A working actor whose career spanned more than three decades in Canadian television and film, Stewart McLean was last seen on May 15 at his home in Lions Bay. When the 45-year-old failed to appear for a scheduled day of filming the following day, those who knew him sensed immediately that something was terribly wrong.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) announced that it is treating McLean’s death as a homicide. His remains were discovered in Lions Bay, a small coastal community of fewer than 1,500 residents located about 12 miles northwest of Vancouver. Authorities have not disclosed when the body was found, and investigators have not identified a suspect, motive, or cause of death. The B.C. Coroners Service is working to determine how he died.
McLean, a Canadian actor recognizable to viewers of Netflix’s “Virgin River,” had built a steady career in the Vancouver-centered production industry. Born in Edmonton and often known as Stew, he accumulated more than 30 television and film credits and was also listed on IMDb as a producer.
Friends Sensed Something Was Wrong
Jeff Seymour, an acting coach who had been McLean’s friend for eight years, told The Canadian Press he became worried when McLean didn’t show up for a scheduled shoot the day after he was last seen.
“He was meticulous about everything, and there would be no chance he blew it off or slept too late,” Seymour said. “As soon as I heard he didn’t make it on the morning after he disappeared, I knew there was big trouble.”
The Squamish division of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) received the missing person report on May 18, three days after McLean was last seen. Officers were publicly urging anyone with information to come forward, saying they were “very concerned for Stewart’s health and well-being.”
A Disappearance That Raised Alarms
What started as a missing person case shifted dramatically within 48 hours. IHIT confirmed it began investigating McLean’s death on May 20 and the Squamish RCMP formally transferred the case to the homicide team. The handoff indicated that what officers discovered during their initial search no longer aligned with a simple missing person inquiry.
“Squamish RCMP initiated an investigation and, through investigative efforts, uncovered evidence that led investigators to believe Mr. McLean was a victim of homicide,” police said in a statement, declining to describe the nature of that evidence.
IHIT has described the killing as “an isolated incident,” language typically used to reassure the public that investigators do not believe a wider threat exists. The agency is working alongside the Integrated Forensic Identification Service on the case.
Building a Timeline From CCTV and Interviews
IHIT Cpl. Esther Tupper said detectives are reviewing CCTV footage, examining physical evidence, and conducting interviews to reconstruct his activities in the hours and days before his disappearance.
“We are pursuing all available leads as we work to find answers for the family, friends and loved ones of Mr. McLean,” Tupper said. IHIT has asked anyone with information to contact its tip line.
Lions Bay, perched along the Sea-to-Sky Highway between Vancouver and Whistler, rarely sees violent crime, which has only heightened scrutiny of the investigation. What began as a missing person case has now become one of the most closely watched homicide investigations in the province.
A Three-Decade Career on Canadian Sets
Among McLean’s latest screen credits was an episode of Netflix’s “Virgin River,” the long-running romance series shot in British Columbia. He was best known for his roles on Freeform’s “Beyond” and the Netflix series “Travelers,” frequently credited as “Traveler” on industry listings. Other credits included The CW’s “Arrow,” the ABC 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.”
Lucas Talent Inc., the agency that represented him, posted a tribute remembering McLean as “dedicated, professional, eager, and endlessly funny.” Agent Jodi Caplan, who had represented him for more than a decade, said the response from the industry has been overwhelming.
For now, investigators have offered few specifics, and the people closest to McLean are left with the same questions as the public. The homicide investigation remains active as IHIT works to establish what happened in the days leading up to McLean’s disappearance.