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Julian McMahon, the Australian actor who captivated audiences with his charisma and intensity in hit TV shows such as Nip/Tuck, Charmed, and FBI: Most Wanted, has passed away at the age of 56 following a private battle with cancer. McMahon passed away peacefully on July 2 in Clearwater, Florida, surrounded by loved ones.
“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,” his wife, Kelly McMahon, said in a heartfelt statement to Deadline. “Julian loved life. He loved his family. He loved his friends. He loved his work and his fans. His deepest wish was to bring joy into as many lives as possible.”
McMahon is also survived by his daughter, Madison “Maddy” McMahon.
From Political Legacy to Hollywood Spotlight
Born on July 27, 1968, in Sydney, Australia, Julian Dana William McMahon came from a prominent background. His father, Sir William “Billy” McMahon, served as Prime Minister of Australia from 1971 to 1972. Despite political roots, Julian forged a very different path that would take him from the world of modeling and Australian soap operas to international fame.
He began his entertainment career as a model before transitioning into acting with a leading role in the 1989 Australian soap opera The Power and the Passion. He then joined the long-running Home and Away from 1990 to 1991. Hollywood soon came calling, and McMahon made his U.S. debut on NBC’s Another World in 1993.
Breakout Roles and TV Stardom
After cutting his teeth in daytime dramas, McMahon broke into primetime with a regular role on NBC’s Profiler. But it was his darkly seductive performance as Cole Turner in the WB’s hit supernatural series Charmed that began to shape his on-screen legacy.
He became a true television icon with FX’s Nip/Tuck, playing the womanizing and enigmatic plastic surgeon Dr. Christian Troy. The role earned him a Golden Globe nomination and showcased his range from vulnerable to villainous, and everything in between. His co-star Dylan Walsh paid tribute, saying:
“I’m stunned,” Walsh told Deadline. “We rode this wave together and I loved him. My heart goes out to Kelly and Maddy. Jules! I know you’d want me to say something to make you smile, all the inside jokes. All those years you had my back, and my god, we laughed. My heart is with you. Rest in peace.”
Following Nip/Tuck, McMahon took on the lead role of Jess LaCroix on CBS’ FBI: Most Wanted. He anchored the first three seasons with calm intensity and gravitas, becoming a staple of the franchise.
“What shocking news,” said franchise creator Dick Wolf. “All of us at Wolf Entertainment are deeply saddened by Julian’s passing, and our condolences go out to his entire family.”
From Supervillain to Surfer
He’s widely remembered for playing Marvel’s iconic villain Doctor Doom in Fantastic Four (2005) and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007). Other notable films include Premonition, starring Sandra Bullock; RED; You’re Not You; and Paranoia.
His final feature film role was opposite Nicolas Cage in The Surfer, which premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. Cage shared a touching tribute to McMahon:
“Such deeply saddening news. I spent six weeks working with Julian, and he was the most talented of actors,” Cage told Deadline. “Our scenes together on The Surfer were amongst my favorites I have ever participated in, and Julian is one of my favorite people. He was a kind and intelligent man. My love to his family.”
A Full-Circle Farewell
In what can only be described as a poetic full-circle moment, McMahon’s final role was in Netflix’s The Residence, a murder mystery series in which he portrayed the Prime Minister of Australia, a nod to the very legacy he was born into.
While McMahon kept his cancer battle private, the outpouring of love from fans, peers, and collaborators speaks to the impact he had both on and off screen.
“Julian’s deepest wish was to bring joy into as many lives as possible,” his wife Kelly 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.”