Star Julian McMahon Died at 56

After a secret fight with cancer, the ebullient Australian actor Julian McMahon, who enthralled viewers with unforgettable appearances in Nip/Tuck, Charmed, FBI: Most Wanted, and as the legendary villain Doctor Doom in the Fantastic Four films, died on July 2, 2025, in Clearwater, Florida. His age was 56.

“Kelly McMahon, his wife, tenderly announced to Deadline that her beloved husband, Julian McMahon, peacefully passed away this week after courageously fighting cancer, sharing the news with a heart full of love. Julian cherished life. He cherished his family. He cherished his pals. He loved his fans as much as he loved his job. His greatest desire was to make as many people happy as he could. In order to give our family privacy as they grieve, we kindly request your support during this time. And we hope that everyone Julian made happy will continue to find happiness in life. We cherish the recollections.

Julian Dana William McMahon was born in Sydney, Australia, on July 27, 1968.Sir William “Billy” McMahon, his father, served as Australia’s Prime Minister for a short tenure spanning 1971 to 1972.
Would you like it in a more elaborate or casual style? McMahon began his career as a fashion model before swiftly switching to acting, landing his first appearances on Australian television. Before gaining a more extended role on Home and Away between 1990 and 1991, he appeared in the short-lived 1989 soap opera The Power, the Passion.

Wet and Wild Summer!, a humorous Australian-American comedy that costarred Elliott Gould, was his first feature film role in 1992.Sure! Here’s a completely unique rewrite of that sentence:

Shortly after moving to the U.S., McMahon launched his acting career in America in 1993 by joining the cast of NBC’s daytime drama Another World.

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McMahon’s portrayal of Agent John Grant in NBC’s crime drama Profiler, which he starred in for all four seasons, was his big break into American primetime television. But his subsequent role as the enigmatic, dark demon-turned-lover Cole Turner in the popular supernatural show Charmed solidified his reputation as a fan favorite. Throughout his three seasons on the program, McMahon shown his ability to strike a balance between romanticism, intensity, and menace, which helped to make Cole one of the most memorable characters.

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McMahon earned the part that would shape a large portion of his career in 2003 when he was cast as Dr. Christian Troy, a plastic surgeon on Ryan Murphy’s controversial FX program Nip/Tuck. McMahon’s work throughout the six-season show led to a Golden Globe nomination. He played Troy as a guy of contradictions: prosperous but always unhappy, charming but incredibly damaged. Dylan Walsh, his co-star who portrayed Dr. Sean McNamara, honored his lifelong friend by stating:

I’m in disbelief.I cherished our time together — we experienced that incredible journey side by side. My thoughts and prayers are with Kelly and Maddy. Jules! With all the inside jokes, I’m sure you’d want me to say something to make you laugh. We laughed, my god, and you had my back all those years. You have my heart. May you rest in peace.

McMahon’s popularity on television quickly led to big-screen prospects. He played Marvel’s famous antagonist Victor Von Doom, also known as Doctor Doom, in the 2005 film Fantastic Four. He returned to the character in the 2007 follow-up, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. These popular movies became landmarks in the early wave of contemporary superhero filmmaking and exposed McMahon to a worldwide audience.

Following Nip/Tuck, McMahon kept expanding his range of jobs. He debuted in the Australian ensemble comedy Swinging Safari, starred alongside Sandra Bullock in the movies Premonition, RED, You’re Not You, and Paranoia, and joined Hulu’s Marvel series Runaways as the antagonist Jonah.In 2024, he appeared opposite Nicolas Cage in The Surfer, which premiered during the Midnight Screenings segment at the Cannes Film Festival.

Cage said, “Such deeply saddening news,” in response to McMahon’s death. Julian was the most gifted of performers, and we worked together for six weeks. Julian is one of my favorite people, and our sequences together on The Surfer were among of my favorite that I have ever done. He possessed both deep wisdom and a genuinely kind spirit.To his family, my love.

The Supervisory Special Agent Jess LaCroix position on CBS’ FBI: Most Wanted, which he oversaw for three seasons, was one of McMahon’s most well-known recent positions. Fans and coworkers were both startled when he left the show in 2022. “What shocking news,” producer Dick Wolf stated in a statement. The entire Wolf Entertainment team is extremely grieved by Julian’s passing, and we send our sympathies to his family.

McMahon’s career came full circle with his last appearance. He paid homage to his ancestry and his father’s legacy by portraying the Australian Prime Minister in the Netflix political murder mystery series The Residence.

Madison “Maddy” McMahon and his wife, Kelly, are the only survivors of Julian McMahon. He leaves behind a legacy of varied parts, loyal fans, and coworkers who liked and respected him. He is remembered not only for his performance on television but also for his warmth, humor, and profound appreciation of life.

Even though he is no longer with us, his contributions and the happiness he offered to so many will endure.