Julian McMahon, the Australian-American actor known for his roles in Nip/Tuck, Charmed, and as the iconic villain Dr. Doom in the Fantastic Four films, has died following a battle with cancer. He was 56.
McMahon’s wife, Kelly McMahon, confirmed his passing in a statement to Deadline, sharing that the actor “died peacefully this week 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. 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 statement read.
The son of former Australian Prime Minister Sir William McMahon, Julian McMahon began his career as a model before transitioning to acting on Australian television. He gained international fame through American television, first appearing in NBC’s Another World, the crime drama Profiler, and as the demonic Cole Turner in Charmed, where he became a fan favorite.
His breakout role came with the FX medical drama Nip/Tuck, where he portrayed Dr. Christian Troy, a charming yet troubled plastic surgeon. The critically acclaimed role earned him a Golden Globe nomination and cemented his status as a television star.
In film, McMahon is best remembered for playing the metallic supervillain Dr. Doom in Fantastic Four (2005) and its sequel Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007). His film credits also include Premonition, RED, and Paranoia.
More recently, McMahon starred as FBI agent Jess LaCroix in CBS’s FBI: Most Wanted, leading the series for three seasons before departing in 2022. He also appeared in Hulu’s Marvel’s Runaways and the Netflix series The Residence, where he played the role of the Australian prime minister.
Dick Wolf, creator of the FBI franchise, expressed his condolences in a statement to Deadline, saying, “All of us at Wolf Entertainment are deeply saddened by Julian’s passing and our condolences go out to his entire family.”
McMahon is remembered not only for his talent on screen but also for his charisma, kindness, and the joy he brought to millions of fans around the world.
