Profile Text
Garrett in 2003, photo by Prphotos
Birth Name: Leif Per Nervik
Place of Birth: Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
Date of Birth: November 8, 1961
Ethnicity: Norwegian (37.5%), English, about one eighth German, one eighth Danish, some Scottish, distant French
Leif Garrett is an American actor, singer, and television personality.
He is the son of Carolyn Stellar (born Carolyn Golda Underwood), an actress and costume designer, and Rik Nervik, an actor and stuntman.
Leif’s paternal grandfather was Harold Carl Nervik (the son of Olaf Peter Nervik and Carolina Marie Jorgensen). Harold was born in Tacoma, Washington. Olaf was the son of Norwegian emigrants, Erik Nervik, who was from Sør-Trøndelag, and Marie Olivie Anderson. Carolina was the daughter of Danish emigrants, Johan Carl Christian Jørgensen and Christine Hansen Hjerrild, who was from Vilslev, Ribe.
Leif’s paternal grandmother was Alice Elizabeth May (the daughter of Madison May and Lena K. Zielsdorff). Alice was born in Tucson, Arizona. Madison was the son of Samuel Thomas May and Virginia Frances St. Clair, and had deep roots in the U.S. Lena was the daughter of German emigrants, from Saxony, William Zielsdorff and Theresa Caroline Kanold.
Leif’s maternal grandfather was Kenneth Ross Underwood (the son of Homer Alfred Underwood and Carrie Golda Evans). Kenneth was born in Sycamore, Illinois. Homer was the son of James Monroe Underwood and Mary Ellen Dale, and had deep roots in the U.S. Carrie was the daughter of William Crossley Evans, who was English, from Liverpool, Lancashire; and of Emma Louise Olmstead, who had deep American roots.
Leif’s maternal grandmother was Helen Bernice Harstad (the daughter of Nels Nelsen/Nelson Harstad and Inga Toline Salvesen-Thompson). Helen was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Norwegian parents. Nels was from Oppland, the son of Nils Larsen Harstad and Sofie Marie Sekfredsdatter Ledel. Inga was from Egersund, Rogaland County, the daughter of Tonnes Salvesen-Thompson and Karen Davidsdatter.
Sources: Genealogy of Leif Garrett – https://www.familysearch.org
Leif’s maternal grandfather, Kenneth Ross Underwood, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org