Julian McMahon, the Australian actor best known for his roles on Nip/Tuck and Charmed, has d**d at the age of 56.
His wife, Kelly, confirmed that McMahon passed away on Wednesday, July 2, in Clearwater, Florida, after a private battle with ca**er. She shared the news in a statement released on Friday, July 4.
“With an open heart, I wish to share with the world that my beloved husband, Julian McMahon, d**d peacefully this week after a valiant effort to overcome ca**er,” Kelly said in a statement.
“Julian loved life. He loved his family. He loved his friends. He loved his work, and he loved his fans. His deepest wish was to bring joy into as many lives as possible,” she added. “We ask for support during this time to allow our family to grieve in privacy. And we wish for all of those to whom Julian brought joy, to continue to find joy in life. We are grateful for the memories.”
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Julian Dana William McMahon was born on July 27, 1968, in Sydney, Australia. He was the only son among three children of Sir William McMahon, who served as Australia’s 20th prime minister, and Lady Sonia McMahon, a well-known social figure. Growing up, Julian attended the prestigious Sydney Grammar School. He briefly studied law at the University of Sydney and economics at the University of Wollongong.
Eager for adventure, he launched a modeling career. In his late teens and early twenties, he worked in fashion hubs like Milan, London, New York, Rome, and Paris.
Julian began his on-screen journey in Australian soap operas. In 1989, he debuted in The Power, the Passion, and soon after joined the beloved Home and Away as Ben Lucini, earning local recognition. In 1992, he crossed over to American TV as Ian Rain on NBC’s Another World, a role that boosted his profile internationally.
Throughout the late 1990s, he starred as Detective John Grant on Profiler (1996–2000). But it was his turn-of-the-century role as Cole Turner in the supernatural hit Charmed (2000–2003) that made him a familiar face in U.S. households.
His most iconic television role came with Nip/Tuck (2003–2010), where he played the charismatic yet morally complex Dr. Christian Troy. The show’s edgy appeal earned him a Golden Globe nomination in 2005. His performance solidified his reputation as a talented and daring actor.
Parallel to TV success, Julian ventured into film. He portrayed the villainous Doctor Doom in both Fantastic Four (2005) and its sequel Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007). He appeared in Premonition (2007) opposite Sandra Bullock, Red (2010) with Bruce Willis, and the thriller Faces in the Crowd (2011).
In the 2010s, Julian continued his TV presence with roles in shows like Hunters, Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, and Hulu’s Runaways (2017–2018), where he portrayed Jonah.
He then led the CBS crime drama FBI: Most Wanted (2020–2022) as Special Agent Jess LaCroix. He later appeared in the 2024 Australian feature Swinging Safari and starred in the Netflix series The Residence (filmed in 2025), playing Australia’s prime minister.
Julian’s love life made headlines. He married Australian singer Dannii Minogue in 1994; they d*vorced after about 18 months. In 1999, he wed actress Brooke Burns, with whom he had a daughter, Madison, born in June 2000. That marriage ended in 2001. Julian’s third marriage was in 2014 to Kelly Paniagua.
