TRAGIC DESCENT: FORMER TEEN HEARTTHROB LEIF GARRETT’S LIFE TAKES A DARK TURN

In my opinion, it seems that the artistic and performance contributions of teenage heartthrob Leif Garrett are not adequately recognized. He warranted greater acknowledgment!

Across his journey, the one-time teen idol faced significant triumphs and setbacks. Unfortunately, his pursuit of highs through drug addiction, employed as a coping mechanism, ultimately led to the decline of his career…

Before observing him in his current state at 61, it might be advisable to brace yourself.

He was quite the heartthrob… Leif Garrett began his career as a child actor, and in the 1970s, he captured the admiration of young women when he transitioned to become a musician.

According to my mom, during trips to the grocery store with her parents, Leif’s face graced the covers of various teen magazines at the checkout lanes, causing a stir among fans.

UNSPECIFIED – CIRCA 1970: Photo of Leif Garrett Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

The American singer-actor, born in Hollywood, California, made his debut at the age of 5 in the 1969 movie “Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice,” which ranked as the sixth highest-grossing film of the year.

Following this, the dreamy-eyed, blond heartthrob starred in the film “Walking Tall” and its two sequels. In 1983, he joined other teen heartthrobs, such as Matt Dillon, C. Thomas Howell, Patrick Swayze, and Tom Cruise, in Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Outsiders.”

Some may also recognize him from his roles in TV series like “Family,” “The Odd Couple” (1974), “Wonder Woman” (1978), and “CHiPs” (1979).

In 1977, he launched his inaugural album, “Leif Garret,” causing a fan frenzy with covers of popular songs such as “The Wanderer” (Dion), “Surfin’ USA” (The Beach Boys), and Paul Anka’s “Put Your Head on My Shoulder.”

UNSPECIFIED – CIRCA 1970: Photo of Leif Garrett Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

At the peak of his success, Garrett, with his blond, unkempt hair, toured globally, eliciting ecstatic reactions from his predominantly young female fans.

“I was on a public appearance tour in Sydney, Australia, and they had to fly me in by helicopter. Then, I jumped into an armored car and drove into the theater through the back door. I’ve tried using a limo there before, but the fans almost tipped it over. I guess it’s an adrenaline rush for them. They just freak out. It’s very strange,” Garrett shared with New York Daily News in 1979.

Despite his music nearing the top of the charts, he grappled with management issues that made him feel like an “impostor.” The transition to adulthood posed another challenge for Garrett.

“I believe I was a good performer from the start, but I wish they had offered me singing lessons before making a record and engaging in the typical practice of punching in a sentence here or there or words or whatever,” Garrett stated in an interview.

“There’s a particular track (‘I Was Looking for Someone to Love’) that doesn’t even sound like me at all. I would even possibly say I wasn’t even on that track. And to me, that IS fraud. That’s like a Milli Vanilli situation, the difference being, of course, mine was blended many times with myself and somebody else.”

In 1979, Garrett’s career took a nosedive when, under the influence of alcohol and drugs, he crashed a car, sending it rolling down a hillside in North Hollywood. This tragic incident left his close friend Ronald Winkler paralyzed.

However, Garrett’s life took a further negative turn. In 1980, during what he describes as “the pinnacle of pinup fame,” he indulged in a lifestyle of sex, drugs, and rock and roll alongside the iconic Queen frontman, Freddie Mercury. This period coincided with the recording of Queen’s highly successful album “The Game,” featuring hits like “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” and “Another One Bites the Dust.” Garrett formed a friendship with the band, experiencing the real rock star life complete with girls and drugs.

Reflecting on this tumultuous time in an interview with Fox for the release of his memoir, “Idol Truth,” Garrett admitted, “I don’t think I was a very mature 16-year-old. I became mature very quickly because I was always surrounded by adults who were drinking and doing coke. I was a child, but being treated as an adult… And all of this was coming out of my pocket.”

