Julian McMahon death: Family break silence with new post after actor’s passing at 56 from cancer

Julian McMahon’s family has spoken out for the first time since the actor’s death at 56, sharing a heartfelt message with his fans.

The Australian star died last week after a private battle with cancer.

He is survived by his wife Kelly Paniagua, daughter Madison McMahon (with ex-wife Brooke Burns), and his siblings Melinda and Debbie.

On Tuesday, a post appeared on McMahon’s Instagram page, thanking those who have shown their love and support.

“Julian loved @vanmorrisonofficial... For all of those who loved Julian, thank you,” the caption read.

The post included a black and white photo of McMahon smiling for the camera. Van Morrison’s song Sometimes We Cry was attached to the post.

Julian’s widow, Kelly, revealed his cancer battle in a statement last Friday. “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,” 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.

“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.

Best known for his role as Dr Christian Troy on FX’s Nip/Tuck, McMahon starred alongside Dylan Walsh in the hit drama from 2003 to 2010 and earned a Golden Globe nomination in 2004.

He later played Jess LaCroix on CBS’s FBI: Most Wanted, leaving the series in March 2022 after three seasons, and previously appeared in Home & Away and Profiler.

One of his most iconic roles included portraying Cole Turner in Charmed in season three to five, before returning as a guest for season seven in 2005.

On the big screen, he was iconic as Dr Doom in the Fantastic Four films and starred with Sandra Bullock in Premonition.

McMahon and partner Kelly were together for 11 years before marrying in Lake Tahoe in 2014. He was previously married to Brooke Burns and Australian singer Dannii Minogue.

The son of former Australian Prime Minister Sir William McMahon, Julian’s final role brought his story full circle as he played the Australian Prime Minister in Netflix’s The Residence, and also played the villain alongside Nicolas Cage in The Surfer.