November 8, 1961, marked the birth of Leif Garrett, a Hollywood native who would go on to make a lasting impact in the entertainment industry. Growing up in a world of showbiz, Garrett's first taste of acting came at a young age, with an uncredited role in the blockbuster film "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice" (1969). He then went on to become a frequent guest star on various TV shows, including "Nanny and the Professor" (1970),"Family Affair" (1966),"Cannon" (1971),"Gunsmoke" (1955),and "The Odd Couple" (1970).
Garrett's early career also saw him receive brief exposure in films such as "Walking Tall" (1973) and "Peopletoys" (1974),both of which starred his sister, Dawn Lyn. He then landed a recurring role as Endy Karras in the TV series "Three for the Road" (1975),alongside Alex Rocco and Vincent Van Patten. Despite the show's short run, Garrett's exposure on teen magazines and fan mail continued to grow.
Pursuing his passion for acting, Garrett went on to star in several westerns, including "God's Gun" (1976),"Vengeance" (1976),and "Peter Lundy and the Medicine Hat Stallion" (1977). His early years in the entertainment industry were marked by a mix of film and television appearances, as well as music ventures.
Garrett was offered a recording contract by Atlantic Records and released two oldie cover singles, "Surfin' USA" and "Runaround Sue," on his self-titled debut album. However, he wasn't entirely satisfied with this style of music and later switched to the Scotti Brothers, releasing the album "Feel the Need," which featured a top 10 disco-flavoured hit, "I Was Made for Dancin'." He went on to release three more albums but eventually stopped recording music in the early 1980s.
Despite his music career, Garrett continued to make appearances in films, and is perhaps most well-remembered for his small supporting role in the blockbuster film "The Outsiders" (1983),which starred Matt Dillon, Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, and Tom Cruise. Although his films after "The Outsiders" were less successful, Garrett did return to music by forming a band called "Godspeed" in the late 1990s, this time playing his own music.
