A close friend of Stewart McLean, the Virgin River actor whose remains were discovered in British Columbia, has spoken out, insisting that the 45-year-old was not involved in any 'nefarious' activities. McLean's body was located by Canada's Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) on Friday, May 22, and his death is being treated as a homicide.
Friend Expresses Shock
Jeff Seymour, McLean's friend and acting coach, told The Canadian Press that he immediately sensed something was wrong when the actor failed to appear for filming the previous Saturday. 'He was meticulous about everything, and there would be no chance he blew it off or slept too late. As soon as I heard he didn't make it on Saturday morning, I knew there was big trouble,' Seymour said.
Seymour described McLean as a 'straight arrow' and added, 'It just doesn't make any sense. He was incredibly situationally aware. I bring it up because for the life of me, I don't know how anybody could get the drop on him.'
A 'Fast Friend'
Seymour, based in Los Angeles, recalled becoming 'fast friends' with McLean after he attended one of his coaching sessions eight years ago. 'Everybody loved this guy, it wasn't like he was in nefarious activities or, you know, kind of ran with another crowd,' Seymour continued. 'I mean, he was a bit of a loner. He spent a lot of time reading and being at his home out there in Squamish.'
He added: 'It's just a shocker. I would love to see justice served.'
Investigation Underway
McLean's remains were found in the Lions Bay area of British Columbia, according to police. The Edmonton-born actor was last seen at his home in Lions Bay, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Squamish received a missing person report on May 18. The case was transferred to IHIT on May 20.
In a statement to The Independent, Cpl. Esther Tupper of IHIT said: 'As the investigation continues to unfold, homicide investigators are working to collect and analyze evidence, review CCTV footage and conduct interviews to build a timeline of Mr. McLean's activities prior to May 15, 2026. We are pursuing all available leads as we work to find answers for the family, friends and loved ones of Mr. McLean.'
Police have urged anyone with information to contact the IHIT information line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or via email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
A Career in Entertainment
The actor, often credited as Stew McLean, worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. His early credits include the 2016 television film Signed, Sealed, Delivered: One in a Million, the DC superhero series Arrow, and the fantasy series Supernatural.
More recently, McLean appeared in an episode of the Canadian series Murder in a Small Town and the crime drama Happy Face. He also regularly featured in short films and worked as a producer, often filming near Vancouver, including on Bowen Island and in Squamish.
