Julian McMahon, Beloved Australian Actor, Passes Away at 56
Julian McMahon, the Australian actor renowned for his roles in Charmed, Nip/Tuck, and FBI: Most Wanted, as well as his portrayal of Doctor Doom in the Fantastic Four films, has died at the age of 56.
McMahon passed away on Wednesday in Clearwater, Florida, following a battle with cancer that had not been made public. His wife, Kelly Paniagua, confirmed the news on Friday, referring to him as her “beloved husband.”
In a heartfelt statement to Deadline, she expressed, “It is with an open heart that I share with the world that my beloved husband, Julian McMahon, died peacefully this week after a courageous fight against cancer.” She added, “Julian loved life, his family, friends, work, and fans. His greatest wish was to spread joy to as many lives as possible.”
Career Journey
Born in Sydney in 1968, McMahon was the son of former Australian Prime Minister Sir William “Billy” McMahon. He began his career as a model in the 1980s before transitioning to acting, first appearing in the Australian soap opera Home and Away in 1990. He made his feature film debut in the 1992 comedy Exchange Lifeguards.
His breakout role came as the half-human, half-demon assassin Cole Turner in Charmed, where he starred from 2000 to 2003 and made a brief return in 2005. McMahon also gained recognition for his role as the arrogant plastic surgeon Dr. Christian Troy in the FX series Nip/Tuck, earning a Golden Globe nomination.
Legacy and Final Roles
Known for his roles as charming villains, McMahon played Doctor Doom in the 20th Century Fox Fantastic Four films and voiced the character in the associated video game. He later starred as Jess LaCroix, a special agent, in FBI: Most Wanted, where he appeared for three seasons.
His recent works included roles as Australian Prime Minister Stephen Roos in Netflix’s comedy-mystery The Residence and Scally, the intimidating surfer in The Surfer. He also played Ray, the love interest, in The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat.
A Reflection on His Life
Following the news of McMahon’s passing, Dick Wolf, producer of FBI: Most Wanted, expressed his shock and condolences to McMahon’s family. Australian filmmaker Stephan Elliott reminisced about their school days together, describing McMahon as a “wild child” who brought humor to his family life.
McMahon was married three times, including to singer Dannii Minogue in 1994 and actress Brooke Burns, with whom he shares a daughter. He married Kelly Paniagua in 2014, marking his final marriage.
