Former child actor Blake Garrett, known for his role as Plug in the 2006 family comedy How to Eat Fried Worms, has died at the age of 33.
Garrett passed away on Sunday, February 8, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His mother, Carol Garrett, confirmed the news and said the family is awaiting autopsy results to determine the official cause of death.
Born Nolan Blake Garrett in Austin, Texas, he began performing at a young age, appearing in local theater productions such as Aladdin and His Magical Lamp and Peanuts: A Charlie Brown Tribute. He later took on roles in The Wizard of Oz, Annie, and Grease. At just 10 years old, Garrett toured nationally with Barney’s Colorful World International Tour, marking a major early achievement in his career.
He gained wider recognition in 2006 with How to Eat Fried Worms, where he starred alongside a young ensemble cast that earned a Young Artist Award. The film, centered on a schoolyard bet involving eating worms, became a memorable favorite for many families in the mid-2000s.
In recent years, Garrett had been living in Oklahoma and had remained sober for three years, a milestone his mother said he worked hard to reach and took pride in.
According to Carol Garrett, he had recently sought emergency medical care for severe pain and was diagnosed with shingles. She believes he may have attempted to manage the pain on his own and worries his death may have been an accidental tragedy.
Friends and family say Garrett had been focused on rebuilding his life, prioritizing sobriety and a positive future. He was 33 years old.