Leif Garrett Wife: Complete Relationship History Revealed
Leif Garrett has never been married. Despite numerous high-profile relationships with celebrities like Nicollette Sheridan, Tatum O’Neal, and Elaine Bilstad, he remains single as of 2025.
Leif Garrett’s Relationship Status
Leif Garrett, the American actor, singer, and former teen idol who rose to fame in the 1970s, has had a colorful personal life filled with numerous relationships but has never tied the knot. As of April 2025, Leif Garrett is reportedly single and has no wife. Throughout his decades in the spotlight, Garrett has been linked to several high-profile women, but marriage has remained elusive for the former heartthrob.
Born on November 8, 1961, in Hollywood, California, Garrett is now 63 years old and has lived a life that has seen tremendous highs and challenging lows. His career began at the young age of 5, working alongside his sister in various acting roles, before he shot to fame as a teen idol in both acting and music.
Current Relationship Status
According to multiple sources, Leif Garrett is currently single. There are no indications online that he is in a relationship, and no information about a wife, spouse, or partner is available. Despite his previous high-profile relationships, Garrett appears to be living a more private life now, away from the romantic spotlight that once followed him everywhere.
Leif Garrett’s Notable Relationships
Throughout his life in the public eye, Leif Garrett has dated several well-known celebrities. His dating history includes relationships with actresses, models, and fellow entertainers, many of which attracted significant media attention.
Nicollette Sheridan (1979-1985)
Perhaps Garrett’s most notable relationship was with actress Nicollette Sheridan. The couple met in 1978 when Sheridan was only 15 years old, and they began dating in 1979. Their relationship lasted approximately six years, ending in 1985.
The couple had a tumultuous on-and-off relationship that garnered significant media attention. At one point, they lived together in Sheridan’s ocean-view condo in Malibu, Florida, and were even engaged for a year before their eventual breakup.
In an interview with Closer Weekly, Garrett opened up about the nature of their relationship, saying: “We got a lot of attention, and I was immature and very jealous. I did not understand that I could not stop everyone from looking at her. She was everything I wanted. When we got along, it was perfect. But when we did not, we cleared rooms. There was no in-between. The passion was insane”.
Garrett admitted that Sheridan was one of the few women he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, but their strong personalities and stubbornness prevented their romance from succeeding long-term.
Elaine Bilstad (1993-1999)
Another significant relationship in Garrett’s life was with actress Elaine Bilstad. The couple began dating in 1993 and were together for approximately six years. Tragically, Bilstad passed away on January 30, 1999, from a heart condition after their breakup.
In an interview with Channel Guide Magazine, Garrett expressed his deep feelings for Bilstad, saying: “The person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with passed away, and that hurt. She was an angel. She was amazing to me. That someone of that much beauty, physically and in her heart and soul, could be taken from here so quickly. She would have been the person I would have had a child with. I have not met anyone I feel that way about since”.
According to Garrett himself, if he were to have married anyone, it likely would have been Bilstad. He has stated that he has not felt drawn to anyone more than the deceased actress and remains doubtful about starting a family with anyone else.
Some sources incorrectly state that Garrett and Bilstad had a son together named Tyson Garrett, but this information appears to be inaccurate based on more reliable sources.
Tatum O’Neal (1980-1983)
Leif Garrett dated actress Tatum O’Neal from February 1980 to June 1983. O’Neal, known for her role in “Paper Moon” alongside her father Ryan O’Neal, had a brief relationship with Garrett.
In interviews, Garrett has revealed that things didn’t work out with O’Neal due to her indecisiveness, which he attributes to her father’s strict parenting style. “I think her dad really screwed her head up. All his kids—Ryan was a very, very tough dad,” Garrett explained.
Despite their romantic relationship ending, Garrett has mentioned that they remained friends after they parted ways romantically.
Justine Bateman (1987-1993)
Garrett and “Family Ties” star Justine Bateman dated from 1987 to 1993. Their relationship lasted approximately six years, but ultimately didn’t lead to marriage.
Garrett has stated that his relationship with Bateman didn’t work because he felt required to fill multiple roles in her life. He said that he had to be “her best friend, psychiatrist, lover, and father figure,” due to her father’s fragmented support during her successful years as a child star.
According to Garrett, Bateman’s father was trying to establish himself in the film industry while she was already a successful child star. He felt that although her father was happy for her, his attitude reflected that he wanted what she had, which deprived Bateman of the validation she sought from her father.
Other Relationships
Throughout his life, Leif Garrett has been linked to several other women:
- Brooke Shields (1979): Garrett and Shields dated briefly from March to April 1979.
- Kristy McNichol (1978-1979): Garrett dated his former “Family” co-star from February 1978 to April 1979.
