Authorities in British Columbia have launched a homicide investigation following the discovery of Stewart McLean’s body in Lions Bay, a coastal village northwest of Vancouver. McLean, 45, was a Canadian actor with more than 30 credits spanning three decades of television work, including appearances on Netflix’s “Virgin River.”
The actor, who often went by Stew and was born in Edmonton, built his career as a reliable presence in Vancouver’s bustling production industry. He appeared in Netflix’s “Travelers,” where he was frequently credited as “Traveler,” and Freeform’s “Beyond,” among his best-known roles. His 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.” He was also listed on IMDb as a producer.
A Three-Decade Career on Canadian Sets
McLean’s most recent on-screen appearance was in an episode of Netflix’s “Virgin River,” the long-running romance series shot in British Columbia. 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.
Friends Sensed Something Was Wrong
Acting coach Jeff Seymour, a friend of McLean’s for eight years, told The Canadian Press he grew alarmed when McLean failed to show up to a scheduled shoot the day after he was last seen.
Seymour said McLean was meticulous about everything, and there would be no chance he would miss a shoot or sleep too late. He added that as soon as he heard McLean didn’t make it to the shoot, he knew there was serious trouble.
McLean was last seen at his home in Lions Bay. When he didn’t show up for a scheduled day of filming, the people who knew him best say they suspected immediately that something had gone wrong.
A Disappearance That Raised Alarms
The Squamish division of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police received the missing person report several days later. Within hours, officers were publicly urging anyone with information to come forward, saying they were very concerned for Stewart’s health and well-being.
The tone of the investigation shifted within 48 hours. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team confirmed it began investigating McLean’s death shortly after, and Squamish RCMP formally transferred the case to the homicide team. The handoff signaled that what officers had uncovered during the initial search was no longer consistent with a simple missing person inquiry.
Police said in a statement that they initiated an investigation and, through investigative efforts, uncovered evidence that led investigators to believe Mr. McLean was a victim of homicide, declining to describe the nature of that evidence. (source)
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team announced that McLean’s remains were discovered in Lions Bay, a small coastal community northwest of Vancouver. Investigators have not disclosed the precise date the body was found, nor have they identified a suspect, motive, or cause of death. The B.C. Coroners Service is working to determine how he died.
Building a Timeline From CCTV and Interviews
What began as a missing person case has now become one of the most closely watched homicide investigations in the province. Detectives are now piecing together McLean’s final movements. According to IHIT Cpl. Esther Tupper, investigators are reviewing CCTV footage, examining physical evidence, and conducting interviews to reconstruct his activities in the hours and days leading up to his disappearance.
Tupper said investigators are pursuing all available leads as they work to find answers for the family, friends and loved ones of Mr. McLean. IHIT has asked anyone with information to contact its tip line.
IHIT has characterized 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.
Lions Bay, perched along the Sea-to-Sky Highway between Vancouver and Whistler, is a community of fewer than 1,500 residents. Violent crime in the village is exceedingly rare, which has only intensified attention on the case.
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, and IHIT is continuing to gather evidence and interviews as it works to establish what happened.