Julian McMahon, Fantastic Four, Nip/Tuck and Charmed actor, dies aged 56
The actor died in Clearwater, Florida on Wednesday after being diagnosed with cancer.
His wife, Kelly Paniagua, confirmed his death on Friday, calling McMahon her 'beloved husband'.
'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,' she said in a statement to Deadline.
'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.'
McMahon was born in Sydney and was the son of former Australian prime minister Sir William 'Billy' McMahon. He began his career as a model in the 1980s before moving into acting, landing a role in the Australian soap Home and Away in 1990.
He made his feature film debut in the comedy Wet and Wild Summer! alongside Elliott Gould, while he starred in TV shows Another World, Profiler, and gained wider recognition as the Cole Turner in the hit supernatural series Charmed.
He later appeared in Nip/Tuck, the FX medical drama created by Ryan Murphy, where the show ran for six seasons from 2003 to 2010 and earned McMahon a Golden Globe nomination.
Becoming known for playing charming villains, McMahon played the Marvel supervillain Doctor Doom in 20th Century Fox's Fantastic Four films in 2005 and 2007. He also voiced Doctor Doom in the 2005 Fantastic Four video game.
McMahon also portrayed Jess LaCroix, a special agent and team leader, in FBI: Most Wanted, appearing for three seasons before leaving the show.
His more recent roles included playing the Australian prime minister Stephen Roos in Netflix's The Residence, and appearances in The Surfer and The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat.
McMahon was married three times, including to Australian singer Dannii Minogue in 1994 and to actor Brooke Burns, with whom he has a daughter. His final marriage, to Paniagua, began in 2014.
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The Guardian
31 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Julian McMahon's death is a sad, dramatic end to a magnetic talent, whose star was on the rise again
The Australian-American actor Julian McMahon, who has died from cancer aged 56, had a long and accomplished career. Like many Australian actors, it began with a soap opera – McMahon played Ben Lucini in 150 episodes of Home and Away – but he soon broke free to pursue a more ambitious and challenging oeuvre. McMahon, the son of former prime minister Sir William 'Billy' McMahon, made a name for himself overseas through US television in his 30s. On supernatural drama Charmed he played Cole Turner, a half-human, half-demon assassin turned love interest for one of the witches he was hired to kill. McMahon took to the show's campy tone with aplomb, delivering lines like 'I'm going straight to hell, cause it's got to be a sin to look this good' with a twinkle in his eye. His next big role was in Ryan Murphy's drama Nip/Tuck, as the arrogant plastic surgeon Dr Christian Troy. In the early 2000s the show made headlines for its frank depiction of nudity and sex – the Guardian described McMahon's character as 'a vagina-seeking missile' – but it also showed his talent for bringing vulnerability to suave but damaged men. It was around this time McMahon became a favourite to succeed Pierce Brosnan as James Bond, but missed out to Daniel Craig – instead he landed the role of Victor Von Doom, AKA Doctor Doom, the supervillain of two Fantastic Four movies. Over the years McMahon left Hollywood for home to appear in various Australian features – among them Stephan Elliott's raucous 2018 comedy Swinging Safari, in which he played an attender of a 1970s key party, alongside Guy Pearce and his former sister-in-law Kylie Minogue, and the 2012 horror movie Bait, in which he played a robber in a supermarket that's been flooded by a tsunami and monstered by sharks. That film was a big hit overseas, where it became, in less than two weeks, the most successful Australian movie ever released in China. In a full circle move, he recently played the Australian prime minister in Netflix's comedy-mystery The Residence (again opposite Minogue). Despite his career being well into its third decade, there's a very sad feeling surrounding McMahon's death that his talent has been dramatically cut short; that his star was very much on the rise again. One of his last roles was opposite Nicolas Cage as the villain in Lorcan Finnegan's intensely trippy, sun-scorched thriller The Surfer, which premiered out of competition at last year's Cannes film festival. McMahon played Scally, the leader of a gang of violent hoodlums from a small coastal town who patrol the local beach and harass visitors. And what a performance it was. Not everybody can hold their own against an actor like Cage, but McMahon pulled it off perfectly, countering the star's off-the-wall style with a seething, magnetic portrait of toxic masculinity – darkly charismatic and creepy as all get-out. In one memorable scene, which you can watch on YouTube, McMahon slurps down a beer and implores Cage to 'drink deep, eat your fill, turn around from this town and never come back'. Throughout the film he projects a layered, paradoxically chummy kind of menace: calm and imperturbable, then, suddenly, explosively violent and unsettling. McMahon had amazingly bright and burning blue eyes, the colour of the sea. They were even more striking in person – I know because I was lucky enough to meet him on the set of The Surfer in Western Australia, where we chatted about this role and work ethic. On that day, McMahon was philosophical. 'You want to be open to new suggestions, new thoughts, new ideas, and new creativity, wherever that's coming from,' he told me. And he was funny, riffing on the something he may not have missed about his home country – the insects: 'Australian flies just come and sit on your face, and they'll stay there for an hour or two.' He is survived by his wife, Kelly Paniagua, and his daughter, Madison, from a previous marriage.
