Julian McMahon, known for his roles in Nip/Tuck and the Fantastic Four films, died on July 2, 2025, at the age of 56 in Clearwater, Florida. He died of cancer, which the actor had been fighting quietly until the very end.
His wife, Kelly Paniagua McMahon, confirmed the news in a statement to Deadline, saying her husband passed away peacefully, surrounded by love. “Julian loved life. He loved his family. He loved his friends. He loved his fans,” she said. “His deepest wish was to bring joy into as many lives as possible.”
Julian had lived in the United States since the early ’90s, but often said he still felt deeply connected to his Australian roots. As the only son of former Australian Prime Minister Sir William McMahon, he grew up with the spotlight never far away.
His acting career brought him consistent success. He earned a Golden Globe nomination for his work on Nip/Tuck, and held memorable roles in Charmed, Profiler, and FBI: Most Wanted. Even after his diagnosis, he kept working, with final appearances in The Surfer (2024), The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat (2024), and Netflix’s The Residence (2025).
But while his career kept rising, his personal life didn’t always follow the same path. Julian was married three times. The first two ended quickly, and the third—his marriage to Kelly—lasted until his final day.
Here’s everything to know about his current wife, his two former marriages, and his only daughter, Madison.
McMahon’s Wife, Kelly, Is a Former Model
Before becoming a celebrity spouse, Kelly Paniagua spent time in front of the camera herself. She worked as a model and briefly explored acting, though her time in the spotlight was limited.
After stepping away from entertainment, Kelly shifted her focus to writing. She authored a children’s book titled Bedtime for Sarah Sullivan, a story inspired by Julian’s bond with his daughter Madison.
They Married After Dating for Over Ten Years
McMahon and Kelly were together for 11 years before they walked down the aisle. They got engaged for six months before marrying in August 2014, in a private ceremony held in Lake Tahoe, a picturesque spot along the California–Nevada border.
In June of that year, they were also seen together at the How to Train Your Dragon 2 premiere in Los Angeles, just months before their wedding.
The Nip/Tuck star once revealed that he proposed to his better half mid-flight, with help from his daughter, Madison. He had planned to propose in Paris, but uncertain about the trip, he asked Madison if they should do it on the plane instead. She agreed, and that’s how he popped the question.
After the wedding, Julian with his family settled in Los Angeles.
Kelly’s Relationship With Madison, Julian’s Daughter From a Previous Marriage
Madison Elizabeth McMahon was born on June 10, 2000. She was Julian’s only child, and after her parents split in the early 2000s, she continued living with her father. The two stayed close throughout his life.
As Julian’s relationship with Kelly grew, Madison naturally became part of their life together. Though not her real mom, Kelly became someone she looked up to and treated like one.
Now in her twenties, Madison keeps a low profile and seems to prefer a quiet life away from public attention. She has an Instagram account but rarely shares anything publicly.
She’s also a dog lover. Her dog, Sandy, passed away in June 2023—a loss she shared in one of her few posts.
McMahon’s First and Second Wives
Before settling down with his third spouse, Kelly, McMahon had already been through two divorces.
His first marriage was to singer and actress Dannii Minogue, whom he met in 1991 on the set of Home and Away. At the time, they were labeled the picture-perfect pair—“famous good-looking boy meets famous good-looking girl.” They tied the knot in Melbourne in 1994, and Julian even appeared in her music video for This Is It, a song that reflected their hopes for the future.
Still, their relationship came with its share of problems. The couple spent much of their short marriage apart—Julian was chasing roles in the U.S. while Dannii focused on her music career in the U.K.
On top of that, tension with Julian’s mother, Lady Sonia McMahon, added fuel to the fire. “She wouldn’t speak to me,” Dannii told Mamamia. “I wasn’t allowed to be near her in the house. She said she wasn’t coming to the wedding.”
The marriage lasted only 18 months, and after their split in 1995, they never spoke again.
Julian’s second marriage was to Baywatch actress Brooke Burns. They wed in 1999 and welcomed a daughter, Madison, the following year. But like his first, the relationship didn’t last. They divorced in 2001.
