Actor Julian McMahon dies at the age of 56

Sad news for fans of Charmed, FBI: Most Wanted, Nip/Tuck and Profiler: actor Julian McMahon passed away from cancer at the age of 56.

In a statement relayed by Deadline, Kelly McMahon, his wife, says: “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.”

Julian McMahon started his career on the soap operas Summer Bay and Another World before gaining recognition for his role as John Grant in the series Profiler (1996–2000). After that, the Australian actor joined the cast of Charmed, making a lasting impression as the unforgettable Cole Turner in over 40 episodes. Alyssa Milano, who played Phoebe Halliwell in Charmed, and whom he reunited with in Paris in 2023 at the For The Love of Fandoms 2 convention, paid tribute to him on Instagram: “Julian McMahon was magic. That smile. That laugh. That talent. That presence. […] Julian was more than my TV husband. He was a dear friend. The kind who checks in. […] Losing him feels unreal. Too soon. Too unfair. Rest, my friend. I’ll carry your laugh with me. Forever Cole. Forever Julian.”

In 2003, he landed a lead role on Nip/Tuck, playing Dr. Christian Troy alongside Dylan Walsh, Joely Richardson, and John Hensley. He remained on the show until its conclusion, appearing in 100 episodes.

Thereafter, Julian McMahon continued his television career, appearing in series such as Hunters, Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, and Runaways. In 2020, he joined the cast of FBI: Most Wanted, a spin-off of the FBI series. His last TV role was in 2025 in The Residence, a series broadcast on Netflix.

His film credits include Victor Von Doom in Fantastic Four and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.