Actor Julian McMahon, son of late-prime minister Billy McMahon and Lady McMahon dead at 56
Tributes are pouring in after Australian actor Julian McMahon died from a personal health battle, and some of the last photos of him that were publicly shared also emerged.
Entertainment
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The entertainment world is in shock after Australian actor Julian McMahon sadly passed away after a private battle with cancer.
McMahon, 56, died in Clearwater, Florida, on Thursday and his wife, Kelly, confirmed the news in a statement to Deadline on Saturday.
The statement 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 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.”
He and wife Kelly had been together for 11 years before marrying in Lake Tahoe, near California and Nevada, in 2014. It was his third marriage.
He was previously married to model and Baywatch actress Brooke Burns from 1999 to 2001.
They share 25-year-old daughter Madison Elizabeth McMahon together.
On Instagram, McMahon supported Madison, 25, in her career as a yoga teacher at a studio in Miami. She posted recent photos of them together.
Madison posted in March: “Taught my first yoga class today. I guess dreams do come true.”
Her father posted: “Your (sic) awesome!!!!!”
She replied: “no YOU’RE awesome.”
He was also married to Australian singer and TV host Dannii Minogue from 1994 to 1995.
McMahon’s family has government ties in Australia as he was the only son of Sir William McMahon, a former Prime Minister, who served from 1971 to 1972. He was also leader of the Liberal Party.
He once 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.”
Born in Sydney, McMahon, went to school at Sydney Grammar, where his father also attended. His mother was Lady Sonia McMahon, who was an heiress, socialite and fashion icon.
McMahon was best known for his roles in television series FBI: Most Wanted and made guest appearances in FBI and FBI: International.
His final TV role was in The Residence on Netflix that aired this year in which he played Stephen Roos, a fictitious Australian Prime Minister. Set in the White House, a detective investigates a murder, with the staff and guests at a state dinner as suspects.
His final movie, which premiered at SXSW this year was The Surfer, a psychological thriller in which McMachon shared the screen with Nicolas Cage, where he walked the red carpet in March. He appeared more frail than the last time fans saw him on their TV screens.
Cage shared his reaction to the “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 favourites 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,” via Deadline.
McMahon also played Jess LaCroix, a Supervisory Special Agent leading the Fugitive Task Force, in FBI International. McMahon left the show in March 2022 after his character was killed in the line of duty.
Law & Order creator Dick Wolf, whose production company was behind the FBI TV series said: “All of us at Wolf Entertainment are deeply saddened by Julian’s passing and our condolences go out to his entire family.”
His co-star on FBI: Most Wanted, Kiwi actor Keisha Castle-Hughes, posted a tribute saying: “Things are a little dimmer now without you.
“Thank you for being a true example of what kindness and leadership looks like but most of all, thanks for being my friend on so many days when I really needed one.
“My deepest condolences and all my love to your beautiful girls & Kelly. I’m gonna miss ya, and our laughs. F**k did we have some times aye xxx”
McMahon also took on the role of Jonah in the Marvel series Runaways.
Earlier in his career, he famously starred in Nip/Tuck, where he played Dr Christian Troy, and Charmed, where he portrayed Cole Turner.
He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama for his role in Nip/Tuck.
Dylan Walsh, who was a lead character in Nip/Tuck with him, said he was “stunned” by his passing.
”We rode this wave together and I loved him. My heart goes out to Kelly and [their daughter] 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.”
McMahon’s on-screen Nip/Tuck love interest Kelly Carlson disclosed on Instagram she was “completely shocked and saddened”.
“Jeez, I didn’t know he wasn’t well for a while.”
McMahon has also appeared in films like Fantastic Four and Premonition alongside Sandra Bullock.
Fantastic Four co-star Ioan Gruffudd said his death was “terribly sad”.
“Even though we played each other’s nemeses, there was always so much lightness and laughter working together. Every encounter with him was a joy,” he said.
“It was an honour to be Dr. Richards to his Dr. Doom. My heart goes out to his family
“God speed, Julian.”
Fantastic Four co-star Michael Chiklis wrote he was “devastated to hear of the passing of my friend Julian. Life is so precious and fragile. My condolences to his family. RIP Jules.”
Before he ventured into acting, McMahon briefly studied law at Sydney University, and economics at the University of Wollongong before dropping out to model in Italy, London, New York and Paris.
McMahon was working in Europe when his father — Australia’s 20th prime minister — died prompting him to return to Australia for the funeral.
While back on home soil, McMahon he filmed commercials for Levi’s jeans and subsequently landed his role on Aussie soap The Power, The Passion in 1989 before landing a role on Seven’s long-running soap Home and Away playing soldier Benito ‘Ben Lucini’ in 1990.
It was on the set of Home & Away in 1991 that McMahon and Minogue met.
After leaving Summer Bay, he made his feature acting debut opposite Elliott Gould in Wet and Wild Summer!
He moved to Hollywood to focus on his acting career and appeared in NBC’s Another World in 1993 before getting roles in Profiler and then Charmed.
Dorian Gregory, who co-starred alongside McMahon on Charmed, said he was “beautifully talented” in a touching statement to The New York Post.
“Kind Warm Witty and Beautifully Talented Julian McMahon,” Gregory said. “Words are never enough, so I am speechless.”
“I send my most heartfelt loving regards to his family and all those who loved and cherished him,” he added. “His presence will be missed.”
Another Charmed co-star, Holly Marie Combs described McMahon as “one of a kind” but said that was an “understatement”.
“Your zest for life and crazy making sense of humour will be sorely missed,” she said.
“The joy and laughter you were the direct cause of will always be remembered. I hope you find our lady friend and dance in those rose petals.”
Rose McGowan, another Charmed co-star wrote: “oh Julian you force of brilliance, wild talent and humour. For you, your family and loving fans all over the world, I pray comfort.”
Originally published as Actor Julian McMahon, son of late-prime minister Billy McMahon and Lady McMahon dead at 56
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