Virgin River actor Stewart McLean has been found dead after vanishing from his home in British Columbia, with police now treating the shocking case as a homicide investigation.
The 45-year-old actor was last seen at his home in Lions Bay on May 15, and for days, nobody seemed to know where he had gone.
Friends say the first real sign that something was seriously wrong came when the Murder in a Small Town actor failed to appear for a scheduled filming session, a moment that immediately concerned those who knew him as “dedicated, professional” and “meticulous.”
As concern around his disappearance intensified, investigators announced they believed that McLean may have been the victim of a homicide. And then, authorities discovered his remains near rail tracks across from his Squamish-area home.
Now, friends and colleagues are left mourning the Edmonton-born actor while police continue trying to reconstruct the final days leading up to his death.
‘I knew there was big trouble’
Jeff Seymour, an acting coach and longtime friend of McLean, told The Canadian Press (CP) that alarm bells went off almost instantly after the actor failed to appear for a scheduled filming session.
“He was meticulous about everything, and there would be no chance he blew it off or slept too late,” Seymour said.
According to Seymour, McLean’s disappearance felt completely out of character, especially for someone he described as reliable, thoughtful, and deeply respected by those around him.
“As soon as I heard he didn’t make it on Saturday morning, I knew there was big trouble,” said Seymour, who added that McLean had visited him in Los Angeles the month before his death. “We had the time of our lives,” he shared.
“It was really a wonderful week,” he said. “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 Stew.”
Police launch homicide investigation
Canada’s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) confirmed on May 22 that McLean’s remains were discovered in Lions Bay, an eastern shore community just north of Vancouver.
“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,” IHIT Cpl. Esther Tupper said in a statement shared with CP.
“We are pursuing all available leads as we work to find answers for the family, friends and loved ones of Mr. McLean.”
Investigators also stated they believe the incident was isolated, though authorities have not publicly shared additional details about the circumstances surrounding McLean’s death.
‘I miss my friend’
Following confirmation of McLean’s death, tributes quickly started pouring in from colleagues, fans, and friends who remembered the actor both for his work on screen and his personality away from the spotlight.
“It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our beloved client, Stew McLean. I was fortunate to have worked with Stew for more than 10 years,” Lucas Talent writes in a Facebook post of the star who appeared in Supernatural and Arrow.
“He was always such a pleasure to deal with – dedicated, professional, eager, and endlessly funny! What a truly great guy he was, and how deeply he will be missed.”
Ryan Minaker, a Vancouver writer and director, also shared an emotional tribute on Facebook for his pal.
“It’s with painful realization that we are saying goodbye to Stew McLean. Taken from us far too young and in such a heinous way,” Minaker wrote.
“What a rockstar he was. A loved guy everywhere he went and an inspiration when it came to his talents as an actor…Blessed to have so many great memories but sad there won’t be more. Stew was a wonderful soul.
“I miss my friend.”
‘Everybody loved this guy’
Meanwhile, in his interview with CP, Seymour, an American-Canadian actor, said of his pal: “It’s so crushing, and it hits me in ways I’ll suddenly think, ah, Stu, and I realize I can’t call him now,” Seymour said.
He also pushed back against any suggestion that McLean was involved in dangerous activity or surrounded by the wrong people.
“Everybody loved this guy, it wasn’t like he was in nefarious activities or, you know, kind of ran with another crowd,” Seymour explained.
“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.”
“It’s just a shocker,” he added. “I would love to see justice served.”
What are your thoughts after hearing about Stewart McLean’s death? Please share your condolences in the comment section below and pass this story along so his other fans can do the same.
READ MORE
- Death row inmate made last meal ‘mistake’ before suffering ‘excruciating’ execution
- Ex-inmate reveals what Mackenzie Shirilla is really like in prison
