A strong bond has always exsisted between Leif and his mother, but their relationship hasn't been without disagreements. One major conflict was over Leif's wanting a motercycle when he was 13. The argument continued for two years. Carolyn said, "No!" And Leif kept pressing for a "Yes!" All the advice from friends, industry people and stuntmen fell on deaf ears - Leif still wanted the motorcycle. It was not until actor James Stacy's tragic motorcycle accident that Leif willingly gave up the idea.
"I put my mother through a lot, but that's in the past." he says. "We are as close as ever." Since both Leif and his mother are Scorpios, their closeness also includes an intuitive understanding and a silent communication. They are always able to talk about anything and able to show emotiions without being embarrassed.
The first time Leif, Carolyn and Dawn were separated for any length of time or distance was in 1974. Dawn was cast to do the series "Born Free," in Africa, and Leif was filming Strange Homecoming. There was no way to reschedule shooting so Leif could join Carolyn and Dawn. It was a very traumatic seperation. The letters from Leif were many, although he hated to write, and wasn't ashamed to say, "I miss you so, and cry myself to sleep every night." Dawn and Carolyn were doing the same. Today their travels take them all over the world, but long-distance phone calls bring them together.
Leif is very much his own man and takes charge of his own affairs. In 1980 he could have lived alone, but chose to be with his family. "When I was very small, I always wanted to be older.... I always felt trapped in a little body. Now that I am nearing six feet. I don't have to think about it, " he once said.
Leif enjoys his family, and for good reason. His great-grandmother, at 92 was a great-great-grandmother, and one of those extraordinary persons who was blessed with a strong body and a love of adventure. She traveled the world, went to dances, and gambled in Reno. No rocking chair for her!
When Leif was born, his gandfather didn't care for his name. To him, the ideal boy's name was John, Bill or Bob. So Grandpa gave him a nickname of his own: "Mr. D." The D stood, not for darling, but Destructo - since Leif was always taking apart clocks, toys, or whatever he could get his little hands on.
When Leif was small, he was once proudly describing his grandfather's jokes. "Boy is he horny!" Leif said. (He meant corny.) When Leif got older, his Grandpa teased Leif about his female fans, giving him a jab in the ribs. "How about all those cuties? You dog, you!" while they took off for the races together.
"Grams," as Leif fondly calls his grandmother, read him great bedtime stories, played games with him, and took him swimming when he was little. Grams favorite Leif story has to do with a time when Grams and Gramps took Leif out to dinner. He was two. During a trip to the restroom, he noticed two little old ladies inside, and leif greeted then with a cheerful, "Hi, ladies! Going pottie?" Grams was always amused by his frankness and the ladies' inability to respond.
"Leif is a very well-balanced human being and we are very proud of him," says Grams and Gramps Underwood. Carolyn made a special effort to raise him that way. "Everything in it's proper perspective" was her favorite exspression. When Leif and Dawn played outside, they were allowed to get dirtly. They were never threatened, "if you injure yourself, you won't be able to act." However, when they were in school, they were told that they were there to learn, not to play, and when they were acting, they were to be professionals.
As Leif looks back, he says, "working as a kid was right for me. I wanted it, and I missed out on nothing!" He has had a balanced life, and because of his acting and singing, his life has been filled with variety.
Leif always has time for his family. Any spare moment he had, he would fly up north to be with his uncle, Carolyn's brother, Ken; his Aunt Jan and their sons, Peter, six years older than Leif, and Steven, two years older. They have been the best of friends for many years.
