The news of Blake Garrett’s passing feels especially heavy for anyone who grew up in the mid-2000s watching family comedies on repeat.

Blake Garrett — born Nolan Blake Garrett — died on Sunday, February 8, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at just 33 years old. His mother, Carol Garrett, confirmed his death and shared that the family is awaiting official autopsy results to determine the exact cause.

For many, Garrett will always be remembered as Plug in How to Eat Fried Worms — the mischievous, unforgettable character in the 2006 adaptation of the beloved children’s novel. The film followed a new student who makes a bet with a bully to eat ten worms without throwing up. Quirky, gross, and oddly heartfelt, it became a staple for young audiences of that era.

Garrett’s performance, alongside his young castmates, helped the ensemble earn a Young Artist Award for Best Young Ensemble Cast. For many viewers, Plug was one of those characters who stuck with you — equal parts chaotic and charming, the kind of role that becomes a nostalgic marker of childhood.

But acting didn’t start with Hollywood for Blake.

Born in Austin, Texas, he showed signs of stage presence early on. As a child, he performed in local theater productions including Aladdin and His Magical Lamp and Peanuts: A Charlie Brown Tribute. He later appeared in classics like The Wizard of Oz, Annie, and Grease. At just 10 years old, he reached a major milestone when he toured nationally with Barney’s Colorful World International Tour — an impressive achievement for such a young performer.

In recent years, Garrett had been living in Oklahoma. According to his mother, he had been sober for three years — something she said he was deeply proud of and had worked hard to maintain. Those close to him described a man focused on rebuilding his life, determined to move forward with clarity and strength.

Carol Garrett shared that Blake had recently visited an emergency room due to severe pain and was diagnosed with shingles. She expressed concern that he may have attempted to self-medicate to manage the discomfort, raising fears that his death could have been a tragic accident. However, until official results are released, the full circumstances remain unclear.

What stands out most in stories shared about Blake is not only his early success but the quieter, harder work he was doing later in life — the effort to stay sober, to regain stability, and to carve out a healthier future.

There’s something especially poignant about child actors who become part of our formative memories. We remember them frozen in time — laughing on screen, locked into the age we first saw them. Hearing of their passing forces us to confront the reality that life moved forward for them too, with all its struggles and second chances.

At 33, Blake Garrett’s life was far from complete. Friends and family say he had been working toward better days, proud of the progress he had made.

For fans who grew up watching How to Eat Fried Worms, this loss feels personal in a small but meaningful way. It’s a reminder of the passage of time, of childhood films that shaped us, and of the real lives behind those performances.

Blake Garrett was only 33.

May he rest in peace.