An acting coach and close friend of Virgin River star Stewart McLean has disclosed a significant warning sign that emerged prior to the actor's suspected homicide. Jeff Seymour recounted that his concerns intensified when McLean failed to appear for a scheduled day of filming, an occurrence he described as highly uncharacteristic for the meticulous performer.
Unexplained absence raised alarm
Seymour told The Canadian Press, 'He was meticulous about everything and there would be no chance he blew it off or slept too late. As soon as I heard he didn't make it on Saturday morning, I knew there was big trouble.' The 45-year-old actor was reported missing on Monday, and his remains were discovered in Lions Bay, near Vancouver, on Friday. Authorities suspect McLean was murdered.
A friendship built over eight years
Seymour and McLean had been friends for eight years, after the Canadian actor attended one of Seymour's classes. Seymour recalled seeing McLean just last month in Los Angeles, where they 'had the time of our life.' He expressed disbelief, stating, 'It was really a wonderful week, and then I heard this, and it's just, it's so hard to comprehend when something like this happens.'
Seymour emphasized McLean's situational awareness, saying, 'He was incredibly situationally aware. I bring it up because for the life of me, I don't know how anybody could get the drop on Stew.' He described McLean as a 'straight arrow' and a 'bit of a loner,' but noted that 'everybody loved this guy.' McLean spent much of his time reading at his home in Squamish, and Seymour called the incident 'a shocker,' adding, 'I would love to see justice served.'
Tributes pour in
In a Facebook tribute, Seymour called McLean a 'good egg' and a 'lovely and thoughtful actor.' He wrote, 'He was a joy to work with. He was intelligent, well-read, and an excellent storyteller.' Squamish RCMP confirmed on May 21 that the missing person investigation had been transitioned to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT). McLean's sister Kat confirmed 'the loss' of her brother in a heartfelt post, describing him as 'genuine, honest, caring, and funny as heck.'
McLean's recent television credits include a 2026 episode of Virgin River as Barfly, a second-season episode of Murder in a Small Town, and the Lifetime TV movie The Killer Inside: The Ruth Finley Story. His agency, Lucas Talent Inc., also shared a tribute. Jodie Caplan wrote, '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!' Caplan noted that many casting directors have reached out to express condolences, all saying 'what a truly great guy he was, and how deeply he will be missed.'
