Ewen MacIntosh, best known for his role as “Big Keith” in the UK version of “The Office,” has died. He was 50.
Ricky Gervais honored his former co-star via X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday.
“Extremely sad news. The very funny and very lovely Ewen Macintosh, known to many as ‘Big Keith’ from The Office, has passed away,” Gervais, 62, wrote. “An absolute original. RIP.”
The tribute included a photo of MacIntosh as his accountant character on the British series, which would later spawn the successful US version starring Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer.
MacIntosh’s management company announced the actor’s death hours earlier.
“With great sadness, we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved comedy genius Ewen MacIntosh,” Just Right Management posted on X. “His family thank all who supported him, especially Willow Green Care Home.
“There will be a private cremation for family & close friends soon” and “a celebratory memorial later in the year,” the statement continued. No cause of death has been confirmed.
“It is with a heavy heart I can confirm the very sad news of our client Ewen’s passing,” Chelle Just, the owner of the talent management company, told The Post. “Ewen was a wonderful actor and an even better human being. He made people laugh and possessed such a kind heart. He touched the lives of all who came into contact with him.”
Just said her client suffered “ill health for the past two years” before passing away peacefully “from undisclosed causes” on Monday.
“Ewen will be so very dearly missed,” the statement concluded.
Last year, MacIntosh posted a picture of himself in a hospital bed with several wires connecting him to a cannula and IV machine.
“Bad times for me I’m afraid chums. Stat strong out there,” he tweeted at the time.
Stephen Merchant, the co-writer of the BBC comedy series, also paid tribute via Instagram. “I’m so very sad to hear of the passing of Ewen MacIntosh, a lovely and uniquely funny man who played accountant Keith in The Office. I fondly recall we asked him to improvise an out-of-office message, and he was so hilarious we started writing more and more dialogue for him,” he wrote. “He soon stole every scene he was in. A total one-off. A tragic loss.”
In 2021, MacIntosh spoke to Vice about Keith’s passion for Scotch eggs on the program. “My first scene with Martin [Freeman], where I eat the Scotch egg — we had trouble doing that for some reason,” he recalled to the outlet. “It took ages to get that done. I got through a lot of Scotch eggs. I wasn’t told about it. The props guy nipped out and bought them last-minute.”
MacIntosh’s friend, Ed Scott, also posted a moving tribute on Wednesday.
“I am completely devastated by the loss of my very good friend @ewenmacintosh,” the CEO of Dodged A Bullet Music wrote. “He may have had a famous face known by millions as Keith from The Office but the person inside is what I will most remember.
“Ewen was so full of empathy, kindness, and integrity and above all a really good man,” Scott continued. “Sending love to his parents Sara and Ewen Sr, his brother Colin and his family, as well as his many friends and fans.”
In a third tweet, the music executive thanked the “incredible care and love provided by the wonderful medical staff.”
