Actor-comedian Ewen MacIntosh, known for his portrayal of Big Keith in ‘The Office’, has died at the age of 50. Playing the role of Keith Bishop, he brought to life the scotch egg-devouring accountant with his trademark monotone voicemail greeting and dreams of becoming a DJ. Besides this, MacIntosh appeared in other British comedies such as Miranda and Little Britain.
Ricky Gervais, the creator of ‘The Office,’ paid tributes to the actor via X, formally known as Twitter, saying MacIntosh was “an absolute original”.
Bishop, employed at the fictional paper company Wernham Hogg, will be fondly remembered for his standout moments, like donning an Ali G costume for Red Nose Day.
One of Big Keith’s shining moments occurred in a memorable scene from Season Two’s episode ‘Appraisals’. During his appraisal, office manager David Brent, portrayed by Ricky Gervais, prompts him to outline his strengths and weaknesses.
Nonchalantly chewing gum, Keith responds with a monotonous “don’t know” to each question, citing eczema as his weakness and accounts as his strength. MacIntosh graced both series of The Office, which first aired in 2001.
In 2017, MacIntosh took on the role of Lionel in the British romantic comedy film ‘Finding Fatimah’.
He also made an appearance in the final season of Ricky Gervais’ ‘After Life’, portraying “Buffet Man,” a character banned from his local all-you-can-eat restaurant.
MacIntosh graduated from Edinburgh University and was a key member of its comedy troupe. He showcased his talents at the Fringe Festival in 2007, where he teamed up with Tim FitzHigham for a double act. In 2009, he lent his presence to a charity music video for Chris Rea’s ‘Driving Home for Christmas,’ joining a host of other celebrities in support of the cause.
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