Glasgow Times
34 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Well-known Australian actor Julian McMahon dies aged 56
Kelly McMahon, Julian's wife, said the actor passed away in Clearwater, Florida, on Wednesday, July 2, after a 'private battle with cancer'. In a statement shared with Deadline, she commented: '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. '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.' READ NEXT: Stand-up comedian Jason Manford to perform in Paisley McMahon's acting career took off on the hit supernatural television series Charmed, the BBC reports. He then took on the role of plastic surgeon Dr Christian Troy in the medical drama Nip/Tuck, where he gained wider recognition. The show earned McMahon a Golden Globe nomination for 'best performance by an actor in a television show'. The 56-year-old was also known for his role as Ben Lucini in Home and Away between 1990 and 1991. McMahon later played Doctor Doom in two Fantastic Four films in 2005 and 2007. He also appeared in three seasons of FBI: Most Wanted. McMahon was the son of former Australian Prime Minister Billy McMahon. He married three times: the first to Australian singer-actress Dannii Minogue in 1994, Baywatch star Brooke Burns in 1999, and Kelly Paniagua in 2014.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Read Julian McMahon's heartwarming final public message to his lookalike daughter Madison - following his shock death after secret cancer battle
Julian McMahon and his lookalike daughter Madison Elizabeth had a heartwarming public exchange just a few months before his shocking death, aged 56. The former Home and Away star died on Thursday following a secret battle with cancer, with his wife, Kelly Paniagua, announcing the sad news on Friday. Now, his final public messages with his only child, 25, who he shared with ex-wife Brooke Burns, have been revealed in a bittersweet moment. McMahon was every inch the doting father in March when Madison shared a personal achievement on her Instagram page. Madison posted a video of herself teaching her first yoga class, writing in the caption: 'Taught my first yoga class today. I guess dreams do come true.' 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. McMahon was quick to write a supportive comment beneath the post, congratulating his adult daughter for achieving her dream job in Miami. 'Your awesome!' he wrote, to which Madison playfully replied with: 'No YOU'RE awesome!' The pair appeared to have a very loving relationship, as another exchange between the pair in 2023 saw McMahon consoling Madison over the death of her dog. 'To the best puppy there is and ever was, my love for you is infinite Sandy,' she wrote alongside a tribute post at the time. 'I will forever be missing you until we meet again.' McMahon responded with: 'Love. That's it! Right there. Thank you!' The Australian-American actor was married to Baywatch star Burns for two years before they split in 2001, one year after Madison was born. Burns posted her own tribute to McMahon on Saturday, sharing a photo of him with their daughter alongside a broken heart emoji. He went on to marry former model and children's book author Kelly in 2014 after 11 years of dating. The Australian entertainment industry is currently in mourning after the death of beloved actor McMahon this week. He recently starred alongside Nicholas Cage in the Stan original film The Surfer. 'We're heartbroken to hear of the passing of Julian McMahon,' the Stan official Instagram account posted on Saturday. 'His extraordinary talent and presence left a lasting mark on everyone he worked with, including the team behind The Surfer. 'These words from Australian producer Robert Connolly reflect the deep respect and affection he inspired.' Connolly penned: 'Julian was an exceptional gentleman, a consummate professional, a stunning actor and an absolute delight to work with. 