Julian McMahon, the Australian model turned Hollywood star, has died from cancer at the age of 56.
His wife, Kelly, provided a statement to Deadline:
“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.”
Born in 1968, McMahon was the son of former Australian prime minister Sir William McMahon and his wife Lady Sonia McMahon.
YouTube: Retropond
He started a career in modelling, working overseas, but it was his appearance in a jeans commercial where he stripped down to his underwear that made him famous in Australia. He studied acting at the Stanislavski Drama School in Los Angeles and in Milan in between modelling assignments and made his acting debut in the short-lived Seven Network soap The Power, The Passion in 1989. He then went on to an ongoing role in Home And Away in 1990, where he met and later had a brief marriage to co-star Dannii Minogue.
He made a guest appearance in the ABC series GP and starred in the Australian-American film Exchange Lifeguards. His big break in the US came with a role in daytime soap Another World, followed by prime time dramas Profiler and Charmed.
He had the lead role of Dr Christian Troy in the long-running series Nip/Tuck and later starred in FBI, FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International.
His last television role was as an Australian prime minister in the Netflix series The Residence.
Movie credits included Chasing Fleet, Meet Market, Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Monster Party, The Supremes At Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat and Swinging Safari.
Julian McMahon is survived by his wife of 11 years, model turned author Kelly, and daughter, Madison, from his previous marriage to actor Brooke Burns.
Source: Deadline, IMDB, Back To The Bay. TV Week, 20 January 1990.
