Officials have ruled the death of former child actor Blake Garrett an accidental death caused by acute fentanyl toxicity. Image credit (Instagram)
Blake Garrett, the former child actor best known for his role in the family comedy “How to Eat Fried Worms,” died Feb. 8 in Oklahoma at the age of 33. He was found in a sober house in Tulsa.
Blake visited the emergency room a week ago after experiencing severe pain and was subsequently diagnosed with shingles, his mother said.According to a summary report from the Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, obtained by TMZ, Garrett’s cause of death is listed as acute fentanyl intoxication, with the manner of death ruled an accident. His mother expressed concern that he may have self-medicated in response to pain caused by the viral infection, especially since he had maintained sobriety for three years before the accident.
She believed his death may have been a tragic accident.
The early life of Blake Garrett and his theatrical career
Garrett was born on September 14, 1992 in Austin, Texas, and began his performing career at the age of eight, landing lead roles in local theater productions in Austin. His early theater credits included portraying the magician in “Aladdin and His Magic Lamp” and playing Charlie Brown in “Peanuts: A Charlie Brown Tribute.” Additional theatrical credits included appearances in The Wizard of Oz, Annie, and Grease, demonstrating his versatility across multiple productions during his childhood years.
Blake Garrett built his early career through theatrical productions before finding fame in film.Image credit (Instagram)
Blake Garrett’s film and television work
Garrett’s most notable film appearance came in the 2006 children’s comedy How to Eat Fried Worms, where he portrayed the character Plug. His performances in the cast earned him recognition, as he shared the Young Artist Award the following year for Best Young Ensemble in a Feature Film. The film was written and directed by Bob Dolman and based on Thomas Rockwell’s 1973 children’s book of the same name, and also starred James Rebhorn, Kimberly Williams Paisley and Tom Cavanagh.
Blake Jarrett tour and additional performance works
When he was 10 years old, Garrett traveled extensively with the arena show “Barney’s Colorful World International Tour” from 2003 to 2004, playing the role of Mike. He reprized this character in the production’s subsequent video version, expanding his performance experience beyond traditional theater and film into touring live entertainment.