Popular Actor And Comedian Dies At 50

Popular Actor and comedian Ewen MacIntosh, best known for his role as “Big Keith” in The Office is dead

He died at the age of 50.

The character, Keith Bishop, was a scotch egg-loving accountant who had a monotone answerphone message and would have rather had a career as a DJ.

MacIntosh also appeared in other British comedies including Miranda and Little Britain.

The show’s creator Ricky Gervais led the tributes on X/Twitter, describing MacIntosh as “an absolute original”.

Bishop, who worked at fictional paper company Wernham Hogg, will be remembered for scenes such as when he dressed up as Ali G for Red Nose Day.

Big Keith particularly shone in a memorable scene from season two’s episode Appraisals.

In his appraisal, office manager David Brent, played by Ricky Gervais, makes him list his strengths and weaknesses.

Popular Actor And Comedian Dies At 50

Chewing gum and looking bored, Keith responds “don’t know” to all answers and lists eczema as his weakness and accounts as his strength.

MacIntosh appeared in both series of The Office, which was first broadcast in 2001.

Stephen Merchant, the co-writer and co-director of the BBC comedy series, told BBC Radio 4’s PM that MacIntosh was so funny the team “started writing more and more scenes with him in, and eventually he became our beloved characters”.

He added that with his “delivery and timing”, MacIntosh was able to “steal scenes from Ricky Gervais or Martin Freeman which is a testament to him”.

Speaking about the appraisal scene, Merchant said it was based on a “real BBC form they found in the building and Keith was used to typifying the person who doesn’t want to engage with the bureaucratic process”.

He added that Ewen was “a lovely guy to work with and a funny man who you knew would always bring an extra dimension”.

MacIntosh, who attended Edinburgh University and was actively involved in its comedy troupe, performed at the Fringe Festival in 2007 as part of a double act with Tim FitzHigham.

In 2009, he appeared in a charity music video for Chris Rea’s Driving Home for Christmas alongside other celebrities.

TV personality Lizzy Cundy shared a tribute to MacIntosh on X, writing: “We were great mates and we danced together in Chris Rea’s Driving Home for Christmas video. Such a lovely man inside and out.”

TV channel Gold tweeted: “We loved him as Keith in The Office and were lucky enough to work with him over the years on the channel. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends at such a difficult time.”

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 good man.”

MacIntosh’s cause of death has not been confirmed, but he died at Willow Green Care Home in Darlington.

Scott said: “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.”

The actor’s agency Just Right Management said there would be a private cremation for family and close friends and a celebratory memorial service later in the year.