Blake Garrett, a former child actor known best for his role as Plug in the family comedy How To Eat Fried Worms, has died in Oklahoma. He was 33.
Hi mother Carol Garrett tells TMZ Garrett died Sunday, Feb. 8. and the family is awaiting autopsy results to determine an official cause of death. She told the publication Blake went to the emergency room last week after experiencing intense pain and was later diagnosed with shingles. She told TMZ she fears he may have self-medicated due to pain from the viral infection and believes his death may have been a tragic accident.
Born on September 14, 1992 in Austin, Texas, Blake Garrett began performing at the age of 8 in local productions, earning lead roles as the magician in Aladdin and his Magical Lamp and as Charlie Brown in Peanuts: A Charlie Brown Tribute. Additional theatre credits include The Wizard of Oz, Annie and Grease.
He shared a Young Artist Award in 2007 for Best Young Ensemble in a Feature Film for How To Eat Fried Worms. The 2006 children’s comedy film written and directed by Bob Dolman is based on Thomas Rockwell’s 1973 children’s book of the same name. It stars James Rebhorn, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, and Tom Cavanagh.
At the age of 10, Garrett traveled with the arena show Barney’s Colorful World International Tour from 2003-2004. He played the role of Mike, which he also portrayed in the subsequent video.