Australian actor Julian McMahon, best known for his starring roles in Nip/Tuck, Charmed, and the Fantastic Four film franchise, has died aged 56 following a private battle with cancer.
McMahon passed away peacefully in Clearwater, Florida, according to a statement released by his wife, Kelly McMahon. The actor had reportedly kept his illness quiet, continuing to work until recently.
“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 shared 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. 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.”
The untimely death of Julian McMahon has sent shockwaves through both Hollywood and the Australian entertainment industry, where McMahon’s career first began – and where he never stopped being regarded as a homegrown star who went global.
From Home & Away To Hollywood
McMahon, who is survived by his wife Kelly and daughter Madison “Maddy” McMahon was born on July 27, 1968, as the only son of former Australian Prime Minister Sir William McMahon and Lady Sonia McMahon.
Despite his political pedigree, McMahon carved his own path – first as a model and then as an actor on nearly every Australian actor’s rite of passage – Home and Away. It was during his tenure on the popular soap that he quickly became one of the country’s most recognisable faces. Following a year-long stint in Summer Bay, he scored his first feature-length role on the cult classic, Wet And Wild Summer!
But soon enough, Hollywood came calling and McMahon moved into the world of daytime soaps before eventually scoring his iconic role as Cole Turner in Charmed.
However, it was his role as the unapologetically slick Dr. Christian Troy in Ryan Murphy’s Nip/Tuck that truly cemented his legacy. The series ran from 2003 to 2010 and earned McMahon a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor, as well as a legion of devoted fans.
As an actor, he was a master of dualities – he played villains with devilish ease and romantic leads with undeniable charisma. In 2005, that was cemented when he took on the role of Victor Von Doom (aka Dr. Doom) in Marvel’s Fantastic Four, starring opposite Jessica Alba and Chris Evans – reprising the role in its 2007 sequel.
Other notable credits include Premonition, opposite Sandra Bullock, and Runaways, a Marvel television series. In May this year, he returned to the big screen in The Surfer, an Australian drama set on the West Coast, where he starred alongside Nicolas Cage.
McMahon’s final on-screen role was in Netflix’s murder mystery, The Residence, where, in a full circle moment for the politician’s child-turned-Hollywood star, he played the Australian Prime Minister.
Tributes Pour In From Fans & Industry Peers
Industry heavyweights, co-stars and longtime friends have shared tributes in honour of the star after hearing news of the death of Julian McMahon
“Such deeply saddening news. I spent six weeks working with Julian, and he was the most talented of actors,” Nicolas 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.”
His Charmed co-star, Rose McGowan also shared a touching tribute, writing: “Julian you force of brilliance, wild talent and humour. For you, your family and loving fans all over the world, I pray comfort.”
McGowan’s sentiment was followed-up by fellow Charmed star, Holly Marie Combs, who joined in the chorus of praise for Julian McMahon following news of his death, writing: “One of a kind is an understatement. Your zest for life and crazy making sense of humour will be sorely missed.
“The joy and laughter you were the direct cause of will always be remembered. I hope you find our lady friend and dance in those rose petals,” she added.
Condolences continued, with Fantastic Four‘s Ioan Gruffudd also paying tribute to his beloved co-star. “This is terribly sad news about Julian,” he wrote in a heartwarming post remembering McMahon. “Even though we played each other’s nemeses, there was always so much lightness and laughter working together. Every encounter with him was a joy.
“It was an honor to be Dr. Richards to his Dr. Doom. My heart goes out to his wife and family. God speed Julian.”
