Blake Garrett, a former child actor best known for playing Plug in the 2006 family comedy “How to Eat Fried Worms,” has died in Oklahoma at age 33, according to his mother, who said the family is awaiting autopsy results to determine an official cause of death.
Garrett’s death has drawn renewed attention to the short, intense careers many child performers have and the questions that can follow sudden losses. His mother, Carol Garrett, said he died Sunday, Feb. 8, after he went to an emergency room last week because of severe pain and was later diagnosed with shingles. She said she does not yet know what caused his death. She also said she feared it could have been accidental, but officials had not confirmed that, and the medical examiner had not released findings.
Garrett grew up in Austin, Texas, and started performing at a young age, appearing in local theater productions before he landed his first feature film role. Friends and colleagues from his early years described him as eager for the stage and comfortable in front of a crowd. In the years before his movie debut, he performed in youth and community shows that included “Aladdin and His Magical Lamp,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Annie” and “Grease,” building a resume that helped him win auditions beyond Texas. At age 10, he joined “Barney’s Colorful World International Tour,” a traveling arena show that brought him to large venues and introduced him to the pace and pressure of professional performance.
His best-known screen work came in “How to Eat Fried Worms,” a film based on Thomas Rockwell’s children’s book about a new kid who makes a bet that forces him to eat worms to win respect at school. Garrett played Plug, one of the bully’s sidekicks, in a cast that included Luke Benward, Adam Hicks and Hallie Eisenberg. The movie’s young cast later received a Young Artist Award for Best Young Ensemble in a Feature Film, an honor that recognized their work as a group rather than any single performance. Garrett attended publicity events for the film during its release period, including a premiere appearance as a teenager, and he spoke at the time about enjoying the camaraderie on set.
In interviews from the film’s release year, Garrett described himself as a kid who loved the work but also noticed how unusual parts of the experience could be, from long days to travel to the attention he drew because of his very light hair. He recalled that children he met on tours were curious and would reach for his hair, a small detail that became a personal marker of a time when he was constantly meeting new people. He also talked about the physical side of filming, including learning bike moves and working on scenes that required timing and repetition. Those memories, shared years ago, resurfaced as fans revisited his brief filmography following the news of his death.
Carol Garrett said her son had been living in Tulsa for the past three years and had “turned things around” after becoming sober. She said he had been doing well in Oklahoma and that the family was stunned by his death. She said he sought medical help last week after experiencing intense pain and that doctors later diagnosed him with shingles. She also said she believed he may have tried to manage the pain on his own after that diagnosis, but she emphasized that the family was still waiting for autopsy results and did not have a confirmed explanation. Health officials did not immediately release any statement about the case, and there was no public report of a determination by medical authorities.
Shingles is caused by the virus that also causes chickenpox, and it can lead to severe pain and a blistering rash. Doctors often describe the condition as common, especially among older adults, but it can affect younger people as well. In Garrett’s case, his mother said the pain came on suddenly enough that it sent him to the emergency room. She did not describe his full medical history, and she did not say whether he had other underlying conditions. Officials also did not confirm details about his treatment or any medications, leaving many of the most basic questions unanswered as the family awaited findings from the medical examiner.
News of Garrett’s death spread quickly across entertainment sites and social media, with fans posting clips and still images from “How to Eat Fried Worms” and sharing memories of watching the movie as children. Others shared photos from the film’s red carpet era, when Garrett appeared in formal attire at a Las Vegas premiere event as a young teenager. Messages of condolence also came from people who said they remembered him from touring productions and stage work. Many posts focused on the contrast between his cheerful on-camera moments and the suddenness of the news, and several commenters noted that he had largely stepped away from acting as he grew older.
Garrett’s death also highlighted how little is often publicly known about former child performers once they leave the spotlight. Aside from his theater work, the “Barney” touring experience and the 2006 film role, he had a limited public record of professional credits, and he did not appear to maintain a long-running adult acting career. Friends and fans described him as someone who had lived several different lives, including years away from entertainment. His mother’s comments about sobriety and a fresh start in Tulsa suggested a period of rebuilding, though few details were released about his work or day-to-day life in recent years.
Officials did not say when an autopsy report might be completed. In cases of unexpected death, medical examiners can require additional testing before issuing a final cause and manner of death. For Garrett’s family, that process will determine whether his death is ruled natural, accidental or linked to another cause. His mother said the family hoped to get answers soon and asked for privacy as they mourned. No funeral arrangements were announced in the initial reports, and there was no public statement from a studio representative connected to the 2006 film.
For many who knew him mainly as Plug, Garrett remains part of a film that still circulates with families and younger viewers. “How to Eat Fried Worms” was one of a run of mid-2000s family movies built around school life and childhood dares, and it has maintained a following through streaming and home viewing. The movie’s ensemble cast was praised for its energy, with several young actors going on to longer careers. Garrett’s role, though smaller than the lead, was a recognizable part of the movie’s bully group, and fans often remembered his look and comic timing.
Garrett is survived by his family, who said they are waiting for official results before sharing more about what happened. The next milestone in the case is the medical examiner’s report, which will determine the official cause of death and may answer the questions left open by the sudden loss of a former child actor whose best-known work came two decades ago.
Author note: Last updated February 10, 2026.