Blake Garrett died of accidental fentanyl toxicity at age 33

Blake Garrett, the former child actor best known for his role as Plug in the 2006 film *How to Eat Fried Worms*, died of accidental fentanyl toxicity at age 33 on February 8, 2026, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, according to the Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. His death was ruled an accident, with reports confirming he was residing in a sober living house at the time of his passing.

Garrett’s mother, Carol Garrett, told TMZ in February that her son had been sober for three years but had recently experienced intense pain from shingles, a condition caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus. She expressed concern that he might have self-medicated, potentially leading to the overdose. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes shingles as a painful rash that can affect individuals of any age, though it is more common in older adults. Garrett’s case, however, underscored the risks of substance use amid chronic pain, a challenge he appeared to be navigating privately.

Garrett’s career as a child actor began in local theater productions, including *Aladdin and His Magical Lamp* and *Peanuts: A Charlie Brown Tribute*, where he performed as a young magician and Charlie Brown, respectively. At age 10, he joined the touring cast of *Barney’s Colorful World*, a live arena show that brought him national exposure. His film debut came in 2004 with *Barney’s Colorful World, Live!*, a direct-to-video production, before he landed his breakthrough role in *How to Eat Fried Worms*. The film, based on Thomas Rockwell’s 1973 novel, followed a group of children competing to eat worms, with Garrett portraying the sidekick to a classroom bully. The movie earned the cast a 2007 Young Artist Award for Best Young Ensemble in a Feature Film.

Garrett’s on-set experiences were described as collaborative. During an 2006 interview with *The Oklahoman*, he recalled a scene where he and his castmates rode bicycles on a gravel road, with a camera positioned on the ground. “I slid and gravel hit the camera,” he said. “They really liked that shot, and that’s the one they used in the movie.” Despite the film’s modest success, Garrett chose to step away from the spotlight after completing his schooling in Oklahoma, opting for a low-profile life.

The details surrounding his death remain limited, but sources indicate he had been managing his health struggles in a sober living environment. His mother emphasized that he had “truly turned things around” in his final years, focusing on sobriety and personal stability. However, the combination of chronic pain from shingles and the presence of fentanyl in his system highlighted the fragility of recovery. The Oklahoma medical examiner’s report, obtained by TMZ and confirmed by *Us Weekly*, cited fentanyl toxicity as the immediate cause of death, though the circumstances of his exposure to the drug were not specified.

Garrett’s passing has drawn attention to the challenges faced by individuals in recovery, particularly those dealing with chronic pain. His story reflects the personal and medical complexities of navigating substance use and health struggles. While his career was brief, his legacy includes the memories of fans who recall his work in *How to Eat Fried Worms* and the broader narrative of a young actor’s journey beyond the spotlight.