Ricky Gervais leads tributes to The Office co-star Ewen MacIntosh

Ricky Gervais has remembered his The Office co-star Ewen MacIntosh as "an absolute original" after the actor's death.

McIntosh – best known for playing Keith Bishop in the sitcom – passed away at the age of 50, with JustRight Management confirming in a statement: "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 played office manager David Brent in the comedy, said on X that it was "extremely sad news". Sharing a picture of MacIntosh in the series, he went on: "The very funny and very lovely Ewen MacIntosh, known to many as 'Big Keith' from The Office, has passed away. An absolute original. RIP."

Gervais also shared a picture of an award presented to The Office in 2002 for Comedy Moment of the Year. "This was for Keith’s appraisal scene," he told his followers.

Actor Rufus Jones wrote on X: "Thinking of Ewen MacIntosh today, who I’m reading has sadly left us. A familiar and hilarious member of the Edinburgh sketch scene when we all started, and went on to create one of the most iconic scene stealers in TV comedy history. An absolute pleasure of a guy."

Comedy producer Gina Lyons said the actor would be "eternally loved". "Heartbroken to hear a very special friend @ewenmacintosh has passed away," she wrote. "He was such an incredibly kind and funny person."

Fans have also flocked to social media to remember the actor, who played quirky Keith from 2001 to 2003, when the series ended.

One said the actor "effortlessly stole scenes as Keith", as another posted: "Being a massive fan of The Office and after watching every episode a million times it’s sad to read Ewen MacIntosh, known to many as 'Big Keith' from The Office, has passed away. An absolute legend."

"How incredibly sad," said someone else. "So many iconic moments in The Office. I only ever heard lovely things about him from people who had worked with him."

"So sad to hear the news that former longtime Nunhead resident Ewen MacIntosh has died," said another viewer. "Keith from The Office is one of the greatest comedy characters of all time. Under weaknesses, you’ve put eczema… I hope the 78 bus in the sky is a lot better than the one down here."

Playing accountant Keith was MacIntosh's big break, but his other TV credits include Little Britain and Miranda and he starred in radio sitcom Cabin Pressure.

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