The name Blake Garrett may not ring immediate bells for every moviegoer today, yet for millions who came of age in the mid-2000s, he remains forever etched in memory as Plug—the red-haired, wide-grinned sidekick who turned worm-eating into an absurd badge of honor in How to Eat Fried Worms. On February 8, 2026, that same infectious energy was extinguished far too soon. At only 33 years old, Blake passed away suddenly in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His mother, Carol Garrett, later confirmed the devastating news to several outlets, revealing that her son had been rushed to the hospital just days earlier suffering from shingles—an excruciating condition that had left him in agony. What began as a routine medical emergency quickly spiraled into tragedy. As the family now awaits autopsy results, a heartbreaking possibility lingers: that Blake, in desperate search of relief from unbearable pain, may have accidentally taken his own life through self-medication gone wrong.

Few stories capture the cruel unpredictability of life quite like this one. Blake Nolan Garrett was born September 14, 1992, in Austin, Texas—a city already buzzing with live music, independent film, and a thriving theater scene that would become the cradle of his early talent. By age eight he had discovered the electric thrill of performance. Local community theaters became his second home. He played the mischievous magician in Aladdin and His Magical Lamp, brought earnest hope to the role of Charlie Brown in a Peanuts tribute, danced and sang in Grease, skipped down the yellow brick road in The Wizard of Oz, and dreamed big in Annie. Each production sharpened his comedic timing, taught him how to read an audience, and instilled the discipline required to memorize lines while still doing homework.

That early immersion paid off quickly. At ten years old Blake landed a coveted spot in the international touring production of Barney’s Colorful World! (2003–2004). As Mike—one of Barney’s human friends—he performed in packed arenas across North America and beyond. He later smiled in interviews while recounting how children would stare in fascination at his bright red hair, a trait that made him instantly recognizable even offstage. Touring at such a young age meant long bus rides, different hotel rooms every week, tutors on set, and the constant adrenaline of live shows. Yet Blake handled it with remarkable poise, earning praise from castmates and crew for his professionalism and sunny disposition.

Hollywood soon noticed. Small roles followed: a featured part in the short film Little Flower and an appearance in the pilot for the television series Inconceivable. Then came the breakthrough. In 2006, at age 13, Blake was cast as Plug in How to Eat Fried Worms, the big-screen adaptation of Thomas Rockwell’s classic 1973 children’s novel. Directed by Bob Dolman and backed by Walden Media and New Line Cinema, the film told the story of Billy Forrester (Luke Benward), a shy new kid who accepts a humiliating dare: eat ten worms in one school day or suffer endless torment from the school bully Joe (Adam Hicks) and his loyal crew—including Plug.

Plug was never meant to be a villain. He was the comic heart of the antagonist group: loud, loyal to a fault, occasionally dim-witted, yet oddly endearing. Blake brought exactly the right blend of bravado and vulnerability to the role. His exaggerated facial expressions during the worm-eating scenes—eyes bulging, cheeks puffed, voice cracking with mock disgust—became instant meme material long before memes dominated culture. Behind the camera the young cast formed genuine bonds. Luke Benward, Hallie Eisenberg, Adam Hicks, and others have since spoken warmly of late-night laughs, mud fights during outdoor shoots in Louisiana, and the surreal experience of pretending to gag on (thankfully edible) worm props for hours on end. Blake himself described the set as “summer camp with better catering and worse food challenges.”

When How to Eat Fried Worms premiered, critics were divided—some called it juvenile, others praised its honest portrayal of middle-school power dynamics—but children loved it. The movie grossed more than $13 million worldwide on a modest budget and found an even larger audience on home video and cable reruns. In 2007 the young ensemble, including Blake, received the Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Feature Film – Young Ensemble Cast, a moment he later called one of the proudest of his life.

