From Teen Idol to Tormented Soul: Leif Garrett’s Shocking Confessions
Leif Garrett, the teenage heartthrob of the 1970s adored by screaming fans and immortalized on bedroom posters, now bares the scars of a life entwined with addiction and regret. In a candid 2010 Good Morning America interview titled “70’s Star Leif Garrett: ‘I Was a Monster’”, Garrett reflects on his descent from superstardom into a personal abyss
Once, Garrett performed before sold‑out stadiums, riding the wave of his 1979 hit, “I Was Made for Dancing.” Yet even in those dazzling days, he admits that “when you are in the thick of it, you think, ‘Oh, this is going to be forever. I am god.’” The truth, he laments, was very different
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His downfall was as dramatic as his rise. Just shy of his 18th birthday, while intoxicated on alcohol and Quaaludes, Garrett crashed a car—paralyzing his friend and forever haunting himself. He confesses: “I have really hardcore nightmares and sleep issues.” That tragic accident became a catalyst for his addiction to heroin
Garrett’s raw admission, “I was a monster. I’m sorry that actions that I’ve done have hurt people,” is as shocking as it is remorseful
ABC News
. He reflects on the nature of fame—not just as an intoxicant affecting him, but as a force exerting pressure on others: “Fame is a drug not only to oneself but to others as well.” His drug use, he explains, stemmed from a desperate desire to remain “that rebellious 18-year-old,” invincible and timeless
Good Morning America
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Early exposure to fame was paired with painful vulnerability. Starting his career at age 5, Garrett lacked proper parental guidance. “My mom didn’t understand … You don’t allow a 14 or 15‑year‑old kid to go on the road without parental guidance,” he says, pointing to the negligence that helped fuel his spiral
Good Morning America
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This story is more than nostalgia—it’s a haunting lesson in the illusory nature of fame and the fragile souls behind the glamorous facade. Garrett’s journey from teen idol to tormented soul forces us to confront how easily youth and adoration can turn into self‑destruction.