Autopsy results indicate that former child star Blake Garrett died of acute fentanyl toxicity, according to an official report. The Oklahoma Medical Examiner ruled his passing, which occurred in February at the age of 33, as accidental.
Garrett was discovered deceased on February 8 in a sober living home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Drug paraphernalia, including rolled-up dollar bills, a lighter, and foil with burnt residue, were found near his person, as documented in the autopsy report. Medical examiners noted that Garrett did not have any alcohol in his system at the time of his death. The autopsy also revealed diffuse swelling in his brain.
Prior to his death, Garrett had been diagnosed with shingles, a painful rash illness. His mother, Carol Garrett, suggested that he may have been using substances to cope with the pain associated with the ailment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes shingles as a condition that affects an estimated one million people annually in the U.S., often presenting as a painful, itchy, or tingly rash on one side of the body. The CDC also notes that shingles can lead to serious complications, most commonly long-term nerve pain known as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).
Garrett was widely recognized for his role as Plug in the 2006 film "How to Eat Fried Worms." This performance earned him and his co-stars a Young Artist Award for Best Young Ensemble in a Feature Film. Other actors in the movie included Luke Benward, Hallie Eisenberg, Adam Hicks, Alexander Gould, and Clint Howard. The film was an adaptation of Thomas Rockwell's 1973 book and was directed by Bob Dolman. Garrett also appeared in the 2004 video "Barney's Colorful World, Live!"
The actor, born in Austin, Texas, had a background in local theater productions as a child, including roles in "Aladdin and His Magical Lamp," "Peanuts: A Charlie Brown Tribute," "The Wizard of Oz," "Annie," and "Grease."