'His performance in The Surfer is a triumph—one among many great performances in an incredible career—and a tour de force celebration of his skill and presence on our screens. 'His huge commitment to the film took Julian from the beaches of Western Australia, to its world premiere in Cannes, to the US and beyond, and we were all so very lucky to have shared this journey with such a gifted and exceptional performer. 'A true gift in all our careers to have had the chance to work together with such a wonderful person.' News of the beloved actor's death has also sent shockwaves through Hollywood, with celebrities taking to social media to offer heartfelt tributes. Nicolas Cage shared his reaction to the 'deeply saddening news', writing: 'I spent six weeks working with Julian, and he was the most talented of actors. 'Our scenes together on The Surfer were amongst my favourites I have ever participated in, and Julian is one of my favourite people. 'He was a kind and intelligent man. My love to his family.' US actress Rose McGowan who starred alongside McMahon in the hit series Charmed, took to Instagram on Saturday to pay homage to the star. She re-shared an illustration of McMahon wearing what appeared to be angel wings. Madison posted a video of herself teaching her first yoga class, writing: 'Taught my first yoga class today. I guess dreams do come true.' And McMahon was quick to support her 'Oh Julian, you force of brilliance,' she wrote. 'For you, your family, and your loving fans all over the world, I pray for comfort.' McGowan, 51, also commented on the original post from artist 'Stagwarlock'. 'Beautiful art of a beautiful soul,' she wrote, to which the artist replied: '@rosemcgowan as sad as he was magnetic.' Fellow Charmed co-star Brian Krause, who played Leo Wyatt on the hit series, also shared his condolences. He posted a photo of McMahon beaming broadly while remembering the actor as a 'kind soul'. 'Sad day for our Charmed family!' Krause captioned the image. 'Julian was one of the funniest, devilishly handsome and kind souls! Prayers to his family and close friends. He will surely be missed!' His post was met with an outpouring of condolences from fans and followers. 'RIP JULIAN, our Cole Turner, gone too soon, now reunited with Shannen in Heaven,' one fan wrote, referring to fellow Charmed star Shannen Doherty, who passed away in July 2024. Another chimed in with a similar: 'Nooo! Not Cole! So heartbreaking. F-Cancer. The only comfort is that I'm sure Shannen welcomed him with open arms. 'What a tremendously amazing actor. He could play a hero or villain beautifully. Gone too soon. Condolences to his family.' Holly Marie Combs, who starred as Piper Halliwell on the hit show, joined her Charmed alumni with a tribute. She shared a clip from a fan account which showed a montage of McMahon behind the scenes from the filming of Charmed. The video shows the Aussie actor hamming it up with castmates including Alyssa Milano and Doherty. 'My favourite pain in the a*** ever,' she wrote, augmenting the sentiment with silver heart emojis. McMahon starred alongside Doherty and Milano on the cult Aaron Spelling-created magical drama Charmed. He played Cole Turner, the half-demon ex-husband of Alyssa's character Phoebe Halliwell. Quickly becoming a fan favourite, McMahon had a starring role in the series for three seasons before returning in the seventh season in a guest capacity. During his time on Charmed, McMahon was also romantically linked to Doherty, with the pair dating briefly during the show's third season in 2000–2001. McMahon's wife of 11 years, Paniagua, confirmed his death on Friday. '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,' she said in a statement to Deadline. Paniagua continued by expressing the love McMahon had for his fans and those around him and what being an actor meant to him during his life. '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 said. '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.'