- Michelle Phillips (1978): Garrett and Phillips had a brief relationship from February to March 1978.
- Tanya Tucker (1979): The pair had a relationship from February to later in 1979.
- Kathy Griffin (1999): Garrett reportedly had an encounter with comedian Kathy Griffin in 1999.
- Kelly LeBrock (1978): Garrett and LeBrock had an encounter in 1978.
- Teri Weigel: Garrett had a relationship with Weigel, though the exact timeframe is unclear.
- Katie Summers: Garrett was also linked to Summers, though details about their relationship are limited.
Leif Garrett’s Early Life and Career
To understand Leif Garrett’s personal life, it’s helpful to know about his background and career trajectory, which significantly influenced his relationships and life choices.
Childhood and Early Acting Career
Leif Garrett was born Leif Per Nervik on November 8, 1961, in Hollywood, California. He began his acting career at the young age of 5, working alongside his sister in various small acting roles.
His breakout role came in the television series “Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice,” which led to major roles in the series “Family” and in the “Walking Tall” films. As a child actor, Garrett quickly established himself in Hollywood, setting the stage for his later fame as a teen idol.
Rise to Teen Idol Status
In the 1970s, Garrett transitioned from acting to music, becoming a teen heartthrob primarily due to his pop music career. He released several albums during this period, including “Leif Garrett” and “Feel the Need”.
His first venture into music began with a popular cover of the song “Runaround Sue”. The combination of his acting background, musical talent, and good looks made him an instant sensation among teenage fans, particularly young girls.
Personal Struggles
Despite his early success, Garrett’s life took a challenging turn as he began struggling with substance abuse. His drug problems and legal troubles gained him significant publicity, often overshadowing his professional achievements.
These personal struggles likely impacted his relationships and may have contributed to why he never married. Addiction issues can make maintaining healthy long-term relationships difficult, and Garrett’s public battles with substance abuse coincided with the periods when many of his high-profile relationships ended.
Leif Garrett’s Financial Challenges
Alongside his personal and substance abuse issues, Leif Garrett has faced significant financial difficulties throughout his adult life, which may have also affected his relationship prospects.
Bankruptcy and Financial Struggles
In October 2001, Garrett filed for personal bankruptcy in a federal court in Los Angeles. Court papers revealed that his only regular income at the time was a $1,000 monthly gift from his mother.
His listed possessions were limited to his clothes, some household goods, and approximately $350 in cash. Over a four-year period, Garrett had accumulated a $76,198 debt in unpaid credit card bills.
These financial struggles represent a dramatic fall from his earlier success and wealth as a teen idol. Such financial instability can make it difficult to maintain relationships and may have contributed to his unmarried status.
Leif Garrett Today
As of 2025, information about Leif Garrett’s current activities and whereabouts is somewhat limited. He has maintained a lower profile in recent years compared to the height of his fame.
Current Activities
As of late 2023, Leif Garrett was not active on social media, and there were no reports indicating new projects. Limited information is available about his current occupation or residence.
At 63 years old, Garrett has lived a life filled with early success, personal struggles, and numerous relationships, but he appears to be living more privately now.
Reflections on Family and Fatherhood
In more recent interviews, Garrett has opened up about growing up only partially despite his age advancement. He has disclosed that he is naturally gravitating toward the idea of fatherhood lately, despite dismissing the notion when he was younger.
However, after the loss of Elaine Bilstad, whom he considered the person he would have had children with, Garrett has expressed doubt about finding someone else with whom he would want to start a family.
Why Leif Garrett Never Married
Despite numerous relationships throughout his life, Leif Garrett has never married. Several factors may have contributed to this outcome.
Personal Struggles and Timing
Garrett’s well-documented struggles with substance abuse likely played a significant role in his inability to form a lasting marital relationship. Addiction can make maintaining healthy relationships extremely difficult, and Garrett’s issues began early in his career when he was also dating high-profile women.
Additionally, the timing of his relationships often coincided with turbulent periods in his life. His relationship with Nicollette Sheridan occurred during his rise to fame, a notoriously difficult time for maintaining stability in one’s personal life.
Loss of Significant Relationship
By Garrett’s own admission, Elaine Bilstad was the woman he most seriously considered spending his life with. Her tragic death in 1999 from a heart condition appears to have profoundly affected him, potentially making him reluctant to pursue another serious relationship that could lead to marriage.
His statement that he has “not met anyone I feel that way about since” suggests that the loss of Bilstad may have closed a door on his willingness or ability to form another relationship of that depth.
Career Pressures and Public Scrutiny
As a teen idol, Garrett lived much of his life under intense public scrutiny. His relationships were often tabloid fodder, which can put tremendous pressure on couples. The added stress of constant media attention may have made it difficult for his relationships to develop naturally into marriage.
