After a week of disappearance, 'Virgin River' actor Stewart McLean, 45, has been found dead in British Columbia, and authorities believe he was the victim of a homicide.
The sudden death of Virgin River actor Stewart “Stew” McLean has left fans and the entertainment industry stunned. The actor had been missing for a week, and by day three of his disappearance, a missing persons case was registered in his name. With authorities already suspecting foul play, the case is now officially being treated as a homicide investigation, after McLean's remains were found in British Columbia. McLean, who recently appeared in Virgin River Season 7, was 45.
According to Canadian authorities, McLean was last seen alive on Friday, May 15, 2026, at his home in a quiet coastal village in Lions Bay, located along the Sea-to-Sky Highway north of Vancouver, British Columbia. After he failed to show up for a scheduled filming session the next day, which was highly out of character for Stew, the concerns about his whereabouts grew as nobody could establish contact with him.
Three days into his disappearance, a missing persons report was registered with the Squamish Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on May 18, 2026, prompting an extensive search operation involving local rescue teams and investigators. Just a day later, the case escalated when Canada’s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) stepped in. Investigators later confirmed that initial evidence gathered during the search led them to believe McLean had become the victim of a homicide.
Exactly a week after he was last seen alive, on Friday, May 22, 2026, authorities confirmed that McLean’s remains had been found and identified in the Lions Bay area. The specific medical or forensic details of his condition have not been disclosed yet, but a close friend reportedly noted that the actor's body was recovered near the rail tracks across the street from his home.
The authorities have not publicly disclosed the cause of death, nor have they identified a suspect yet. Regarding the investigation, IHIT officials have released a statement to the press, stating that forensic teams and homicide detectives are continuing to piece together McLean’s final movements before his disappearance. Cpl. Esther Tupper 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 said that investigators and partner agencies had been searching for the actor since the missing persons case first began. Authorities also noted that they currently believe McLean's disappearance is "an isolated incident." The latest update from the department came just one day after officials publicly stated that McLean was being treated as a possible homicide victim.
Stewart McLean, lovingly nicknamed "Stew", was widely loved and appreciated for his timeliness and dedication to his roles. His punctuality and discipline were what first triggered suspicion about his whereabouts when he didn't show up at a scheduled shoot. The actor made his debut with the film Snow Falcon and rapidly evolved into working on major television programs.
Though not a mainstream celebrity, McLean built a respected career in television over the years, appearing in several fan-favorite shows, including Virgin River, Arrow, Supernatural, The 100, Happy Face, and Murder in a Small Town. The actor spent most of his early career starring in short features, most notably Uniforms (2017), for which he even earned a Best Ensemble nomination at the Houston Comedy Film Festival.
Stewart McLean's last known work was in season 7 of Virgin River, which premiered earlier this year. Following his death confirmation, the actor's longtime agent at Lucas Talent Inc., Jodi Caplan, shared an emotional tribute on Facebook, writing:
"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...what a truly great guy he was, and how deeply he will be missed. Rest in peace, Stew. xo"
With the investigation still ongoing, investigators are examining McLean's final movements to determine exactly what happened in Lions Bay.
Read Next: 'Virgin River' Actor, Stewart McLean's Death At 45, Friend, Jeff Seymour Suspected Big Trouble