Stewart McLean, the 45-year-old Canadian actor known for his recurring role in “Virgin River,” has been found dead following a missing persons report. Authorities have officially transitioned the case from a search effort to a homicide investigation after discovering his remains in the Lions Bay area of British Columbia.
The actor was last seen at his home on May 15. He was officially reported missing three days later, prompting an initial response from the local Squamish RCMP. McLean’s talent agent, Jodi Caplan, confirmed the death in a statement honoring the actor.
“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. He was always such a pleasure to deal with — dedicated, professional, eager, and endlessly funny!” Caplan said, according to Fox 9, which also outlined the timeline of his disappearance.
The investigation shifted once the initial search yielded evidence suggesting foul play. The case is now under the jurisdiction of Canada’s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team. IHIT spokesperson Cpl. Esther Tupper stated investigators are actively reviewing CCTV footage and interviewing witnesses to piece together McLean’s final days, as noted in WTHR’s breakdown of the case and his recent acting credits.
Often credited as “Stew,” McLean built a steady resume across the Canadian and US television industries over the last decade. Beyond his recent appearance as the character ‘Barfly’ in “Virgin River,” he worked on the Paramount+ series “Happy Face,” Lifetime’s “The Killer Inside: The Ruth Finley Story,” and the CW’s “Arrow.” Police have not yet named a suspect or determined a cause of death.