Former child star Blake Garrett, just 33 and three years sober after beating addiction, died in agony from shingles complications in Oklahoma, awaiting autopsy amid suspicions of self-medication.
Story Snapshot
- Blake Garrett, known for 2006’s *How to Eat Fried Worms*, died February 8, 2026, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, days after shingles diagnosis.
- Mother Carol Garrett reveals severe pain led to ER visit; possible accidental self-medication during recent sobriety.
- Autopsy pending; highlights shingles risks for adults and fragility of recovery from child star struggles.
- Garrett had no acting roles post-2006 but lived positively as a family man until this tragedy.
Garrett’s Rapid Decline After Shingles Diagnosis
Blake Garrett sought emergency care in early February 2026 for intense pain in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Doctors diagnosed shingles, a reactivation of the childhood chickenpox virus that triggers severe nerve pain and rash. Affecting about one in three adults lifetime according to CDC data, shingles struck Garrett despite his stable life. His mother, Carol Garrett, shared these details with media outlets, noting the pain’s overwhelming nature just one week before his death on Sunday, February 8.
From Child Stardom to Sobriety and Sudden Loss
Born in Austin, Texas, Blake Garrett launched his career in local theater with roles in *Aladdin and His Magical Lamp* and *Peanuts: A Charlie Brown Tribute*. At age 10, he toured in *Barney’s Colorful World International Tour*. His peak came in 2006’s *How to Eat Fried Worms* as Plug, earning a 2007 Young Artist Award for Best Young Ensemble Cast. No further film credits followed, marking a typical fade for child actors. Garrett achieved sobriety around 2023, embracing family life in Tulsa.
Carol Garrett emphasized her son’s turnaround, telling reporters he was “living a really good life” post-recovery. This stability contrasted the common post-fame pitfalls like addiction that plague many child stars. Fans echoed this on social media, posting tributes calling him a “legend” and reminiscing about the film’s upcoming 20th anniversary in 2026. Yet shingles upended his progress, underscoring health vulnerabilities even for those who overcome Hollywood’s pressures.
Family Seeks Answers as Autopsy Looms
Garrett died at home on February 8, 2026. TMZ broke the news on February 9, with Carol providing circumstances: severe shingles pain possibly leading to self-medication and accidental overdose. Additional reports from Express, Parade, and KFBK followed on February 10. The Oklahoma medical examiner holds the key, with autopsy results pending to confirm cause. Carol seeks closure, honoring her son’s recent achievements amid grief.
No organizations or studios are involved, as Garrett left the industry years ago. Media coverage focuses on family statements, with consistent facts across outlets. Fans question online why “so many iconic actors” from the 1990s era, now around 33, face premature ends. This echoes Kianna Underwood’s January 16, 2026, hit-and-run death in New York, though Garrett’s case stems from medical issues, not violence.
Former child star dead suddenly at 33 https://t.co/C6XY4qurKf pic.twitter.com/fqMZSTbio0
— New York Post (@nypost) February 10, 2026
Lessons on Health Risks and Child Star Realities
Short-term, the Garrett family endures profound loss and waits for official findings. Long-term, the story spotlights shingles prevalence in adults and dangers of self-medicating during recovery from addiction. Child actor alumni and fans feel nostalgia’s sting, prompting talks on faded stars’ struggles. Tulsa’s community mourns a local who had rebuilt his life. No economic ripple exists due to his inactive career, but social media buzz may revive interest in his film.
Sources:
Former child actor Blake Garrett died in pain aged 33 after shingles diagnosis
Blake Garrett Dead: How to Eat Fried Worms Child Actor
Former Child Actor Blake Garrett Dead at 33
