GOSSIP & RUMORS: Julian McMahon, ‘Nip/Tuck’ and ‘Fantastic Four’ star, dead at 56

Actor Julian McMahon, best known for the TV show “Nip/Tuck” and the 2005 and 2007 “Fantastic Four” movies, has passed away. He was 56.

McMahon’s wife, Kelly, confirmed the devastating news in a statement to Deadline on Friday, July 4.

She revealed that the beloved actor passed away in Clearwater, Florida, on Wednesday, July 2, following a private battle with cancer.

“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,” McMahon’s wife began, although she did not reveal what type of cancer the “Nip/Tuck” star suffered from.

“Julian loved life. He loved his family. He loved his friends. He loved his work, and he loved his fans,” she continued. “His deepest wish was to bring joy into as many lives as possible.”

While Kelly asked for privacy during this troubling time, she also expressed gratitude “for the memories” she and her family shared with McMahon before his shocking death.

“We ask for support during this time to allow our family to grieve in privacy,” she concluded. “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.”

The Post has reached out to McMahon’s reps for comment.

Born in Sydney, Australia, on July 27, 1968, McMahon’s father, Billy McMahon, served as Prime Minister of Australia from 1971 to 1972.

While he began his career as a model, McMahon quickly transitioned to acting and landed a lead role on a short-lived Australian daytime soap, “The Power, the Passion,” in 1989.

It wasn’t until 1992 that he made his feature acting debut in the Australian-American movie “Wet and Wild Summer!” alongside Elliott Gould.

After moving to Hollywood shortly after the release of “Wet and Wild Summer!” in 1992, McMahon was cast in the NBC soap opera “Another World” in 1993 before transitioning to primetime as a series regular on the NBC crime drama “Profiler” for four seasons.

Following a three-season stint on the WB’s supernatural drama series “Charmed,” McMahon finally landed his first role as a series lead when he was cast as Christian Troy in Ryan Murphy’s plastic surgery drama “Nip/Tuck” in 2003.

The popular FX series ran for six seasons and earned McMahon a Golden Globe nomination in 2005.

Besides later starring as Jess LaCroix in the hit CBS series “FBI: Most Wanted” for three seasons from 2020 to 2022, McMahon also had an impressive career on the big screen.

In 2005, McMahon appeared as the villain Victor von Doom/Doctor Doom in Tim Story’s first “Fantastic Four” movie opposite Chris Evans (Johnny Storm/Human Torch), Jessica Alba (Sue Storm/Invisible Woman), Ioan Gruffudd (Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic) and Michael Chiklis (Ben Grimm/The Thing).

McMahon returned to the role two years later for the film’s 2007 sequel, “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.”

Other notable credits include the 2024 Nicolas Cage film “The Surfer” as well as the 2025 Netflix murder mystery series “The Residence.”

“The Residence,” which marked McMahon’s final acting credit before his heartbreaking cancer death, saw the actor portray the Prime Minister of Australia – the position held by his father in real life just decades earlier.

Dorian Gregory, who co-starred alongside McMahon on “Charmed,” remembered the actor as “beautifully talented” in a touching statement to The Post after the news of McMahon’s death.

“Kind Warm Witty and Beautifully Talented Julian McMahon,” Gregory, 54, began. “Words are never enough, so I am speechless.”

“I send my most heartfelt loving regards to his family and all those who loved and cherished him,” he added. “His presence will be missed.”