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Julian McMahon, the Australian-born actor celebrated for his roles in "Nip/Tuck," "Charmed," and the "Fantastic Four" film series, has died at age 56 after a private battle with cancer. His wife, Kelly McMahon, confirmed his death in a statement released this week, noting the actor "died peacefully... after a valiant effort to overcome cancer."
"Julian loved life. He loved his family. He loved his friends. He loved his work, and he loved his fans," Kelly McMahon said. "His deepest wish was to bring joy into as many lives as possible."
Born in Sydney on July 27, 1968, McMahon was the son of former Australian Prime Minister Sir William McMahon and socialite Sonia McMahon. He launched his acting career in Australian television before gaining traction in the U.S. with roles on NBC's "Another World" and the crime drama "Profiler."
His breakout role came in 2000 on the WB series "Charmed," where he played demon Cole Turner, a central character opposite Alyssa Milano's Phoebe Halliwell. "Julian McMahon was magic," Milano wrote on Instagram. "That smile. That laugh. That talent. That presence. He walked into a room and lit it up-not just with charisma, but with kindness. With mischief. With soulful understanding."
McMahon earned a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of Dr. Christian Troy in FX's hit plastic surgery drama "Nip/Tuck," created by Ryan Murphy. Warner Bros. Television, which produced the series, posted a tribute on Facebook: "Warner Bros. Television mourns the loss of our friend Julian McMahon. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, colleagues, and fans."
In film, McMahon played the villainous Victor Von Doom in two "Fantastic Four" films and starred in other features including "Premonition," "RED," and "Paranoia." He also appeared in the Australian comedy-drama "Swinging Safari" with Kylie Minogue, and recently starred alongside Nicolas Cage in "The Surfer."
From 2020 to 2023, McMahon led the CBS drama "FBI: Most Wanted" before departing after three seasons. His final credited role was in the Netflix series "The Residence," where he played an Australian prime minister-a part that echoed his father's legacy.
McMahon was previously married to pop star Dannii Minogue and later to actress Brooke Burns, with whom he had a daughter, Madison. He married Kelly McMahon in 2014.
