New details revealed in ‘How to Eat Fried Worm’ child star Blake Garrett’s death
“How to Eat Fried Worms” star Blake Garrett died surrounded by drug paraphernalia, according to his full autopsy report.
The actor, who passed away in February at 33, was found unresponsive in his sober living home in Tulsa, Oklahoma, per TMZ.
The outlet noted Monday that Garrett was found next to his bed near rolled dollar bills, a lighter and foil with burnt residue.
News broke in July that the former child star’s cause of death was an accidental fentanyl overdose.
The Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner’s report noted at the time that alcohol testing had come back negative.
In addition to swelling in Garrett’s brain, the report noted his lesions in various stages of healing from his shingles.
His mother previously told TMZ Garrett had been rushed to the hospital the week before his death and diagnosed with the rash, characterized by painful blisters, per the CDC.
She said her son had been in “intense pain” and speculated he may have been self-medicating.
Garrett was, notably, three years sober at this point.
He was best known for his role as Plug in “How to Eat Fried Worms,” which came out in 2006.
The movie was based on Thomas Rockwell’s book of the same name, published in 1973.
Garrett acted alongside Luke Benward, Hallie Eisenberg, Adam Hicks, Ryan Malgarini and Alexander Gould — and once insisted to the Oklahoman that, despite playing a bully’s sidekick in the film, “everybody got along on set.”
Before filming the movie, Garrett joined the “Barney’s Colorful World International Tour” between 2003 and 2004.
His acting experience before that included multiple local theater productions.
Garrett lived a private life after stepping back from acting.
If you or someone you care about is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
