Julian McMahon, Star of ‘Fantastic Four’, Passes Away at 56

Julian McMahon, the actor known for many TV and movie roles, has died at 56 after quietly fighting cancer. His wife, Kelly McMahon, told Deadline about his passing and shared a heartfelt message.

She said, “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.” Kelly asked for privacy during this difficult time but encouraged fans to remember the happiness Julian brought to so many.

Born in Sydney, Australia, on July 27, 1968, Julian came from a notable family. His father, Billy McMahon, was Australia’s Prime Minister from 1971 to 1972. Julian began his career as a model before trying acting.

He first appeared on Australian soap operas like The Power, the Passion and Home and Away in the late 1980s and early 1990s. His first movie role was in Wet and Wild Summer! in 1992. Later, Julian moved to the United States, where he acted in daytime soaps like Another World.

He then shifted to primetime television and took on roles in shows such as Profiler. Julian gained a larger audience when he played the demon Cole Turner on the popular show Charmed for three seasons. His biggest success came with the FX drama Nip/Tuck, where he played Dr. Christian Troy.

This role made him famous and earned him a Golden Globe nomination. His co-star on Nip/Tuck, Dylan Walsh said: “I’m stunned. We rode this wave together and I loved him. My heart goes out to Kelly and Maddy. Jules! I know you’d want me to say something to make you smile — all the inside jokes. All those years you had my back, and my god, we laughed. My heart is with you. Rest in peace.”

After Nip/Tuck, Julian starred in CBS’s FBI: Most Wanted as Jess LaCroix for three seasons until he left the show in 2022. Dick Wolf, who runs the FBI franchise, told Deadline, “All of us at Wolf Entertainment are deeply saddened by Julian’s passing and our condolences go out to his entire family.”

Julian was also known for his movie roles, especially as Doctor Doom in the Fantastic Four films released in 2005 and 2007. His other films include Premonition, RED, Paranoia, You’re Not You, and Swinging Safari. His latest movie was The Surfer (2024), which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. Nicolas Cage, his co-star in The Surfer, said, “Such deeply saddening news. I spent six weeks working with Julian, and he was the most talented of actors. 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.”

Julian’s last acting role was on Netflix’s mystery series The Residence, where he played the Australian Prime Minister, a nod to his own family background.

He is survived by his wife Kelly and their daughter Madison, known as Maddy. Julian McMahon’s passing is a big loss for his fans and the entertainment world, where he was loved for both his talent and kindness.

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