Virgin River Actor Stewart McLean Found Dead After Disappearing On May 18

Actor

Stewart McLean, who has acted in the series Virgin River, Arrow, and The Irrational, was found dead in Canada a week after he went missing. He was 45. The Virgin River actor was reported missing on May 18; he was last seen at his home three days ago in Lions Bay, British Columbia. A search was announced for McLean and the Squamish Royal Canadian Mounted Police had even asked for help from the public to find the actor. However, on Thursday, May 21, Canadian authorities revealed that McLean's disappearance was being treated as a homicide investigation based on the information they found. A day later, they revealed that his remains had been found in the area.

Stewart McLean found dead at 45; homicide investigation underway

According to a report in Entertainment Weekly, after McLean was reported missing, the Squamish Royal Canadian Mounted Police had stated that they were "very concerned for Stewart's health and well-being." His case was transferred to Canada's Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT), who shared on May 21 that his case was now being treated as a homicide investigation. They took over his case a day earlier. Their statement read: Squamish RCMP initiated an investigation and, through investigative efforts, uncovered evidence that led investigators to believe Mr. McLean was victim of homicide." The actor's remains were found on May 22 in Lions Bay, British ColumbiaCpl. Esther Tupper of IHIT also shared that homicide investigators were collecting and analysing evidence, reviewing CCTV footage and conducting interviews to figure out where McLean had been before May 15, 2026. They were examining all leads to find answers for McLean's family, friends and loved ones.

All about Stewart McLean

McLean's talent agency shared a poignant post on Facebook recalling the actor as a "dedicated, professional, eager, and endlessly funny" client. They also said that casting directors were sharing condolences on his death and all noted what a "truly great guy he was."

The actor, who never married and lived alone, was well-known in the Vancouver film and television industry since 2015. Besides acting on shows such as Virgin River, Arrow, Supernatural, Siren, The Irrational, Happy Face and Murder in a Small Town. McLean, who had around 36 acting credits, also produced independent film projects within the British Columbia entertainment industry. He had a short role in Season 7 of Netflix’s romance series Virgin River which was released online on March 12, 2026.