Happy Birthday Leif Garrett (46)

Leif Per Nervik (born November 8, 1961) better known by his stage name of Leif Garrett 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.


Be sure to pick up Leif Garrett's new album, THREE SIDES OF...
In Stores November 6th! (Cleopatra Records)

Garrett began his acting career as a five-year-old. 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. 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. Neverthless, 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 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.
In September 2006 Garrett appeared on the Celebrity edition of Fear Factor. Garrett made the finals and went on to win 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 and also featuring the Bay City Rollers, Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods, The Cowsills with selected appearances by Merrill Osmond, Tony DeFranco and Danny Bonaduce. The tour has current bookings and will continue for the 2007 summer/fall schedule.

In August 2007, he was on television when CMT cast Garrett in Ty Murray’s Celebrity Bull Riding Challenge. He was among nine celebrities cast on the show, however he quit after one show citing soreness and lack of desire to continue.

http://www.leifgarrett.net
http://www.myspace.com/leifgarrett

LEIF GARRET - "I WAS MADE FOR DANCING"


Personal troubles
In 1979, three days before his 18th birthday, Garrett crashed his car while drunk and on Quaaludes. The accident left his passenger, best friend Roland Winkler, a paraplegic. A guilt-stricken Garrett publicly promised to look after Winkler but, after he failed to do so, Winkler's mother 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 completely estranged. Garrett and Winkler remained estranged until he was approached by VH-1 to film a 1999 episode of the television series Behind The Music. The episode featured Garrett's reunion with an apology to Winkler; Winkler forgave Garrett and acknowledged that Garrett's actions following the accident may actually have saved his life. Since then, the two have remained in touch.

Seventies teen idol Leif Garrett was arrested by the Los Angeles County Sheriff in January 2006 and charged with possession of heroin. Garrett, 44 (at the time), was held without bail after deputies discovered an outstanding warrant out for him for allegedly violating his probation after copping a guilty plea in March 2005 to cocaine possession.

source [Wikipedia]

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