Tragic new details revealed in Blake Garrett's death
Tragic new details revealed in the death of “How to Eat Fried Worms” child star Blake Garrett show the 33-year-old was found unresponsive beside drug paraphernalia in his Tulsa sober living home. His death in February was ruled an accidental fentanyl overdose, with alcohol tests negative.
Key Takeaways
- Blake Garrett, known as Plug in the 2006 film “How to Eat Fried Worms,” died in February at age 33.
- His death was ruled an accidental fentanyl overdose; alcohol testing was negative.
- An autopsy-linked report says he was found next to rolled dollar bills, a lighter, and foil with burnt residue.
- His mother said he had been three years sober and may have been self-medicating after a painful shingles diagnosis.
What tragic new details were revealed about Garrett’s final hours?
According to Page Six, citing TMZ and Garrett’s full autopsy report, the actor was discovered unresponsive next to his bed in a sober living home in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
He was found near rolled dollar bills, a lighter, and foil with burnt residue. The report also described him as surrounded by drug paraphernalia at the time of his death.
News of the accidental fentanyl overdose cause of death surfaced in July. The Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner’s report said alcohol testing came back negative and noted swelling in Garrett’s brain, plus lesions in various stages of healing linked to shingles.
Why might Garrett have relapsed after years of sobriety?
When Garrett died in February, his mother feared he had been self-medicating after three years sober. She previously told TMZ he had been rushed to the hospital the week before his death and diagnosed with shingles, a rash marked by painful blisters.
She said her son had been in “intense pain” and speculated that discomfort may have driven him to self-medicate. Those family comments help explain why the newly detailed scene at the sober living home has drawn wider attention in celebrity breaking news.
Who was Blake Garrett beyond his breakout child-star role?
Garrett was best known for playing Plug in “How to Eat Fried Worms,” the 2006 movie based on Thomas Rockwell’s 1973 book. He acted alongside Luke Benward, Hallie Eisenberg, Adam Hicks, Ryan Malgarini, and Alexander Gould.
He once told the Oklahoman that, despite playing a bully’s sidekick, “everybody got along on set.” Before the film, he joined the “Barney’s Colorful World International Tour” between 2003 and 2004 and appeared in local theater productions. After stepping back from acting, he lived a private life.
If you or someone you care about is affected by substance use issues, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).