Former Child Star Blake Garrett of ‘How to Eat Fried Worms’ Dies at 33

Blake Garrett, a former child actor, has sadly passed away at the age of 33 in Oklahoma. He was notable for his role as Plug in the beloved family comedy, *How to Eat Fried Worms*. His mother, Carol Garrett, disclosed to TMZ that he died on February 8, 2023, and the family is currently waiting for autopsy results to ascertain the official cause of death.

According to Carol, Blake had gone to the emergency room the previous week due to severe pain and received a diagnosis of shingles. She expressed concern that he may have self-medicated to relieve his discomfort, leading to fears that his death could have been an unfortunate accident.

Early Life and Career of Blake Garrett

Blake Garrett was born on September 14, 1992, in Austin, Texas. He began his performing career at a young age, participating in local theater productions starting at just 8 years old. His early roles included a magician in *Aladdin and his Magical Lamp* and Charlie Brown in *Peanuts: A Charlie Brown Tribute*.

Theatrical Achievements

Throughout his childhood, Garrett accumulated a wealth of theater credits. Among his notable performances were roles in:

• The Wizard of Oz
• Annie
• Grease

His film career took off when he starred in *How to Eat Fried Worms* (2006), which was adapted from Thomas Rockwell’s 1973 children’s book. The film, directed by Bob Dolman, also featured James Rebhorn, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, and Tom Cavanagh. Blake received a Young Artist Award in 2007 for his performance, sharing the accolade for Best Young Ensemble in a Feature Film.

Touring and Later Work

At just 10 years old, Garrett embarked on a touring adventure with the arena show *Barney’s Colorful World International Tour* from 2003 to 2004. During this tour, he portrayed the character Mike, a role he reprised in a subsequent video.

The untimely loss of Blake Garrett serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by young stars as they transition into adulthood. His contributions to acting, particularly in family entertainment, will not be forgotten.