He continued, “You know, I probably have the greatest fan base that I could ever imagine for myself. They have stuck with me through thick and thin. And as you know, I’ve gotten myself in plenty of bad situations. There was a lot of bad decision-making. But at the same time, I didn’t have the parental guidance that I should have at that time.”

Indie Stock Music Festival at the Pico Rivera Sports Arena in Pico Rivera California on October 28, 2017-

Garrett has accumulated a lengthy list of charges, including dropping out of rehabilitation and encountering various legal issues. These incidents involved attempting to purchase drugs from undercover police and concealing heroin in his shoe.

Despite earnest attempts to rebuild his life and career, Garrett eventually regressed into his old habits. Due to his comical encounters with the law, Garrett was chosen to provide commentary on the comedy show “World’s Dumbest,” which highlights the antics of “most amazingly stupid” criminals.

The program also featured other celebrities known for their personal misadventures, such as Todd Bridges, Tonya Harding, Gary Busey, and Danny Bonaduce.

Subsequently, Garrett secured a prominent role on VH1’s “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew,” a show he initially resisted participating in. Garrett accused the show of inducing a relapse for dramatic effect, a claim vehemently denied by VH1.

In an interview the LA Times, Garrett said: “They asked to get some footage of me using, and I said, ‘I haven’t been using. They said, ‘We really have to get footage of you using.’ Anyway, I was easily talked into showing them.”

When a counselor with the production called him out, suggesting he was still using, Garrett walked off the show saying: “This is insanity and quite honestly I don’t appreciate it.”

His Late Wife Left Him a Final Letter – The Secret Inside Led Him to a Paternity Test

Ten months after his wife passed away, a widower found the strength to open the last letter she wrote for him before she died. After reading her heartbreaking confession, he quickly decided to take a paternity test.

On November 29, 2021, a sad widower found comfort in the “Off My Chest” subreddit, sharing his deep sadness. He wasn’t looking for advice but received support from others who reminded him that it was okay to cry about what his wife had done.

Source: Unsplash

The man and his wife had a happy four-year marriage. They loved their time together, and the birth of their son made them even happier. But life took a tragic turn for them.

Source: Unsplash

His Late Wife’s Letter
The widower’s wife passed away ten months before he shared his story on Reddit. Heartbroken and feeling lost, he found the strength to keep going. Even in his sadness, he promised to be a caring father to his 4-year-old son.

Source: Unsplash

As time went on, things began to feel a little more normal for him. His son became his whole world, and he couldn’t imagine life without their bond. During this time, he found the last letter his wife wrote for him. He had known about the letter but didn’t have the courage to read it until ten months later.

Source: Unsplash

After finally reading the letter, he was in shock. It took him a long time to process what he had learned from her honest words.

In the letter, his wife revealed that she had gotten very drunk at her bachelorette party and had a one-night stand with a stranger. As a result, she became pregnant, and now he was left unsure if their son was really his, since this happened just days before their wedding.

Source: Unsplash

Receiving Online Support and Putting His Life Back Together
“I am so incredibly sorry. I know how much this hurts. Your feelings are valid,” wrote one Reddit user. The widower thanked the person and said he planned to take a long drive to clear his mind and deal with his emotions.

“Driving can help. Just make sure to stay safe and enjoy the music,” another user suggested.

Meanwhile, he felt relieved to leave his son at his parents’ home but worried about how he would feel when they were together again. When his son came back home, the father was nervous about how to react.

Source: Unsplash

Deep down, he loved his son, but he was scared that he would see him differently after learning the truth about his wife. When he saw his son, he quickly ran to him and hugged him tightly as if he hadn’t seen him in years. His son hugged him back, showing how happy he was to be with his dad.

The widower felt overwhelmed and almost cried in his son’s arms as he tried to come to terms with his wife’s betrayal. He was determined that his son would always be his son and that their bond would stay the same.

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