Ewen MacIntosh was a British actor and comedian best known for playing Keith Bishop in the original British sitcom, “The Office.”
- Died: February 19, 2024 (Who else died on February 19?)
- Details of death: Died in Darlington, England, after a period of ill health at the age of 50.
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Ewen MacIntosh’s legacy
“The Office” was MacIntosh’s first big break as an actor. Initially cast as a background character – labeled in the script simply as “office worker” – he impressed co-creator Ricky Gervais in the first episode and his character was expanded. Playing an uninterested accountant at a paper company, MacIntosh cracked fans up with his realistic portrayal of an office worker phoning it in. His character loved Scotch eggs and dreamed of being a DJ.
MacIntosh went on to appear in such TV shows as “Little Britain,” “Miranda,” “After Life,” “The Unusual Suspects,” and “Smalltown.” His movies included “Finding Fatimah,” “Shed of the Dead,” and “The Lobster.” He performed in a comedy duo with Tim FitzHigham at the 2007 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. MacIntosh was also a presenter on the music channels Now 80s and Now 90s, and he appeared in the reality show “Celebrity Come Dine with Me.”
MacIntosh on developing Keith’s character
“I knew it was a mock documentary, and I was a big fan of ‘Spinal Tap.’ I always remember Christopher Guest, playing Nigel Tufnel, would just chew gum and look vacant. I thought, ‘I’ll try that and see what happens.’ It worked out. If I ever meet Christopher Guest, I’ll definitely remember to thank him for my career.” —from a 2021 interview for Vice
Tributes to Ewen MacIntosh
Full obituary: The New York Times
