Julian McMahon: Beloved Australian actor dies, aged 56, weeks after WA-shot The Surfer airs

Just weeks after audiences witnessed one of Julian McMahon’s finest performances, opposite Nicolas Cage in the WA-shot psychological thriller The Surfer, the Australian actor has died from cancer aged 56.

Wife Kelly Paniagua confirmed the star died on Wednesday in Clearwater, Florida, after a private battle with the disease but did not go into specifics.

“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,” she said.

“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.”

One of McMahon’s last interviews was with The West Australian, and the son of former Prime Minister Billy McMahon spoke in glowing terms of his experience making The Surfer with Cage in Yallingup in 2023.

“(It’s) some of the most beautiful and spectacular countryside in the world, so a big part of this experience was actually the opportunity to live in such a wonderful place, for a period of time,” he said.

Playing masculinity guru Scally in The Surfer, McMahon not only matched Cage’s trademark intensity, the Aussie actor was often the most magnetic presence in the scene, which hinted at a potential career resurgence after a few years out of the spotlight.

But hindsight casts a very different light on one of his last public appearances, at the film’s US premiere at South by Southwest in Texas, where the star looked considerably more gaunt than his character in the movie.

His death brings an end to a fascinating career of highs and, ultimately, unfulfilled potential, which began with a 150-episode stint on Home and Away as main character Ben Lucini.

He met future wife Dannii Minogue in Summer Bay, and even starred in the music video of the singer’s hit, This Is It, recorded as a tribute to their relationship.

The marriage lasted 18 months.

By that point, McMahon was living in America and trying to make it big on US network television, starting with a 22-episode character arc on the NBC soap opera, Another World.

McMahon parlayed that success into his first leading role on American TV, as the arrogant, womanising plastic surgeon Dr. Christian Troy in six seasons of Nip/Tuck, for which he earned a Golden Globe nomination in 2005.

The actor’s biggest film role came playing the villainous Victor Von Doom, AKA Dr Doom, in the 2005 superhero movie The Fantastic Four and its 2007 sequel, Rise of the Silver Sequel.

Charmed co-star Rose McGowan shared a tribute to McMahon on Instagram, posting an illustration of the Aussie with the words, “Oh Julian, you force of brilliance, wild talent and humour. For you, your family and loving fans all over the world, I pray comfort”.

Former Mr Fantastic, British star Ioan Gruffudd, posted his own tribute.

“Even though we played each other’s nemeses, there was always so much lightness and laughter working together. Every encounter with him was a joy,” Gruffudd wrote.

Speaking to The West in May, the actor gave no indication he was in a fight for his life, and even dreamed of returning to WA.

“Take me back to Yallingup, if you don’t mind,” he said.

McMahon was born in Sydney on July 27, 1968, and is survived by Paniagua, and his daughter, Madison, from a previous marriage.