Stewart McLean’s friend and fellow actor, Jeff Seymour, had a feeling something was wrong after the Virgin River alum went missing.
“He was meticulous about everything and there would be no chance he blew it off or slept too late,” Seymour told the Canadian Press on Friday, May 22. “As soon as I heard he didn’t make it on Saturday morning, I knew there was big trouble.”
McLean was reported missing earlier this month after he was last seen on May 15 at his home in Lions Bay, British Columbia, Canada. The actor was found dead after his remains were recovered one week later by local police on Friday. He was 45.
“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 told the outlet. “It just doesn’t make any sense. He was incredibly situationally aware.”
According to Seymour, he became “fast friends” with McLean eight years ago when the then-aspiring actor attended his coaching session.
“I don’t know how anybody could get the drop on Stew,” Seymour said of McLean’s disappearance, suspecting foul play. “It’s so crushing, and it hits me in ways I’ll suddenly think, ah, Stu, and I realize I can’t call him now.”
He continued, “Everybody loved this guy, it wasn’t like he was in nefarious activities or, you know, kind of ran with another crowd. I mean, he was a bit of a loner. He spent a lot of time reading and being at his home out there in Squamish.”
A homicide investigation into McLean’s death is ongoing.
“It’s just a shocker,” Seymour stated. “I would love to see justice served.”
McLean’s talent agent, Jodi Caplan, confirmed her client’s death hours earlier on Friday.
“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,” a Facebook statement read. “He was always such a pleasure to deal with — dedicated, professional, eager and endlessly funny!”
Caplan concluded, “Many casting directors have reached out to share their condolences with Stew’s family and with our agency, and every message says the same thing: what a truly great guy he was, and how deeply he will be missed.”
In addition to appearing in one episode of Virgin River season 7, McLean’s previous credits include Supernatural, Arrow, Blue Steele, Travelers, Beyond, The 100, Siren, Murder in a Small Town and Cloud Van Tales.
