Ewen MacIntosh’s last function as ‘a priest who cannot deal with his Kindle’
Ewen MacIntosh’s last display screen function has been revealed: as a techno-phobic prest struggling to silence his Kindle as he haplessly tries to ship a eulogy.
MacIntosh, who has died aged 50, shot scenes for impartial brief movie Harvey Greenfield is Running Late in August 2021 – with the film as a consequence of have its UK premiere on the Northampton Film Festival subsequent month.
Jonnie Howard, the movie’s director, instructed MailOnline that The Office star had delivered a ‘actually scene-stealing efficiency’ within the brief, which is predicated on a vastly profitable one-man play first proven on the Edinburgh Fringe in 2019.
The scene – a brief clip of which options within the movie’s trailer – sees MacIntosh’s priest making an attempt to learn a eulogy from his pill throughout a churchyard burial, earlier than the system begins taking part in a chirpy model of Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus.
As the titular Greenfield, performed by comedy author and performer Paul Richards, tries to keep up a solemn entrance, MacIntosh’s priest frantically jabs on the digital gizmo in a useless try and silence it.
Ewen MacIntosh because the Priest in brief movie Harvey Greenfield Is Running Late – believed to be his final display screen function
The Instagram account selling the movie paid tribute to him on Wednesday, sharing pictures of him in costume with the solid and crew
It additionally shared a behind-the-scenes picture of him in character – with the movie’s director Jonnie Howard describing his efficiency as ‘scene-stealing’
Director Jonnie Howard (proper, along with his brother Ray and MacIntosh) instructed MailOnline he had been ‘actually lucky’ to collaborate with the comedy actor on two tasks
He then places on a courageous face as he mumbles: ‘Lord, give me the power to search out the mute button.’
Mr Howard mentioned he first labored MacIntosh on comedy-horror brief movie Triple Word Scare in 2015, calling his ‘comedic timing and deadpan deliveries inimitable’.
The director mentioned: ‘I used to be actually lucky to have collaborated with him on a few tasks, he was genuinely one of many greats who at all times supported the little guys and impartial productions.’
The veteran deadpan actor appeared as one half of a pair who recruits a priest to conduct an exorcist – just for the clergyman to try to speak with their poltergeist utilizing a Scrabble board.
His efficiency impressed Mr Howard a lot that he and his brother Ray tailored the function of the priest in Harvey Greenfield particularly for MacIntosh – and so they had been delighted when he agreed to workforce up once more.
The movie revolves round Greenfield, an ‘indecisive folks pleaser’, struggling to keep up all of his private commitments on ‘the world’s busiest day’.
Mr Howard continued: ‘It’s been completely bittersweet timing as we launched the primary footage of the movie yesterday that includes a clip from one in every of Ewen’s funeral gags and to then have this information right this moment is heartbreaking as he actually provides a scene-stealing efficiency within the movie.
‘I’m devastated that I’ll by no means be capable to present him the movie and repay the belief he put in our inventive efforts, my ideas are along with his household and pals throughout this time.’
The Harvey Greenfield promotional Instagram account additionally shared a tribute to MacIntosh, together with some behind-the-scenes photos of him on set and with the remainder of the movie’s solid and crew.
It learn: ‘We’re extremely saddened to listen to concerning the passing of the inimitable Ewen MacIntosh.
‘Truly lucky to have labored with him on a few tasks as he was genuinely one of many greats who at all times supported the little guys.
‘RIP Ewen – Jonnie, Ray and the entire Harvey Team.’
MacIntosh’s dying got here following long-running struggles along with his well being, and a gradual withdrawal from public life.
The dying of the Office star was introduced on Wednesday, prompting a wave of tributes and recollections from followers and well-known pals.
The final recognized image of him was a selfie was posted to X, previously Twitter, on February 6 2022 – round three weeks after he had made a cameo function in Office co-star Ricky Gervais‘ Netflix sequence After Life’s third and last sequence.
The picture confirmed him shirtless in a hospital mattress connected to monitoring gear.
He captioned it: ‘Bad occasions for me I’m afraid friends. Stat (sic) robust on the market,’ signing it off with a thumbs-up emoji.
