During the peak of his fame, this ’70s teen idol was adored for his good looks and carefree charm, gracing magazine covers and making fans swoon. But behind the glossy image was a struggling young star, which eventually led to a downward spiral of addiction.

Now, decades after his tumultuous journey, recent photos of the former heartthrob with gray hair and a rugged beard have stunned social media users. Take a look at the former ’70s star’s journey and transformation over the years.

The Star’s Rise and Fall from Fame

The star started as a busy child actor in the early 1970s before he was given the opportunity to record music — a decision that led him to extraordinary highs and deep personal lows.

His fame as a teen idol skyrocketed, making him one of the most recognizable faces of the era. The young star’s appeal wasn’t just about his looks; he believed his success was also due to his non-threatening persona that made his fans feel comfortable.

He acknowledged that his acting career set the stage for his music fame, selling countless teen magazines like Tiger Beat and gaining a massive fan base.

“So obviously part of it was because of the look, but if you can’t back it up with some talent, which is why you’d still be out in the public eye, then you can’t be there for just the way you look,” he shared.

However, fame came at a price. His rise to stardom was accompanied by jet-setting tours, numerous magazine covers, and exposure to drugs and alcohol at an early age.

His celebrity status achieved almost overnight brought instant success but also set him on a path toward addiction and personal turmoil that would follow him for years.

When asked about living up to his teen idol image, he admitted that his fan base had always been loyal, standing by him through his ups and downs. “There was a lot of bad decision-making. But at the same time, I didn’t have the parental guidance that I should have at that time,” he said.

He described his mother as trusting and explained how he spent most of his time on the road without a parent, relying instead on management that promised to look after him like a son.

His troubles came to a head with legal issues, including his 2010 arrest for drug possession. The years of drug use were a blur, but he vividly recalled his worst experience: spending 90 days in county jail, which served as a stark wake-up call.

Reflecting on his struggles with substance abuse, when asked what he was trying to escape by using drugs, he confessed, “Obviously, perpetuating this lie of me being this musical artist. I sang, but it wasn’t me 100 percent.”

“I didn’t feel like I was being heard. No one wanted to hear what I had to say. As long as people were buying my records, it didn’t matter,” the star continued.

The expectations of his record label clashed with his desire to evolve artistically, as he was often pushed to stick to a clean-cut, California surfer image that no longer fit his reality.

He admitted that, given a choice, he would have continued acting rather than being forced into a music career that confined him creatively. He had not anticipated that the decision to record an album would tie him down for years, limiting his options in acting and putting him in a box he found difficult to escape.

One of the most defining moments of his life was the tragic 1979 car accident that left his friend, Roland Winkler, paralyzed. Decades later, on a 1999 episode of “Behind the Music,” the star was unexpectedly reunited with Winkler, who absolved him of responsibility for the crash.

“That was as raw and real as it gets. I had no idea that I was going to be seeing Roland and that he would tell me that he did not hold me responsible, even though I held myself responsible big time for that and deservingly so,” he shared.

Though the star described the experience as enlightening, it remained emotionally challenging for him to fully let go of the guilt. He acknowledged that Winkler’s understanding was a significant step toward his own healing.