The cause of death for former child actor Blake Garrett has been confirmed months after he was found unresponsive inside an Oklahoma sober living home. Garrett died from acute fentanyl toxicity on February 8, according to the Oklahoma Medical Examiner. His death was ruled accidental. The “How to Eat Fried Worms” actor was only 33 years old.
Garrett was reportedly discovered beside his bed at the Tulsa sober living facility where he had been staying. According to an autopsy report reviewed by TMZ, drug paraphernalia was found near his body, including “rolled up dollar bills, a lighter and foil with burnt residue.” The report did not indicate that any alcohol contributed to Garrett’s death. Medical examiners said he tested negative for alcohol at the time of his passing.
The autopsy also reportedly found diffuse swelling in his brain. No additional substances were identified in the information provided from the report.
The Actor’s Death Was Ruled Accidental
The Oklahoma Medical Examiner determined that Garrett’s death resulted from acute fentanyl toxicity and classified the manner of death as accidental. Fentanyl was therefore identified as the direct cause of the actor’s passing rather than alcohol or complications from another reported health condition.
Garrett had been living in a sober living facility at the time of his death, although no further details were provided about how long he had been staying there or his treatment history. The final ruling provides a clearer account of what caused his sudden passing after his death was first reported in February.
Blake Garrett Was Suffering From Shingles
The autopsy also noted that Garrett had been dealing with shingles without complications. His body reportedly showed lesions at varying stages. His mother, Carol Garrett, previously told TMZ that her son had visited an Oklahoma emergency room after experiencing painful symptoms. He was diagnosed with shingles during that visit.
Carol said she believed her son may have been using substances in an attempt to manage the pain caused by the illness. Her statement reflected her personal belief and was not listed as an official medical conclusion in the autopsy findings.
No link between Garrett’s shingles diagnosis and his fentanyl use was formally established in the information released from the report.
What Is Shingles?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes shingles as “a painful rash illness” affecting “an estimated 1 million people” across the United States each year. According to the health organization, “people with shingles most commonly have a rash around the left or right side of the body.” The rash is described as “usually painful, itchy, or tingly.”
The CDC also warns that shingles “can lead to serious complications.” The condition’s most common recurring complication is “long-term nerve pain called postherpetic neuralgia, or PHN.”
Although Garrett’s mother said her son had been experiencing painful symptoms before his death, the autopsy reportedly categorized his shingles as being without complications.
Blake Garrett Built His Acting Career From The Stage
Long before Garrett appeared on the big screen, the Austin, Texas native began performing in local theater productions as a child. According to Deadline, his early stage credits included “Aladdin and His Magical Lamp” and “Peanuts: A Charlie Brown Tribute.” He also performed in productions of “The Wizard of Oz,” “Annie,” and “Grease.”
Garrett later appeared in the 2004 video “Barney’s Colorful World, Live!” before securing his best-known role as Plug in the 2006 family comedy “How to Eat Fried Worms.” Directed by Bob Dolman, the film was adapted from Thomas Rockwell’s 1973 children’s book and followed a group of young characters taking part in an unusual challenge.
He starred alongside Luke Benward, Hallie Eisenberg, Adam Hicks, Alexander Gould, and Clint Howard. The young cast’s performances earned them a Young Artist Award for Best Young Ensemble in a Feature Film, marking the biggest recognition of Garrett’s acting career.
Although Garrett’s time in Hollywood was relatively brief, “How to Eat Fried Worms” remained the role for which he was most widely remembered at the time of his death.
