Inside Julian McMahon's colourful love life - from a whirlwind marriage to Dannii Minogue to his private romance with wife Kelly Paniagua - following the actor's death at age 56

Daily Mail​

6 days ago

Julian McMahon's tragic death this week has prompted fans across the globe to reflect on the actor's prolific career - and his dramatic relationship history.
The Nip/Tuck and Charmed star died at age 56 following a private battle with cancer, his heartbroken wife Kelly Paniagua confirmed in an emotional statement on July 4.
'Julian loved life. He loved his family. He loved his friends. He loved his work, and he loved his fans,' she said.
'His deepest wish was to bring joy into as many lives as possible… We ask for support during this time to allow our family to grieve in privacy.'
As tributes pour in for the Australian actor, Daily Mail Australia takes a look back at the women who played key roles in his life - from high-profile marriages to low-key romances that rarely made headlines.
From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop.
A short-lived union with pop princess Dannii Minogue
Before his Hollywood breakthrough, McMahon made headlines in his native Australia when he married Home and Away co-star and singer Dannii Minogue.
The pair, who met on the set of the hit soap in the late '80s, wed in 1994 during what was dubbed a 'fairytale' showbiz wedding.
But behind the scenes, things were far from picture perfect.
Their marriage lasted just 18 months, torn apart by distance, pressure and reported family tensions.
Minogue later revealed in an interview that McMahon's mother - late Lady Sonia McMahon, the glamorous wife of former Prime Minister Sir William McMahon - never approved of their union.
'There was no relationship, she wouldn't speak to me, I wasn't allowed to be near her in the house, she said she wasn't coming to the wedding. We just had no idea how to handle it - we were just trying to,' Minogue candidly told No Filter.
The singer, now 52, also claimed the constant travel between the UK and US to keep the relationship alive left her in debt.
'I not only ran out of money - I was in debt,' she said. 'It was a huge struggle emotionally, physically, mentally, financially.'
Second marriage ends in heartbreak - and scandal
In 1999, Julian tied the knot with American actress Brooke Burns, best known for her role in Baywatch.
The couple welcomed daughter Madison the following year, but their marriage collapsed in 2001.
Burns, 46, honoured her late ex-husband with a touching Instagram tribute following news of his passing, sharing a sweet photo of Julian with their daughter and writing simply: 'Rest in peace .'
But their relationship wasn't without controversy. During their short-lived union, McMahon was rumoured to have had a fling with his Charmed co-star Shannen Doherty.
The timing of the alleged romance reportedly overlapped with the final season of Doherty's role on the show in 2000-2001 - and Burns reportedly discovered the affair in the tabloids.
'It was the straw that broke the camel's back,' Burns once told Nicki Swift, later admitting, 'He got carried away by all the Los Angeles hoopla.'
A private love with wife Kelly Paniagua
After two high-profile breakups, McMahon kept his next relationship largely out of the spotlight.
He began dating author and model Kelly Paniagua in 2003, and after more than a decade together, the pair married in a quiet ceremony at Lake Tahoe in 2014.
According to reports at the time, the actor popped the question during a romantic trip to Melbourne in late 2013.
Unlike his past marriages, Julian and Kelly kept their love life intensely private, rarely appearing together at events or discussing their relationship in interviews.
In her heart-wrenching statement, Kelly described Julian as her 'beloved husband,' saying he 'died peacefully this week after a valiant effort to overcome cancer.'
'He was truly one of a kind,' she added.
It was Kelly who confirmed his death on Friday.
She gave a statement to Deadline which read: 'With an open heart, I wish to share with the world that my beloved husband, Julian McMahon, died peacefully this week after a valiant effort to overcome cancer.'
Kelly - whom he married in 2014 - continued by expressing the love Julian had for his fans and those around him and what being an actor meant to him during his life.
She continued: '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.
'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.'
Julian McMahon was at the height of his acting career just one month before he died, aged 56, this week.
The former Home and Away star passed away after a secret battle with cancer, his wife, Kelly Paniagua, confirmed on Friday.
Julian made a triumphant return to the screen, starring alongside Nicholas Cage in the Stan original film The Surfer.
He shone as a surf gang leader in the new movie, which was released in May.
He delivered a searing performance as Scally, a charismatic and menacing guru-like figure who leads a group of surfers and acts as a local authority in Luna Bay.