Vancouver film industry mourns loss of Stewart McLean, praises his joyful spirit

VANCOUVER — Vancouver director and writer Ryan Minaker said he had known actor Stewart McLean for a decade, and remembered him as the “most giving” actor any director could ever have on set.

“What that means in our business is he’s not acting for himself, he’s acting for everyone around him, and it makes it real, it makes it raw, and he always was able to capture a beautiful raw emotion,” said Minaker.

Tributes and condolences have been flooding social media from Vancouver’s film industry after the remains of McLean were found in a community just north of Vancouver.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said the body was found during a search of the Lions Bay area, where McLean lived.

The 45-year-old actor was reported missing Monday after last being seen May 15. He last appeared onscreen in one episode of the Netflix TV series “Virgin River” released in March.

Minaker said their friendship blossomed when McLean auditioned for his web series, Cloud Van Tales, and he struck the whole crew as an incredible, compassionate, funny, smart human being.

For the last decade, McLean was a “constant example” of “raw talent, stealing the show in every project while remaining professional, humble and approachable,” said Minaker.

Minaker said he felt blessed to have many great memories of McLean. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, he came over to visit McLean’s place, where they sat outside at a fire and talked until 4 a.m.

McLean moved away from B.C. to Calgary for a couple of years, and he stayed at Minaker’s place for a month after moving back to B.C.

During the month, Minaker said they hung out and did some experimental filming together, which had been lots of fun.

“The deep conversations and the laughs. The dude made me laugh all the time. I’m gonna miss his laugh,” said Minaker.

Jennifer Lee, an agent with Vancouver’s Lucas Talent Inc., said she had the pleasure of working with McLean since 2014, and he was “the most positive, kind, funny, chill” person you could ever know.

Derek Nordick, another agent at Vancouver’s Lucas Talent Inc., is also sending condolences to McLean’s family and friends.

“We had the great pleasure of working with Stew for the last 12 years. He was a very funny, warm, caring, hard-working, wonderful man. He will be deeply missed by us and all of those that were fortunate enough to have met him,” said Nordick in a statement.

Police said this week that the actor, who appeared on series such as “Virgin River” and “Murder in a Small Town,” may have been the victim of a homicide.

The homicide team said investigators are working with the BC Coroners Service to understand the circumstances that led to his death, and that it’s believed to be an isolated incident.

Cpl. Esther Tupper of IHIT said homicide investigators are collecting and analyzing evidence, reviewing CCTV footage, and conducting interviews to build a timeline of McLean’s activities before May 15.

Minaker said McLean deserved to be remembered as a beautiful human being, a son, a friend, and just a good person within the community, and a talented actor.

“I miss my friend. Condolences to the McLean family.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 23, 2026.

Nono Shen, The Canadian Press