Remember Leif Garrett? The actor/singer/heartthrob made teenage girls swoon during the ’70s. For Garrett, showbiz ran in the family; both of his parents, Carolyn Stellar and Rik Nervik, worked in Hollywood and even his sister Dawn Lyn became a child actress. She and Garrett appeared together as siblings in 1973’s “Walking Tall.”

Garrett began acting at age 5, and hit the Hollywood radar as Dyan Cannon’s son in 1969’s “Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice.” Garrett reached teen-idol status after fans noticed the handsome actor following his turn in the 1975 miniseries “Three for the Road,” according to TV Over Mind. 

After roles on TV in series such as “Family” (playing star Kristy McNichol’s boyfriend in 1978) and movies like “Peter Lundy and the Medicine Hat Stallion” in 1978, he popped up frequently on the covers of teen magazines like “Tiger Beat“ and “Teen Beat,“ and young girls placed posters of him on their bedroom walls. He also made guest appearances on hits like “Wonder Woman,” “Family Affair,” and “Gunsmoke.”

Garrett was signed by Atlantic Records in 1977, and his sweet voice updated classic favorites like The Beach Boys‘ “Surfin’ USA,” Dion’s “Runaround Sue,” and Paul Anka’s “Put Your Head On My Shoulder.” His biggest hit came after he switched labels to Scotti Brothers and released “I Was Made for Dancing” from the “Feel the Need” album, according to Biography. No doubt Garrett was a huge success — but does his bank account reflect that?

The fall from teen stardom

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