A friend of Stewart McLean has spoken out after the Virgin River actor was found dead in British Columbia.
The remains of McLean, 45, were found by Canada’s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) on Friday, May 22. His death is being investigated as a homicide.
Speaking to The Canadian Press, McLean’s friend and acting coach Jeff Seymour said he knew something was very wrong as soon as the actor failed to turn up for filming last 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,” said Seymour.
Seymour went on to describe 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.”
Seymour, who is based in Los Angeles, said he became “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,” continued Seymour. “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.”
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, British Columbia, according to reports. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Squamish subsequently received a missing person report on May 18. RCMP turned the case over to IHIT on May 20.
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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 encouraged anyone with any information regarding McLean’s death to call the IHIT information line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp–grc.gc.ca.
The actor, who has often been credited as Stew McLean, worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. His earliest credits include an appearance in the 2016 television film Signed, Sealed, Delivered: One in a Million, the DC superhero show Arrow and the fantasy series Supernatural.
McLean’s more recent credits include an episode of the Canadian series Murder in a Small Town and the crime drama Happy Face.
He also regularly appeared in short films and worked as a producer, and often filmed near Vancouver, including on Bowen Island and in Squamish.