Canadian TV actor Stewart McLean, 45, was reported missing May 18.
VANCOUVER, BC — The remains of Stewart McLean, a Canadian actor known for his appearances on Netflix’s “Virgin River” and other television series, were discovered in Lions Bay, British Columbia, according to reports, as authorities confirmed they are treating his death as a homicide.
McLean, 45, was originally reported missing May 18 after he had not been seen since May 15. Authorities said he was last seen at his residence in Lions Bay, a community northwest of Vancouver. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed they are treating his death as a homicide.
Investigators announced Thursday that evidence uncovered during the missing persons investigation led them to believe McLean had been the victim of a homicide, prompting the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, known as IHIT, to officially take over the case.
Lucas Talent, the agency that represented McLean, shared a tribute on social media confirming his death.
“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!” the post read. “Many casting directors have reached out to share their condolences with Stew’s family and with our agency, and every message says the same thing: what a truly great guy he was, and how deeply he will be missed.”
Authorities did not elaborate on the evidence that pointed them toward a homicide. They said they are also working with the Integrated Forensic Identification Service.
“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 spokesperson Cpl. Esther Tupper said in a statement to media outlets. “We are pursuing all available leads as we work to find answers for the family, friends and loved ones of Mr. McLean.”
McLean’s credits include one episode of Netflix’s “Virgin River,” an episode of the Fox crime drama “Murder in a Small Town,” the Paramount+ true crime series “Happy Face” and the Lifetime TV movie “The Killer Inside: The Ruth Finley Story.” His earlier credits include appearances in The CW’s “Arrow,” the Netflix series “Travelers” and the Freeform series “Beyond.”
McLean was often credited as Stew McLean and was also listed on IMDb as a producer in addition to his acting work.
