Julian McMahon has pᴀssed away at the age of 56. The Australian actor Julian McMahon built a decades-long career across film and television, becoming a recognizable face in both genres. McMahon is best known for his supervillain roles in Marvel’s 2005 Fantastic Four and its 2007 sequel Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, as well as Jonah/Magistrate in Marvel’s Runaways. Outside the comic book genre, McMahon shined as Cole Turner in Charmed, Christian Troy in Nip/Tuck, and Jess LaCroix in FBI: Most Wanted.
On July 4, 2025, ᴅᴇᴀᴅline reports that Julian McMahon died July 2, following a private battle with cancer. The late actor’s wife, Kelly McMahon, shared to ᴅᴇᴀᴅline, “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.” Read Kelly McMahon’s full quote below:
“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.”
Remembering Julian McMahon’s Career In Film & TV
McMahon Accrued Dozens Of Memorable Credits Over More Than Three Decades
Julian McMahon began his acting career in his native Australia with roles in soap operas like Home and Away, before transitioning to American television, where he quickly made a name for himself. McMahon gained early recognition for his role as the fan-favorite, charismatic half-demon Cole Turner in Charmed. However, it was his performance as the charming but ruthless plastic surgeon Christian Troy in FX’s Nip/Tuck that truly cemented his place in TV history.
McMahon also found success on the big screen, notably portraying Victor Von Doom in Tim Story’s Fantastic Four films of the mid-2000s. In them, Julian McMahon tackled the тιтanic task of playing Marvel’s most ruthless villain for the first time in a widely-released live-action Marvel movie. McMahon later returned to the Marvel multiverse in Marvel’s Runaways series for Hulu as the body-hopping Magistrate a.k.a. Jonah, a role that gave the actor more creative liberty than Doctor Doom.
McMahon brought a charismatic intensity to every role he played, and he knew how to take over the big and the small screen regardless of his role or his screentime
Julian McMahon’s Jess LaCroix from CBS’s FBI: Most Wanted can’t be left out of the conversation. The cold-headed leader of the FBI’s Most Wanted Unit, LaCroix had genuine chemistry with his team and remained the series’ emotional anchor. Following his departure from the FBI franchise, Julian McMahon delivered memorable performances in The Surfer, The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat, and The Residence.
Julian McMahon’s Acting Legacy Leaves An Indelible Mark
McMahon Delivered Beloved Performances That Won’t Be Forgotten By Fans
Julian McMahon had a remarkable talent for villainous roles, but he also shined as a hero, an anti-hero, and a supporting character. McMahon brought a charismatic intensity to every role he played, and he knew how to take over the big and the small screen regardless of his role or his screentime. Julian McMahon’s legacy will live on through beloved characters like Doctor Doom, the Magistrate, Jess LaCroix, and Cole Turner, and most importantly, through the fond memories of everyone who enjoyed his impact on dozens of movies and shows.
Source: ᴅᴇᴀᴅline