Ewen MacIntosh shared this selfie of himself in a hospital mattress in February 2022 – the final picture of himself he shared
MacIntosh received followers for his portrayal of the deadpan, Scotch egg-loving accounts division employee Keith Bishop in The Office
He made a cameo look as ‘Buffet Man’ within the last sequence of Ricky Gervais’ After Life on Netflix – the present airing weeks earlier than he shared his hospital selfie
Ricky Gervais shared quite a few tributes to MacIntosh on X, previously Twitter, together with a picture of himself reverse the actor in a Red Nose Day Office sketch
Fans and pals alike responded to the put up on the time with greatest needs, together with some with references to his function within the iconic BBC sequence reverse Ricky Gervais.
His character, Keith, was fixated on Scotch eggs and watching repeats of Peak Practice; his appraisal by Gervais’ David Brent, through which he lists ‘eczema’ as a weak spot, is beloved by followers and held up as a standout scene within the sequence.
The hospital selfie was the final picture MacIntosh shared of himself on social media, having stopped posting on X in 2022.
Up till April that 12 months, he had been posting jokes, sharing his progress on variations of the phrase sport Wordle, and linking to the personalised superstar greetings web site Memmo, the place he might be booked for video messages.
Bookings couldn’t be made on his Memmo web page as of earlier right this moment. In 2021, he provided personalised movies for $58.50 – and provided himself up for promoting campaigns for $533.50.
He additionally stopped posting on Instagram in 2021. However, the feedback of his outdated posts on the Meta-owned photo-sharing web site are affected by tributes posted by followers right this moment.
His explanation for dying was not revealed within the announcement, however his household thanked Willow Green Care Home in Darlington for his or her help in his final days, whereas pals confirmed he had been receiving remedy within the runup to his dying.
The assertion, issued on Wednesday morning, learn: ‘With nice disappointment we announce the peaceable passing of our beloved comedy genius Ewen MacIntosh.
‘His household thank all who supported him, particularly Willow Green Care Home.
‘There can be a non-public cremation for household & shut pals quickly & a celebratory memorial later within the 12 months.’
MacIntosh’s good friend, government producer Ed Scott, the CEO of Dodged A Bullet Music, additionally confirmed he had been receiving remedy from medical doctors and nurses within the runup to his dying.
Mr Scott added: ‘Ewen was so filled with empathy, kindness, and integrity and above all a very good man.
‘Sending like to his mother and father Sara and Ewen Sr, his brother Colin and his household, in addition to his many pals and followers.’
He additionally paid tribute to those that had cared for his good friend, penning: ‘Thanks to the unbelievable care and love offered by the fantastic medical employees and particularly the nurses who all liked him when he introduced a smile to their days.
‘I noticed first hand the empathy and unbelievable care they gave him was simply so reassuring through the hardest of occasions and am endlessly grateful to all of them.’
MacIntosh appeared within the last sequence of Gervais’ Netflix present After Life as ‘Buffet Man’ – a person who was banned from an all-you-can-eat buffet for ‘placing it out of enterprise’.
In the memorable scene through which he was interviewed by Gervais’ character, journalist Tony Johnson, he was requested if he went ‘twice a day’ to the buffet for lunch after which for dinner.
With excellent deadpan styling, MacIntosh replies: ‘No, from lunch till dinner. Then I used to be full.’
Gervais has shared quite a few recollections of working alongside his co-star on X right this moment.
Posting a photograph of him as Keith in The Office, he wrote: ‘Extremely unhappy information. The very humorous and really pretty Ewen Macintosh, recognized to many as ‘Big Keith’ from The Office, has handed away. An absolute unique. RIP.’
Gervais later shared an image of a trophy for ‘comedy second of the 12 months’, as awarded by the defunct TV Moments Awards – revealing it had been given for Keith’s timeless appraisal scene.
He additionally shared a photograph of himself chuckling as David Brent reverse MacIntosh in a Red Nose Day sketch, through which Keith dressed up as Ali G.
The image was captioned: ‘A day with out laughter is a day wasted.’
