Ewen MacIntosh, actor on original 'The Office,' dies at 50: Ricky Gervais pays tribute

Ewen MacIntosh, best known for his role as “Big Keith” in the original “The Office,” has died at 50. Series creator Ricky Gervais paid tribute.

Ewen MacIntosh, the actor best known for his role as “Big Keith” in the British sitcom “The Office,” has died. He was 50.

MacIntosh died on Monday of “undisclosed causes,” his management company, Just Right Management, confirmed to USA TODAY Wednesday. MacIntosh suffered from “ill health” in the last few years and was receiving support from a care home at the time of his death, the agency said.

“Ewen was a wonderful actor and an even better human being,” the company shared in a statement. “He made people laugh and possessed such a kind heart. He touched the lives of all who came into contact with him.”

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The British comedian played Keith Bishop, a monotone, scotch egg-loving accountant, on the original iteration of “The Office.”

Ricky Gervais, creator and star of “The Office,” shared a tribute for MacIntosh on X, formerly Twitter, describing the actor as “very funny and very lovely” and “an absolute original.”

MacIntosh starred as Keith across the entire three-season run of the British comedy that led to the hit American sitcom of the same name, starring Steve Carell and John Krasinski.

His other acting credits include two episodes on the British comedy series “Little Britain” as a bus conductor and the character Cliff Roberts, a trainer waiter in the 2015 romantic drama “The Lobster,” Splish in two episodes of the comedy series “Getting Back with Dave Benson Phillips” and Lionel in the 2017 comedy-romance “Finding Fatimah.”

His most recent roles include Mr. Bromley in the 2022 comedy “Hammer Home” and Richard in the 2023 horror film “Nightmare on 34th Street.”

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ewen MacIntosh, actor on original ‘The Office,’ dies at 50: Ricky Gervais pays tribute