Ewen MacIntosh played the beloved ‘Big Keith’ in The Office, winning fans over with his comedic timing and iconic weakness for scotch eggs. The actor and comedian also featured in other British comedies such as Miranda and Little Britain. News broke of his death on Wednesday 20 February, and many have taken to social media to express their love for him.
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Let’s take a look back at his career, and the heartwarming tributes shared by colleagues and friends.
MacIntosh’s career
MacIntosh was born in Wales, went to school in Derbyshire, and attended Edinburgh University in Scotland. He was actively involved in the uni’s comedy troupe, and performed as part of a two-man act at Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival in 2007.
He is most well known as Keith Bishop from The Office, created by fellow comedian Ricky Gervais. In the show, MacIntosh played the deadpan accountant who would have preferred to be a DJ. Gervais called him ‘an absolute original’, and many agree that MacIntosh’s appraisal scene from the show was one of his best.
When asked by his manager, played by Gervais, to list his strengths and weaknesses during an appraisal, a gum-chewing Keith is very uninterested. After a slew of ‘don’t knows’, he gives eczema as his weakness and accounts as his strength.
Reactions to MacIntosh’s death
Stephen Merchant, who co-wrote and co-directed the series, told BBC Radio 4's PM that MacIntosh’s perfect delivery and timing drove the team to start ‘writing more and more scenes with him in’. He added that MacIntosh was able to ‘steal scenes from Ricky Gervais or Martin Freeman which is testament to him’.
Merchant also said that MacIntosh was ‘a lovely guy to work with and a funny man who you knew would always bring an extra dimension’.
TV personality and former WAG Lizzie Cundy, who recently had some firm words for the cast of the new show Married to the Game, posted on X:
We were great mates and we danced together in Chris Rea's Driving Home for Christmas video. Such a lovely man inside and out.
Indeed, MacIntosh’s friend Ed Scott said:
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.
MacIntosh died at Willow Green Care Home in Darlington, but his cause of death is yet to be confirmed. Scott thanked the staff there for looking after his friend: 'Thanks to the incredible care and love provided by the wonderful medical staff and especially the nurses who all loved him when he brought a smile to their days.'
MacIntosh is to have a private cremation for family and close friends, and a memorial service to celebrate his life will be held later in the year.
Read more:
⋙ Steve Wright: Iconic BBC Radio DJ dies aged 69
⋙ Ian Lavender: The last of the Dad’s Army cast has tragically died aged 77
⋙ Robin Windsor: The Strictly star has passed away aged 44
Sources used:
BBC: Ewen MacIntosh: The Office actor dies aged 50
