Former child actor Blake Garrett, best known for his role as Plug in the 2006 film How to Eat Fried Worms, has passed away at the age of 33. His death occurred on February 8 in Oklahoma, where he had been living sober for the past three years. The official cause remains undetermined pending an autopsy.
Oh, the Hollywood losses just keep coming in 2026, and this one hits different—Blake Garrett, that wide-eyed kid from How to Eat Fried Worms, is gone at just 33. 😢 TMZ broke the news that the former child star died on Sunday, February 8, but we're still waiting on the autopsy to spill the full tea on what happened.
Blake's resume was short and sweet: he stole scenes as Plug in the 2006 family flick based on the classic book, and popped up in a Barney movie back in 2004. That's it for credits, but his mom is opening up about the heartbreak, calling it a "tragic accident." She shared that Blake landed in the ER last week with a shingles diagnosis—the kind of painful viral mess that could make anyone reach for relief.
"He may have self-medicated to cope with the pain from the viral infection," his mother told outlets, believing that's how things went south. Blake had been grinding through sobriety in Oklahoma for three years, turning a new page after tougher times. No official word yet on foul play or anything sinister; it's all unfolding as we speak.
We've already waved goodbye to too many stars this year, and Blake's exit feels especially raw— a reminder that fame's spotlight can flicker out fast, even off-stage. Sending all the love to his family and friends holding it down right now. What a gut punch. 💔