After that peak, however, Blake chose a different path from many of his peers. While some child actors chased bigger roles or struggled publicly with the transition to adulthood, he quietly stepped away from the Hollywood machine. He moved to Oklahoma to live closer to family, settling into a modest life with his mother Carol, younger brother Ryan, and a house full of animals: a devoted dog, two cats, and—fittingly for someone who once “ate” worms on screen—a pet snake.

Friends and family describe these later years as a period of healing and rediscovery. Blake achieved sobriety in 2023 after years of private battles. He spoke openly (though sparingly) about the importance of second chances, of rebuilding trust with loved ones, and of finding peace outside the spotlight. He occasionally took small local acting jobs and voice-over work, but the pressure of constant auditions and public scrutiny no longer defined him. To those closest to him he seemed, for the first time in a long while, genuinely content.

That fragile equilibrium shattered in early February 2026.

Shingles—an adult reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus that causes chickenpox in childhood—struck without mercy. The condition produces a searing, electric-shock-like pain along affected nerves, often accompanied by a blistering rash, fever, headache, and extreme fatigue. While most cases resolve within weeks, the nerve pain (postherpetic neuralgia) can linger for months or even years. For someone in their early thirties the illness is uncommon but not unheard of, especially if the immune system is compromised by stress, poor sleep, or other factors.

Blake’s pain became so severe that he sought emergency care. Doctors prescribed antiviral medication and pain relief. Yet the agony persisted. According to statements attributed to his mother, he returned home still suffering intensely. In the early hours of February 8, he was found unresponsive. First responders were unable to revive him. Preliminary reports suggest a possible accidental overdose of pain medication—perhaps an attempt to quiet nerves that felt like they were on fire. The official cause of death awaits toxicology and autopsy findings, but the family has already begun to speak publicly about the dangers of self-medicating during acute pain episodes.

The news hit former co-stars and fans like a physical blow. Luke Benward posted a simple black-and-white photo of the Worms cast together with the caption: “We lost one of the good ones. Rest easy, brother.” Adam Hicks shared memories of late-night talks and shared pranks. Online, thousands of adults who grew up watching the film flooded comment sections with clips, screenshots, and personal stories of how Plug’s over-the-top antics helped them survive awkward school years. Many remarked on the irony: a man who once fearlessly “ate” worms on camera had ultimately been felled by something far more invisible and insidious—pain.

Blake’s death also reignites difficult conversations about the long-term toll exacted on child performers. The industry has made strides since the early 2000s—better oversight, mental-health resources, financial protections—yet the psychological scars of early fame remain real. Blake was fortunate in one respect: he left the business before tabloid culture could devour him. Still, sobriety is hard under any circumstances; it becomes exponentially more challenging when childhood memories are publicly replayed every time someone Googles your name.

His story carries another urgent message: shingles is preventable. The recombinant zoster vaccine (Shingrix) is highly effective and recommended for adults 50 and older, yet it is also approved for younger adults with certain risk factors. Greater awareness of the disease—its potential severity in people under 50, the importance of early antiviral treatment, and the need for proper pain management—could save lives. Blake’s mother has already signaled her willingness to speak about these issues in the coming months, hoping some good might emerge from unimaginable grief.

Today the boy who once made millions laugh by pretending to choke down garden worms is gone. Yet the lessons he helped deliver remain. How to Eat Fried Worms was never really about eating worms. It was about facing fear, standing up to bullies, finding courage in absurdity, and discovering that friendship can bloom even in the strangest circumstances. Blake Garrett embodied those themes on screen and, in quieter ways, off screen as well. He fought his own battles, reclaimed his life, and tried—until the very end—to keep going.

Thirty-three is far too young to leave. Yet in the brief time he had, Blake gave countless children (and the adults they became) permission to laugh at the gross, the scary, and the ridiculous parts of growing up. That gift does not vanish with him.

Wherever he is now, one can only hope the pain is finally gone—and that somewhere, in some cosmic theater, a red-haired kid is still grinning, still ready for the next dare, still reminding us all to face the worms, whatever form they take.