Who Is Stewart McLean from Virgin River? Key Things to Know
Stewart “Stew” McLean gained recognition for his role in Virgin River before his disappearance and subsequent death made news in May 2026.
On May 18, 2026, McLean was reported missing to the Squamish Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) after being last seen at his home in Lions Bay, British Columbia three days earlier.
Following the initial three days of investigation into McLean’s disappearance as a missing person case, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team stepped in to assist with the search, with authorities speculating that McLean might be the victim of a murder.
On May 22, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) released a statement confirming that McLean’s remains had been discovered in the Lions Bay area.
As of now, authorities have not disclosed any suspects or theories regarding what may have occurred to McLean.
Continue reading for all the updates regarding McLean after his tragic passing:
Who Did Stewart McLean Portray in ‘Virgin River’?
Virgin River was McLean’s final project before he went missing. The actor portrayed a barfly in season 7 of the Netflix series, which premiered in March 2026. According to McLean’s IMDB profile, he appeared in a single episode.
What Other Roles Did Stewart McLean Have?
McLean started his acting career in an uncredited role in the student film Snow Falcon. He has made appearances in various shows such as Supernatural, Arrow, Blue Steele, Travelers, Beyond, The 100, Siren, Murder in a Small Town, among others. He also starred in the series Cloud Van Tales, which aired from 2019 to 2020.
Aside from his work in TV series, McLean was particularly recognized for his performances in short films. His notable roles include those in 2015’s Buddy Cops, 2016’s Detective Williams, 2017’s Uniforms, and 2018’s Return to Sender, among others.
Did Stewart McLean Receive Any Awards?
McLean was acknowledged alongside the cast of the 2017 short film Uniforms, which earned a nomination for Best Ensemble at the Houston Comedy Film Festival.
What Happened to Stewart McLean?
The investigation into McLean’s disappearance began with the Squamish RCMP on May 18, 2026. The next day, police requested public assistance in locating the actor, with Lions Bay Search and Rescue leading the initial search. Two days later, it was revealed that officials were exploring the possibility that McLean could be a homicide victim.
“On May 20, IHIT took over the investigation. The Squamish RCMP is collaborating closely with IHIT and the Integrated Forensic Identification Service (IFIS) to progress the investigation,” the press release stated. “During the investigation, Squamish RCMP gathered evidence suggesting that Mr. McLean was a homicide victim.”
When Was Stewart McLean Discovered Deceased?
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) confirmed via a press release on May 22 that McLean had been found dead in Lions Bay after going missing.
This news was also confirmed by Lucas Talent Inc. talent agent, Jodi Caplan, who paid tribute to him on Facebook that same day.
“It is with tremendous sadness that we bid farewell to our cherished client, Stew McLean,” the statement read. “I was lucky to have worked with Stew for over a decade.”
The statement further added: “He was always delightful to work with — dedicated, professional, enthusiastic, and endlessly amusing. Numerous casting directors have reached out to express their condolences to Stew’s family and to our agency, all echoing the same sentiment: what a truly great guy he was, and how profoundly he will be missed. Rest in peace, Stew. xo”
Law enforcement encourages anyone with information concerning McLean’s disappearance or the investigation to contact the IHIT information line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or via email at ihitinfo@rcmp–grc.gc.ca.
