Blake Garrett, actor known for playing Woodrow “Woody” in the 2006 children’s film “How to Eat Fried Worms,” died on February 3, 2026, at age 33 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Garrett was found unresponsive one week after an emergency room visit for shingles treatment. His mother, Linda Garrett, suspects accidental self-medication death involving pain management, though official autopsy results are pending. Garrett had been sober for three years after overcoming addiction and rebuilding his life outside Hollywood. This article covers his death timeline, his mother’s theory about what happened, his inspiring sobriety journey, and how he rebuilt his life in Tulsa after child stardom ended.
Blake Garrett Dies Suddenly at Age 33
Blake Garrett, the actor who played Woodrow “Woody” in the 2006 family movie “How to Eat Fried Worms,” died on February 3, 2026, at his apartment in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was just 33 years old.
His roommate found him unresponsive around 9:30 AM. Emergency responders arrived quickly but couldn’t save him. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Tulsa Police Department.
What makes his death especially tragic is the timing. Just one week earlier, Blake had visited a Tulsa emergency room for severe shingles pain. He was given prescriptions for antiviral medication and pain relievers. Now his mother believes those medications may have accidentally caused his death.
What Happened in His Final Week
| Date | What Happened | Important Details |
|---|---|---|
| January 27 | Visited Tulsa ER for shingles pain | Doctors prescribed antivirals and pain medication |
| January 28-February 2 | Texted his mom daily | Said pain was improving but couldn’t sleep well |
| February 3 (9:30 AM) | Found unresponsive by roommate | Multiple prescription bottles on nightstand |
| February 4 | Medical examiner begins autopsy | Toxicology results expected in 6-8 weeks |
Mother’s Heartbreaking Theory About His Death
Linda Garrett, Blake’s mother, believes her son accidentally took too much medication while trying to manage his unbearable shingles pain. She doesn’t think he meant to hurt himself—she thinks he made a tragic mistake.
What His Mom Told Reporters
In an emotional interview with People Magazine, Linda explained what she thinks happened: “Blake was in terrible pain from the shingles. He told me it felt like fire under his skin. I think he took too much pain medication trying to get some sleep, not realizing how dangerous it was.”
Linda stressed that Blake had been clean and sober for three years. He was proud of his recovery and committed to staying that way. But she worries that being prescribed legitimate pain medication created a dangerous situation because of his history.
“When you’ve struggled with addiction, even doctor-prescribed medications can be risky,” she said. “I’m not blaming his doctors—they were treating real pain. But Blake’s body responded differently to medications because of his past.”
Why Shingles Pain Is So Dangerous
Shingles causes incredibly severe pain that patients describe as burning or stabbing sensations. The pain is so bad that it makes sleeping nearly impossible. This leads people to take extra doses of pain medication or mix medications trying to find relief, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine specialists.
Linda mentioned that Blake had both prescription pain pills and over-the-counter sleep aids in his apartment. When you combine opioid pain medication with sleep aids or sedatives, it can dangerously slow your breathing—especially during sleep. This combination can cause death without the person ever waking up.
For someone with Blake’s addiction history, this situation was particularly risky even though he’d been sober for years. His brain chemistry had changed from past substance abuse, making him more vulnerable to accidental overdose.
Blake’s Inspiring Three-Year Sobriety Journey
Blake Garrett had been completely sober for three full years when he died. This wasn’t easy—it represented a complete transformation of his entire life.
Hitting Rock Bottom
After his child acting career ended, Blake struggled badly with substance abuse throughout his twenties. He was arrested twice for drug possession between 2018-2019. By 2022, he had hit absolute rock bottom with his addiction, according to substance abuse recovery organizations.
Choosing Recovery
In early 2023, Blake made the brave decision to enter a 90-day residential treatment program in Oklahoma. He successfully completed the entire program and committed to staying sober long-term through regular support group meetings and ongoing therapy.
His recovery wasn’t just about stopping drugs—it was about completely rebuilding his identity and purpose.
Building a New Life in Tulsa
After getting sober, Blake deliberately stayed away from Los Angeles and the entertainment industry. He moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where his mother’s family lived. He wanted a quieter life with fewer temptations and triggers.
In Tulsa, Blake worked as a manager at a local hardware store. His coworkers described him as hardworking, friendly, and completely down-to-earth. He didn’t talk about his past fame. He enjoyed being anonymous and living a normal life.
“Blake absolutely loved Tulsa,” his mother said. “He could finally just be himself, not a former child actor. He had real friends who didn’t care about Hollywood. He was genuinely happy for the first time in years.”
Blake regularly attended recovery support group meetings and became a mentor to people struggling with early sobriety. His recovery friends said he was always willing to help newcomers who were having a hard time staying clean.
From ‘How to Eat Fried Worms’ to Normal Life
Blake Garrett became known for playing Woodrow “Woody” in “How to Eat Fried Worms,” a 2006 family comedy based on Thomas Rockwell’s popular children’s book that many millennials remember from their childhood.
His Brief Acting Career
Blake was 13 years old when he appeared in “How to Eat Fried Worms” with other young actors. The movie told the story of a middle school kid who bets he can eat 15 worms in 15 days. It became a nostalgic favorite for people who grew up in the 2000s.
After that film, Blake had small parts in a few TV shows between 2007-2010, but never became a major star. By age 18, his acting career was basically over—a common story for child actors who don’t successfully transition to adult roles.
The Struggle of Former Child Stars
Like many former child actors, Blake struggled with identity issues after his brief fame ended. He later spoke openly about feeling completely lost in his early twenties.
“I went from being ‘the kid from that movie’ to being nobody,” he said in a 2023 podcast interview about his recovery. “I didn’t know how to be a regular person. I didn’t have normal job skills or know who I was. It really messed me up mentally.”
This identity crisis contributed directly to his substance abuse problems. But his recovery journey showed he successfully found a new identity and purpose outside Hollywood—making his sudden death especially heartbreaking.
The Painful Irony of How He Died
Blake Garrett’s death carries devastating irony. He beat his addiction. He rebuilt his entire life from scratch. He stayed sober for three solid years. He found genuine happiness working a normal job in Tulsa, far from Hollywood’s pressures.
Then he may have died from medications that doctors legitimately prescribed for real medical pain.
His story shows the complicated challenges that addiction survivors face forever. Even with strong long-term recovery, prescribed medications for actual medical problems can pose serious dangers for people with substance abuse histories.
Official autopsy results and complete toxicology reports are expected in 6-8 weeks. These will provide definitive answers about exactly what caused his death. Until then, his family and friends mourn a young man who worked incredibly hard to turn his life around completely.
Blake Garrett is survived by his mother Linda, father Robert, younger sister Emily, and an entire community in Tulsa that knew him simply as Blake—a kind coworker, loyal friend, and recovery inspiration who helped others stay sober. Not a former child star. Just Blake, a good person trying his best.
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