Late Actor Stewart McLean’s Last Day, Text Revealed

Virgin River actor Stewart McLean’s final text message and last movements before he went missing have been revealed, weeks after he was found dead at the age of 41.

McLean’s close friend Jeff Seymour broke down his final moments in a new interview with The Daily Mail, confirming that McLean’s last text was sent to his agent about an upcoming work shoot on the evening of May 15.

“He had a very normal day from what I understood,” Seymour, an acting coach, told the outlet on Tuesday, May 26. “He had a four-hour drive home and he left at around seven. He arrived home that night, [his] car [was] in the driveway.”

Seymour revealed, “The last communication came from his phone that evening, and then everything just went dark.”

Seymour said he learned of McLean’s final message after the actor failed to turn up to his scheduled day of filming on May 16. At the time, McLean’s agent reached out to Seymour and recounted their final text conversation.

“He had confirmed he would be there the next day [on] Friday when he was last heard from,” Seymour shared. “When I heard that he didn’t show up for that, I knew we were in serious trouble. Because, show business, you know, the show must go on, it is unheard of for an actor not to show up.”

McLean, who appeared on season 7 of Virgin River, was reported missing on May 18 after last being seen at his home in Lions Bay, British Columbia, Canada, on May 15.

The Squamish RCMP initially treated McLean as a missing persons case, asking the public for help in locating him.

The Lions Bays Search and Rescue led an initial search for him, but on Thursday, May 21, the police announced that the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team were taking over the search. The case was then deemed a possible homicide as authorities continued to look for the actor.

McLean’s remains were found on Friday, May 22, in the Lions Bay area, Canada’s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) announced in a press release.

Lucas Talent Inc. confirmed McLean’s death that same day in a statement shared by talent agent Jodi Caplan via Facebook.

“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,” Caplan wrote. “He was always such a pleasure to deal with — dedicated, professional, eager and endlessly funny!”

The statement continued, “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. Rest in peace, Stew. xo.”

As McLean’s death continues to be investigated, his friend Seymour is trying to wrap his head around the sudden loss.

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“I want this person found, and this person put away, because this person has compromised their right to walk around among us,” Seymour told The Daily Mail. “From what I know, there’s nothing that Stew has been doing in his recent life that even would remotely make somebody angry, and I feel I know him pretty well. He’s a good guy, so I think this is more [of] a troubled person who did this, a desperate person.”

Seymour described his late friend as “honest” and “astute,” noting that McLean’s “self-assessment was always so keen,” which he really respected.

Investigators are asking anyone with information about McLean’s disappearance or death to contact the IHIT information line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or via email at ihitinfo@rcmp–grc.gc.ca.