Julian McMahon, best known for playing the villainous Dr. Doom in the early 2000s Fantastic Four films and for starring in popular TV shows like Nip/Tuck and Charmed, has died at the age of 56.
His wife, Kelly McMahon, confirmed in a statement that the actor passed away peacefully this week following a brave battle with cancer.
“Julian had an incredible love for life—he adored his family, treasured his friendships, was passionate about his work, and deeply valued his fans,” Kelly said. “His greatest hope was to bring happiness to as many people as he could. We kindly ask for privacy during this difficult time as we grieve. And to those whose lives he touched, we hope you continue to find joy, just as he would have wanted. We’re forever grateful for the memories.”
The team behind Nip/Tuck, created by acclaimed television writer Ryan Murphy, also shared news of McMahon’s death in a post on Facebook.
“Warner Bros. Television is mourning the passing of our dear friend Julian McMahon,” the post read, accompanied by a photo of the actor. “Our thoughts and sympathies are with his family, friends, colleagues, and fans around the world.”
McMahon’s portrayal of Dr. Christian Troy in Nip/Tuck earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Television Drama. The series aired on FX from 2003 to 2010. During that time, he also starred as the iconic villain in Fantastic Four and its sequel, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. He rose to fame earlier with his role on the supernatural drama Charmed, appearing alongside Shannen Doherty and Alyssa Milano from 2000 to 2005.
Born on July 27, 1968, in Sydney, Australia, McMahon came from a high-profile family. His father, Sir William McMahon, served as Australia’s prime minister from 1971 to 1972, while his mother, Sonia McMahon, was a well-known socialite and style icon.
In a 2007 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, McMahon reflected on his childhood and his father’s time in office, saying he had few memories due to his young age. “Australia’s smaller, and it was the ’70s, so things weren’t so public,” he said. “It was easier growing up—not as much media attention, and no paparazzi chasing you around.”
In 2018, he returned to his home country to co-star in the comedy-drama Swinging Safari with Australian pop star Kylie Minogue. At one time, Minogue was his sister-in-law during his marriage to her younger sister, singer Dannii Minogue, in the 1990s.
More recently, McMahon played the role of an Australian prime minister in the Netflix mystery series The Residence, a character that may have drawn inspiration from his father’s political legacy.
McMahon is survived by his wife, Kelly, whom he married in 2014, and his daughter Madison, from a previous marriage to actress and model Brooke Burns.
