Was Julian McMahon married? All about the actor’s married life explored 

The Australian American actor, Julian McMahon of Charmed, Nip/Tuck, Fantastic Four and FBI: Most Wanted has died aged 56 after a secret battle with cancer. On July 2, 2025 his wife Kelly Paniagua confirmed that he passed away at his home in Clearwater, Florida.

A private life marked by three marriages

The personal relationships of Julian McMahon covered three marriages:

Dannii Minogue (1994-1995)

The actor got married to the Australian singer and actress Dannii Minogue who he had met on the set of Home and Away back in 1991. The relationship with McMahon lasted approximately eighteen months and broke off due to controversy with the reported tensions within his family.

Brooke Burns (1999-2001)

His second wife was an American actress Brooke Burns, who had a popular role in Baywatch. In June 2000, they had a daughter, Madison Elizabeth McMahon, and eventually divorced in the year 2001. Their daughter is a professional Volleyball palyer.

Kelly Paniagua (2014-2025)

Kelly Paniagua who is an Australian model and actress is the third wife of Julian, and they got married in 2014. But they reportedly were together since 2003. She stood beside him when he had his war against cancer. In an obituary published by Deadline and quoted by other sites, Kelly called him her “loved husband shouldering cancer with fortitude and facing this final challenge of his illness with the same strength” and added that he died peacefully after a long struggle against cancer.

Family background: From political lineage to soap star

Born July 27, 1968, in Sydney, McMahon was the only son of Sir William “Billy” McMahon, who served as Australia’s prime minister from 1971 to 1972, and Lady Sonia McMahon. He grew up alongside his two sisters and began modelling in his teens. His early television career included a major role on the Australian soap opera Home and Away (over 150 episodes).

Julian McMahon often referred to Australia as being central to his identity, saying his “soul is Australian” despite living in the United States since the 1990s.

Career highlights

Julian McMahon’s breakout roles in the U.S. included:

• Cole Turner in Charmed (2000–2003, with a brief return in 2005)
• Dr Christian Troy in Nip/Tuck (2003–2010), earning a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor – Television Series Drama
• Doctor Doom/Victor Von Doom in Fantastic Four (2005) and its sequel (2007)

More recently, Julian McMahon starred as FBI Special Agent Jess LaCroix in FBI: Most Wanted (2020-2022) and appeared in Netflix’s The Residence (2025) as Australian Prime Minister Stephen Roos, a poignant echo of his own family history.

His last film release was The Surfer, which premiered at SXSW and hit cinemas in May 2025.

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