eventually battled addiction for years. However, he is clean now and has no records of addiction.

How many sisters does Leif Garrett have?

Dawn Lyn is Garrett’s one and only sister. They worked a variety of acting jobs and has even 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.

When did Leif Garrett face bankruptcy?

In October 2001, Garrett was in a personal bankruptcy proceeding in a federal court in Los Angeles. He was accumulated a $76,198 debt in unpaid credit card bills over a four-year period.