Stewart McLean, the 45-year-old actor known for his role in the Netflix series Virgin River, has been found dead in British Columbia, Canada. His remains were discovered by the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) on Friday, May 22, and his death is being treated as a homicide.
McLean's friend and acting coach, Jeff Seymour, expressed shock, telling The Canadian Press that McLean was a 'straight arrow' and highly dependable. 'He was meticulous about everything, and there would be no chance he blew it off or slept too late,' Seymour said, referring to McLean's failure to appear on set the previous Saturday. Seymour added that McLean was not involved in anything 'nefarious' and was a 'bit of a loner' who spent time reading at his home in Squamish.
The actor was last seen at his home in Lions Bay, British Columbia. A missing person report was filed on May 18, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Squamish transferred the case to IHIT on May 20. IHIT Corporal Esther Tupper stated that investigators are collecting evidence, reviewing CCTV footage, and conducting interviews to establish McLean's activities prior to May 15.
McLean, also credited as Stew McLean, had worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade, with appearances in Arrow, Supernatural, and Signed, Sealed, Delivered: One in a Million. His recent credits include Murder in a Small Town and Happy Face. He also produced short films and frequently filmed near Vancouver.
Police are urging anyone with information to contact IHIT at 1-877-551-IHIT or ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
