When Leif Garrett became an actor, he captured the hearts of millions of teenagers. He eventually turned to music and became one of his era’s most well-known teenage stars.

Garrett was five when he first appeared on screen in the 1969 film Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, the sixth highest-grossing film of the year. On the other hand, his performance was so good that everyone projected a prosperous career for him.

Following that, the sleepy-eyed hottie won a role in Walking Tall and its two sequels. In 1983, he co-starred in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Outsiders alongside Matt Dillon, C. Thomas Howell, Patrick Swayze, and Tom Cruise.

Among the other series Garrett has appeared in are Family, The Odd Couple (1974), Wonder Woman (1978), and CHiPs (1979).

As his reputation as an actor grew, he decided to try his hand at music and was equally successful. His first album, Leif Garret, was published in 1977, and it’s no wonder it drew much attention. Tours soon followed, and Garrett felt he was on top of the world, which he wasn’t.

“I was on a public appearance tour in Sydney, Australia, and they had to fly me in by helicopter, then I got into an armored car and drove into the theater through the back door.” I tried using a lim there before, but the fans nearly knocked it down. It’s probably an adrenaline rush for them. They freak out. Garrett told the New York Daily News in 1979, “It’s pretty strange.”

He did, however, experience hurdles, including his transition to adulthood and issues with his supervisors.

“I think I was a terrific performer from the start,” Garret remarked in an interview. “But I wish they had offered me singing lessons before ever producing a record and doing the standard punching in a sentence here or there or words or whatever.”

“There’s one song (I Was Searching for Someone to Love) that doesn’t sound like me. I’d even argue that I wasn’t even on that path. That, to me, is fraud. That’s like a Milli Vanilli situation, except mine was combined multiple times with myself and someone else.”

Garrett began abusing drugs and alcohol, which harmed his career. In 1979, he was in an automobile accident that paralyzed his friend Ronald Winkler.

According to Garrett’s book Idol Truth, he soon began hanging out with renowned people, including members of the band Queen and the band’s frontman, the legendary Freddie Mercury, who taught young Garrett the world of sex, drugs, and rock and roll.

“I didn’t think I was a particularly mature 16-year-old.” I matured quickly because I was constantly surrounded by people drinking and using coke; I was a youngster but treated like an adult… And it was all coming out of my wallet.”

“You know, I probably have the biggest fan base I could dream of,” he concluded. They have remained at my side through thick and thin. And, as you know, I’ve put myself into many sticky situations. A lot of terrible decisions were made. But, simultaneously, I lacked the parental guidance that I needed.”

Garrett had run-ins with the authorities and went in and out of rehab. He was then coerced into appearing on the VH1 reality show Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, which he later accused of causing him to relapse into drama.

Garrett told the LA Times, “They asked to obtain some footage of me using, and I answered, ‘I haven’t been using.'” They said, ‘We need to acquire footage of you utilizing.’ I was readily persuaded to show them.”

Leif Garrett, the once-popular child star, is now 61 and sober.

“I was sentenced to 90 days in county jail. Before that, I was in court-ordered rehab, and then my mother came to see me and told me she had stage IV lung cancer. ‘I’m leaving to take care of her—nobody lives with her,’ I claimed, so I started using again. So it was ‘cuff him, bring him in,’ and I did the 90 days, and that was all,” he told Best Living.

Garrett said, Closer, “I’ve kept every photo or letter that a young lady wrote me, informing me about being on their walls and kissing me good night before they went to bed.” “It’s strange and a little humiliating but very flattering!” I can’t thank [my fans] enough for allowing me to continue doing what I love while earning a living.”

We’re delighted Garrett was able to improve his situation.

Please SHARE this article on Facebook with your family and friends.

Share on Facebook