By BRIAN MARKS, US ASSISTANT SHOWBUSINESS EDITOR

Published: 18:31 EST, 9 February 2026 | Updated: 19:21 EST, 9 February 2026

Blake Garrett, the former child star who appeared in How To Eat Fried Worms, has died at 33.

Garrett’s mother Carol announced that he had died on Sunday, according to TMZ.

She told the publication that her family was still in the dark about what had caused her son’s death.

Garrett’s body was autopsied, but his family won’t know the cause of his death until the medical examiner’s report is released.

Garrett — who was born in Austin, Texas, as Nolan Blake Garrett — was best known for starring in the 2006 theatrical adaptation of the classic children’s book, How To Eat Fried Worms. 

His mother described his final days in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as being consumed by painful medical issues. 

Blake Garrett, the former child star who appeared in How To Eat Fried Worms, has died at 33. His mother told TMZ that his cause of death was still unknown, but he had been suffering debilitating medical issues shortly before his death; pictured in 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada

Blake Garrett, the former child star who appeared in How To Eat Fried Worms, has died at 33. His mother told TMZ that his cause of death was still unknown, but he had been suffering debilitating medical issues shortly before his death; pictured in 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada

Garrett's body was autopsied, but his family won't know the cause of his death until the medical examiner's report is released; the former actor is pictured with his mother Carol

Garrett’s body was autopsied, but his family won’t know the cause of his death until the medical examiner’s report is released; the former actor is pictured with his mother Carol

Garrett was best known for starring in the 2006 theatrical adaptation of the classic children's book, How To Eat Fried Worms; pictured (L) in the film with Philip Daniel Bolden (R)

Garrett was best known for starring in the 2006 theatrical adaptation of the classic children’s book, How To Eat Fried Worms; pictured (L) in the film with Philip Daniel Bolden (R)

According to TMZ, Carol said her son made a trip to an Oklahoma emergency room last week after he was stricken by excruciating pain.

The condition was allegedly later diagnosed as shingles, an extremely painful rash that can occur when the chickenpox is reactivated years later in people who contracted it when they were younger.

Although the condition is more likely to affect older individuals, around one in three people will develop shingles in their lifetime, according to the CDC, though that number may decrease over time thanks to the increasing prevalence of childhood vaccinations against chickenpox. 

Carol said she feared that the pain from the shingles might have led her son to use other substances to self-medicate. 

She reportedly worried that Garrett could have died as the result of a tragic accident as he tried to cope with the illness. 

It’s unclear what substances she feared her son may have been using, but the former child star had allegedly been sober in the past three years. 

Garrett got an early start in show business as a child, when he reportedly engaged in local theater and acted in productions of Aladdin And His Magical Lamp and Peanuts: A Charlie Brown Tribute.

He graduated to traveling theater when he was only 10 with a production of Barney’s Colorful World, which traveled across the country and played in arenas. 

According to TMZ, Carol said her son made a trip to an Oklahoma emergency room last week after he was stricken by excruciating pain, and he was subsequently diagnosed with shingles

According to TMZ, Carol said her son made a trip to an Oklahoma emergency room last week after he was stricken by excruciating pain, and he was subsequently diagnosed with shingles

Carol said she feared that the pain from the shingles might have led her son to use other substances to self-medicate. He had reportedly gotten sober in the previous three years

Carol said she feared that the pain from the shingles might have led her son to use other substances to self-medicate. He had reportedly gotten sober in the previous three years

Prior to appearing in How To Eat Fried Worms (2006), Garrett — who was born in Austin, Texas — had reportedly acted in local productions of Aladdin And His Magical Lamp and Peanuts: A Charlie Brown Tribute

Prior to appearing in How To Eat Fried Worms (2006), Garrett — who was born in Austin, Texas — had reportedly acted in local productions of Aladdin And His Magical Lamp and Peanuts: A Charlie Brown Tribute

Garrett (front left) and the rest of the child cast of How To Eat Fried Worms were honored with the award for Best Young Ensemble Cast at the 28th Young Artist Awards in 2007; pictured on set with Andrew Gillingham (front center) and Ryan Malgarini (front right) in 2006

Garrett (front left) and the rest of the child cast of How To Eat Fried Worms were honored with the award for Best Young Ensemble Cast at the 28th Young Artist Awards in 2007; pictured on set with Andrew Gillingham (front center) and Ryan Malgarini (front right) in 2006

The show also gave Garrett his big break on screen, as he was featured in a video made from the show that was released in 2004.

But Garrett’s most high-profile work was How To Eat Fried Worms, which was released in theaters two years later.

The children’s movie received only mixed reviews, but Garrett was honored with the rest of the primary cast with the award for Best Young Ensemble Cast at the 28th Young Artist Awards in 2007.

Despite early success, Garrett doesn’t appear to have continued his career in acting, and he didn’t have any additional credits after his big film role. 

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Blake Garrett is dead at 33: Former How To Eat Fried Worms child star passes after medical issues