Authorities in British Columbia have launched a homicide investigation following the discovery of remains belonging to Stewart McLean, a 45-year-old Canadian actor whose career spanning more than three decades included appearances on Netflix’s “Virgin River,” Freeform’s “Beyond” and the streaming series “Travelers.” McLean’s body was found in Lions Bay, a coastal village of fewer than 1,500 people located roughly 12 miles northwest of Vancouver.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team announced the development on Friday, May 22, 2026, though investigators have not revealed when exactly the remains were discovered or disclosed any information about a suspect, motive or cause of death. The B.C. Coroners Service is working to determine how he died.
McLean, who was born in Edmonton and often went by Stew, had been last seen at his Lions Bay home on May 15. The case has rapidly evolved from a missing person inquiry into one of the province’s most closely watched homicide investigations.
A Disappearance That Raised Alarms
When McLean failed to appear for a scheduled day of filming on May 16, those closest to him immediately suspected something had gone wrong. The Squamish division of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police received a missing person report on Monday, May 18. By the next day, officers were publicly appealing for information and saying they were “very concerned for Stewart’s health and well-being.”
The nature of the case changed dramatically within 48 hours. IHIT confirmed it began investigating McLean’s death on Wednesday, and by Thursday, Squamish RCMP had formally handed the case over to the homicide team. The transfer indicated that evidence discovered during the initial search pointed to something far more sinister than a routine missing person case.
“Squamish RCMP initiated an investigation and, through investigative efforts, uncovered evidence that led investigators to believe Mr. McLean was a victim of homicide,” police said in a statement, declining to describe the nature of that evidence.
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 collaborating with the Integrated Forensic Identification Service on the investigation.
Building a Timeline From CCTV and Interviews
According to IHIT Cpl. Esther Tupper, investigators are now working to reconstruct his activities by reviewing CCTV footage, examining physical evidence and conducting interviews to build a timeline of his movements in the hours and days before May 15.
“We are pursuing all available leads as we work to find answers for the family, friends and loved ones of Mr. McLean,” Tupper said. IHIT has asked anyone with information to contact its tip line.
Violent crime is exceedingly rare in Lions Bay, a community perched along the Sea-to-Sky Highway between Vancouver and Whistler, which has only heightened public interest in the case.
A Three-Decade Career on Canadian Sets
McLean built his career as a dependable character actor within the Vancouver-based Canadian production industry, amassing more than 30 credits across television and film. He was also listed on IMDb as a producer.
His most recent on-screen work was in an episode of Netflix’s “Virgin River,” the long-running romance series shot in British Columbia. He was best known for his roles on Freeform’s “Beyond” and the Netflix series “Travelers,” frequently credited as “Traveler” on industry listings. Additional 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.”
Lucas Talent Inc., the agency that represented McLean, posted a tribute remembering him 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.
The homicide investigation remains active, and the people closest to McLean are left with the same unanswered questions as the public. IHIT is continuing to gather evidence and interviews as it works to establish what happened in the days surrounding May 15.