Former Child Actor Blake Garrett Dies at 33
Blake Garrett, a former child actor best known for his role in the 2006 family comedy "How to Eat Fried Worms," died suddenly in Oklahoma on Sunday, February 8. He was 33.
Garrett's mother, Carol Garrett, confirmed the death to TMZ and said the family is awaiting autopsy results from the medical examiner to determine the official cause. According to Carol, her son had been rushed to an emergency room in Tulsa the previous week after experiencing intense pain. He was diagnosed with shingles, a viral infection that causes a painful rash. Carol expressed concern that Garrett may have self-medicated to manage the discomfort, leading to what she described as a possible tragic accident. She noted that fewer than 100 people die from shingles annually in the United States, according to health officials.
Born on September 14, 1992, in Austin, Texas, Garrett began performing at age 8 in local theater productions. He earned lead roles, including the magician in "Aladdin and His Magical Lamp" and Charlie Brown in a tribute production of "Peanuts." His stage credits also included "The Wizard of Oz," "Annie" and "Grease." At 10, he joined the cast of the arena show "Barney's Colorful World...