Julian McMahon dead at 56: Nip/Tuck and Fantastic Four star passes away after private health battle

Julian McMahon – who starred in Nip/Tuck and FBI: Most Wanted – has passed away at 56 after a private health battle.

The 56-year-old Australian-American actor had been secretly battling cancer, his wife Kelly revealed in a heartbreaking statement on Friday. 

His wife said : ‘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.’ 

Julian’s last public appearance was alongside Nicolas Cage at SXSW in Austin, Texas back in March as he looked thin as he promoted psychological thriller The Surfer.

Kelly – whom he married in 2024 – continued by expressing the love Julian had for his fans and those around him and what being an actor meant to him during his life.

‘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. 

Julian McMahon – who starred in Nip/Tuck and FBI: Most Wanted – had passed away at 56 after a private health battle; he is seen in Cannes, France in May 2024

The talented actor (left) was best known for his role as Dr. Christian Troy on the FX series Nip/Tuck; he is seen with costar Dylan Walsh (right) in 2003

‘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, she added in her statement obtained by Deadline.

The talented actor was best known for his role as Dr. Christian Troy on the FX series Nip/Tuck.

He starred alongside Dylan Walsh who portrayed Sean McNamara in the campy medical drama which ran for six seasons from 2003 to 2010.

The star was even nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama Television Series in 2004 where he was bested by Ian McShane for his role in HBO series Deadwood.

Julian later starred as Jess LaCroix on the CBS series FBI: Most Wanted beginning 2020 but made a surprise exit in March 2022 after three seasons. 

He previously made his name on Australian television soap opera Home & Away in which he starred as main star Ben Lucini from 1990 to 1991.

The actor went on to star as Detective John Grant in American crime drama Profiler from 1996 to 2000.

He then won the hearts of many as he portrayed Cole Turner in Charmed seasons 3 through 5 from 2000 to 2003 before returning as a guest for season 7 in 2005. 

The 56-year-old Australian-American actor had been secretly battling cancer , his wife Kelly revealed in a heartbreaking statement on Friday; the couple are seen in LA in January 2017

Julian’s last public appearance was alongside Nicolas Cage at SXSW in Austin, Texas back in March as he looked thin as he promoted psychological thriller The Surfer

Julian later starred as Jess LaCroix on the CBS series FBI: Most Wanted beginning 2020 but made a surprise exit in March 2022 after three seasons

The Sydney, Australia native also had success on the big screen as he starred as iconic supervillain Dr. Doom in two Marvel movies Fantastic Four (2005; pictured) and Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer (2007)

The Sydney, Australia native also had success on the big screen as he starred as iconic supervillain Dr. Doom in two Marvel movies Fantastic Four (2005) and Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer (2007).

He also starred alongside Sandra Bullock in 2007 supernatural psychological thriller Premonition. 

Julian and wife Kelly had been together for 11 years before marrying in a romantic ceremony in Lake Tahoe, a lakeside area on the edge of California and Nevada, in 2014. It was his third marriage.

Julian was previously married to model and Baywatch actress Brooke Burns from 1999 to 2001 as they share 25-year-old daughter Madison Elizabeth McMahon together.

Julian was previously married to model and Baywatch actress Brooke Burns from 1999 to 2001; the former couple are seen in LA back in 1999

Julian shared 25-year-old daughter Madison Elizabeth McMahon (pictured) with his second ex-wife

He also was famously married to Australian singer and TV personality Dannii Minogue from 1994 to 1995; the two are seen in London together back in 1993

He also was famously married to Australian singer and TV personality Dannii Minogue from 1994 to 1995.

Julian also has ties to the government of Australia as he was the only son of Sir William McMahon, a former Prime Minister of Australia, who served from 1971 to 1972 and held office as the leader of the Liberal Party of Australia.

He talked about his childhood in an interview with the Herald Sun in 2018 as he said: ‘My Dad… was born in 1908. That’s a very different time to what it was when he was raising me. 

‘He must have gone through a strange misunderstanding of how you were parented in 1908 versus how you parent in 1972; it would have been so conflicting. Also how you be a husband in that period of time would have been different. ‘

His final role was a bit of a full circle moment as he portrayed the Australian Prime Minister in Netflix murder mystery series The Residence.