Former “How to Eat Fried Worms” Star Blake Garrett Dies of Accidental Fentanyl Overdose

Former child actor Blake Garrett, who portrayed Plug in the 2006 film *How to Eat Fried Worms*, was found dead in February at age 33. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Tulsa, Oklahoma, listed the cause of death as acute fentanyl toxicity and ruled the incident an accident.

The New Zealand Herald

In the weeks preceding his death, Garrett was diagnosed with shingles—a painful rash caused by reactivation of the chickenpox virus. He was receiving treatment after seeking emergency care in Oklahoma for “intense pain.” At the time of his death, he resided in a sober-living house in Tulsa.

The New Zealand Herald

Medical-examiner documents state: “It’s now been revealed his cause of death has been listed as acute fentanyl toxicity and ruled as an accident, according to documents from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Tulsa, Oklahoma, obtained by Us Weekly.” The same records note that “Garrett was being housed in a sober living house in Tulsa at the time of his death.”

The New Zealand Herald

Garrett’s mother, Carol Garrett, told TMZ.com that her son’s recent shingles diagnosis caused severe discomfort. She added, “His mother Carol Garrett previously told TMZ.com her son was diagnosed with shingles, a painful viral rash caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus, the week before his death after rushing to hospital in Oklahoma in ‘intense pain’.” She later said, “She went on to reveal she believed Garrett, who had suffered drug problems in the past, may have self-medicated to cope with the pain.”

The New Zealand Herald

Garrett’s death underscores the ongoing risks of opioid misuse, even among individuals in recovery environments. The case also highlights how untreated or poorly managed medical pain can intersect with substance-use disorders, prompting renewed discussion about pain management protocols in sober-living settings.

The New Zealand Herald