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Julian McMahon was more than just a familiar face on screen. This Australian-American actor always adapted to the role he picked in the ever-changing world of television and entertainment.
From thrillers to crime dramas, he easily took on complicated characters and played them in a way that stayed with his fans long after the closing credits rolled.
Wondering which of his TV show projects captured his talent the best? These five TV shows offer a look into the actor's choices, characters, and why he'll be so deeply missed.
5 TV shows to remember Julian McMahon by
1. Nip/Tuck
If there's one role that engraved Julian McMahon's place in TV, it's his role as Dr. Christian Troy from Nip/Tuck. McMahon brought some confidence and many layers to a character who, on the surface, seemed all flashy but deep down was different.
Under all of his fancy suits and numerous flings, McMahon carried the weight that made Troy out to be a standout character.
His relationship with Sean McNamara (played by Dylan Walsh) was complicated and sometimes painful. Whether figuring out past trauma or confronting truths, Julian McMahon made Christian Troy more than a womanizer, which was only seen later on in the show.
His performance as Christian Troy even earned him a Golden Globe nomination.
Nip/Tuck wasn't just a dramatic show. It was bold, raw, real, and disturbing. And McMahon acted out the role with a steady and compelling energy that's hard to forget.
2. FBI: Most Wanted
As Jess LaCroix in FBI: Most Wanted, Julian McMahon took on a role that asked for strength without having to show it off. He played a character trusted with the toughest of cases and a character leading the Fugitive Task Force with dangerous missions coming his way.
What stood out wasn't just the action, but the way McMahon carried Jess's grief and devotion towards his daughter and his work.
Jess wasn't the type to talk much about his pain, but you could feel it every time he was on screen. Whether dealing with criminals or comforting his daughter, McMahon played Jess with utmost care.
The character's eventual on-screen death was a turning point for the show and a punch for his fans who'd grown attached to him being on screen.
Jess's personality, his devotion to duty, and his vulnerability all came through because McMahon made the character feel real.
3. Charmed
Julian McMahon's time on Charmed was nothing but iconic. As Cole Turner, a half-demon lawyer pulled between good and evil, McMahon gave the show one of its most complicated characters.
His love story with Phoebe Halliwell was romantic, and to top it all off, it was also torn between betrayal, power struggles, and twists and turns that were supernatural.
Cole wasn't an easy, clear-cut villain or hero. He moved between roles, sometimes protecting the Charmed Ones, other times fighting them. McMahon's ability to keep fans guessing made Cole an unforgettable character on Charmed. He was the guy who played a man at war with himself.
From being Belthazor to becoming the Source of All Evil, the push and pull was always intense. Whether he was bringing on threats or aching for Phoebe, Julian McMahon gave the role heart, rage, and everything you can think of in between.
4. Marvel’s Runaways
From playing Doctor Doom in Fantastic Four to being in Hulu's Marvel's Runaways, Julian McMahon stepped into the Marvel world yet again with a performance that was both eerie and mysterious.
He played Jonah, an alien being known as 'The Magistrate,' who walked among humans while hiding a bigger and much more dangerous agenda.
His connection to the Church of Gibborim and secret parentage of Karolina Dean made his role important to the show's tension.
What made McMahon's portrayal of Jonah stand out was the blend of his calm charm and cold manipulation. Whether persuading or threatening, he kept fans glued to their screens. There was always something unsettling in his stillness, as if something darker was waiting underneath.
Through power plays and shifting identities, Julian McMahon gave the show a layered villain who was both intelligent and terrifying.
5. Hunters
In the series Hunters, Julian McMahon embraced a darker, more brutal role as Lionel McCarthy—a killer who isn't even human. As part of a species secretly attacking Earth, McMahon's character was dangerous, unpredictable, and deeply disturbing. The show's sci-fi horror elements gave him a platform to go full throttle into menace.
What stood out in his performance was how effortlessly he moved between cold cruelty and calm control. He played McCarthy with an unsettling ease, making every scene feel tense. As his actions kicked off the show's central mystery, McMahon carried the kind of screen presence that made viewers lean in.
His time in Hunters showed just how far he was willing to push as an actor—even into the terrifying unknown.
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Julian McMahon's legacy lives on through the characters he shaped and the stories he helped tell. These five shows offer more than entertainment, and they're proof of his range, his impact, and the unique mark he left behind. From demons to detectives, he gave every role depth, and in doing so, became unforgettable.
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