Ewen MacIntosh was once working in market research while hoping to make it into the entertainment industry before his role as iconic Keith Bishop in The Office changed his life.
Tributes have poured in to the ‘beloved comedy genius’, who was best known for his role in the Ricky Gervais’ hit sitcom, after his death age 50.
He once told how when the sitcom first began, his role was labelled in the original script simply as ‘office worker’. But he went on to become a fan favourite.
MacIntosh had said he was ‘very proud’ to star in The Office and revealed that when he went on to do Cameo videos for fans, people always wanted to hear from his character.
‘I do these video messages [on Cameo] now, which are great fun. People always want a message from Keith, never from me,’ he told Vice in a 2021 interview. ‘He’s still getting me work, which is quite amazing when you think about it.’
Macintosh, who appeared in shows Miranda and Little Britain, also spent some time writing after The Office, which he told Vice ‘in retrospect, was probably a bad idea.’
Ewen MacIntosh’s role as iconic Keith Bishop in The Office changed his life
Gervais, who created The Office, led the tributes following the ‘extremely sad news’
Actor and comedian Ewen MacIntosh, who starred as Keith Bishop in The Office, has died aged 50
Speaking about how his career moved on after his famous role as Keith, he added: ‘At the time, me and the guys I was writing with had a lot of irons in the fire. It didn’t go the way we wanted it to, and I got a little bit tired of that part of the industry, which I think is an incestuous and not very nice place to work.
‘If I’d focused more on my acting career straight after, I might have got better roles.’
Confirming the tragic news of the actor and comedian’s death, JustRight Management said: ‘With great sadness we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved comedy genius Ewen MacIntosh.
‘His family thank all who supported him, especially Willow Green Care Home.’
Gervais, who created The Office, led the tributes, posting on X: ‘Extremely sad news. The very funny and very lovely Ewen Macintosh, known to many as ‘Big Keith’ from The Office, has passed away. An absolute original. RIP.’
MacIntosh, who also appeared in British comedies such as After Life, Miranda and Little Britain, had posted an photo of himself in hospital in February 2022 – in which he said he was suffering ‘bad times’.
His cause of death has not been confirmed but friends had hailed the ’empathy and incredible care’ of medical staff and nurses before his death.
Also paying tribute was the actor’s friend Ed Scott, an executive producer, who wrote: ‘I am completely devastated by the loss of my very good friend Ewen MacIntosh.
‘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.’
MacIntosh appeared in The Office from its first series in 2001, playing the role of an accountant with a passion for Scotch eggs.
He had told Vice that he had no idea why Scotch eggs were chosen as his signature food. ‘The props guy nipped out and bought them last minute,’ he revealed.
‘Big Keith’ had a monotone answerphone message and wanted to become DJ over being an accountant. Among his most memorable moments was when he dressed up as Ali G for Red Nose Day.
Despite a number of staff changes at the fictional Wernham Hogg paper firm, ‘Keith’ remained in the series until its last episode in 2003.
