'How to Eat Fried Worms' star Blake Garrett's cause of death revealed
New details are being released on the death of Blake Garrett, the actor and former child star who died in February at the age of 33.
Garrett, best known for his role in the 2006 children's comedy "How to Eat Fried Worms," died of acute fentanyl toxicity, the Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed to USA TODAY in an autopsy obtained Tuesday, July 14. The manner of Garrett's death was ruled accidental.
Additionally, the report noted that Garrett was found dead at a sober living house in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Various drug paraphernalia, including rolled dollar bills and a lighter, were discovered at the scene.
Fentanyl is a "powerful synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent," according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. As a medicine, it can be used to treat severe or chronic pain in patients.
As of September, the narcotic is the primary cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States, per the U.S. Government Accountability Office. A small amount of fentanyl, such as two milligrams, can cause a lethal overdose.
In a February interview with TMZ, Garrett's mother, Carol Garrett, said the actor previously struggled with substance abuse, adding that Garrett had gotten sober in recent years and was on the right track.
Born in Austin, Texas, Garrett starred in local productions of "Aladdin and His Magic Lamp," "Peanuts: A Charlie Brown Tribute," "The Wizard of Oz," "Annie" and "Grease" before going on to star in the live international tour "Barney's Colorful World" as Mike.
The young actor scored his big break when he landed the role of Plug in Bob Dolman's "How to Eat Fried Worms." The film is loosely based on the controversial 1973 children's book of the same name, which was among the American Library Association's list of most commonly challenged books in the '90s.
Garrett's performance, alongside castmates Luke Benward, Hallie Eisenberg and Adam Hicks, won him a Young Artist Award for best young ensemble in a feature film. After "Fried Worms," Garrett largely retreated from the industry, although he starred in a pilot episode for the television series "Inconceivable."
If you or someone you know needs help battling a substance abuse addiction, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
This story has been updated to add new information.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'How to Eat Fried Worms' star Blake Garrett's cause of death revealed
Reporting by Edward Segarra and Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
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This story was originally published July 14, 2026 at 3:40 PM.