Tragic Loss: How to Eat Fried Worms Actor Blake Garrett Passes Away at Just 33

It’s really heartbreaking to hear about the passing of Blake Garrett, the former child actor who played Plug in the 2006 family comedy How to Eat Fried Worms. He was only 33.

Blake died on Sunday, February 8, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His mom, Carol Garrett, shared the sad news and mentioned that the family is still waiting on the official autopsy results to know the exact cause.

He was born Nolan Blake Garrett in Austin, Texas, and showed real talent from a young age. He performed in local theater productions like Aladdin and His Magical Lamp, Peanuts: A Charlie Brown Tribute, The Wizard of Oz, Annie, and Grease. At just 10, he even toured nationally with Barney’s Colorful World International Tour — pretty impressive for a kid that young.

But for a lot of people who grew up in the mid-2000s, he’ll always be remembered as Plug in How to Eat Fried Worms. The movie was this quirky, fun story about a new kid at school who bets a bully he can eat 10 worms without throwing up. The whole young cast, including Blake, ended up winning a Young Artist Award for Best Young Ensemble Cast. It was one of those films that stuck with you — gross, hilarious, and kind of memorable in the best way.

In more recent years, Blake had been living in Oklahoma. According to his mom, he had stayed sober for three years and was really proud of that progress. He was working hard to rebuild his life and focus on positive things.

She also said he’d gone to the emergency room recently because of severe pain and was diagnosed with shingles. Carol thinks he might have tried to manage the discomfort on his own, and she’s worried it could have led to a tragic accident.

It’s just so tough — he was turning things around, and then this. Blake Garrett was only 33. Rest in peace.