Julian McMahon dies at 56 after private battle with cancer

Australian-American actor Julian McMahon, best known for his roles in Nip/Tuck, Charmed, and Fantastic Four, has died at the age of 56 after a private battle with cancer.

His wife, Kelly Paniagua, confirmed the news in a statement released on Friday, saying, “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.”

McMahon, the only son of former Australian Prime Minister Sir William McMahon, had kept his diagnosis and health struggle out of the public eye. His last public appearance was in March 2025 at the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas, where he promoted his film The Surfer alongside Nicolas Cage.

“Julian loved life. He loved his family. He loved his friends. He loved his work, and he loved his fans,” Kelly added. “His deepest wish was to bring joy into as many lives as possible.”

Julian McMahon rose to international fame as the seductive plastic surgeon Dr Christian Troy on the hit FX drama Nip/Tuck (2003–2010), a role that earned him a Golden Globe nomination in 2004. He also gained cult status for portraying Cole Turner in Charmed and played supervillain Dr. Doom in Fantastic Four (2005) and its sequel Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007).

McMahon also led CBS’s FBI: Most Wanted as Jess LaCroix from 2020 to 2022, and most recently portrayed the Australian Prime Minister in the Netflix murder-mystery series The Residence, bringing his career full circle.

Before breaking into Hollywood, McMahon was a soap star in Australia, playing Ben Lucini in Home and Away from 1990 to 1991. He later made a name for himself in the U.S. through roles in Profiler, Charmed, and a string of film appearances, including opposite Sandra Bullock in Premonition (2007).

Julian was married three times. He wed actress Brooke Burns in 1999, with whom he shared a daughter, Madison Elizabeth McMahon. He was also previously married to Australian singer Dannii Minogue. He married Kelly Paniagua in 2024 after being together for more than a decade.

Kelly requested privacy for the family, saying, “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 is survived by his wife, daughter, and a lasting legacy on both the small and big screens.