Julian McMahon received a special award at the AACTA Awards on Friday night, recognizing his work in the film The Surfer. The award was presented in his memory, as he has passed away.
I was so saddened to hear about the passing of this incredible Australian actor. He lost his battle with cancer last July in Florida, at just 56 years old. I’ll always remember him for his work, especially his role in that fantastic psychological thriller alongside Nicolas Cage – he was truly captivating in it.
Kelly Paniagua, his wife, accepted the award for Best Supporting Actor in a Film on his behalf at a ceremony held at HOTA on the Gold Coast.
She gave an emotional speech as she took to the stage, saying: ‘He knew everyone was special.
He loved working on this project because it brought him back home to Australia, and tonight’s moment was the culmination of that feeling.
Julian would have wanted to share this with his family, whom he cherished. And I want to dedicate this to you, Australia – the country that shaped him into the person he was.
Kelly playfully shared a message from her late husband, saying he’d want everyone to cheer for both the Wallabies and the Blues – with a lighthearted apology to Queensland.
The film The Surfer first shown at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024, and had a wider release in 2025. Sadly, Julian attended a premiere at SXSW only a few months before he passed away.
Oh my gosh, it’s just…it’s the last movie he ever made. And he plays Scally, this incredible, intense surf gang leader. Seriously, the performance is just… searing. It’s like he poured everything into it, and knowing it was the last time…it just hits different. It’s absolutely unforgettable.
Julian married model and author Kelly in 2014.
After being together for eleven years, they got married in a beautiful lakeside ceremony in Lake Tahoe, which is located on the California-Nevada border.
Let’s talk family! Before now, I was married to the wonderful Brooke Burns, best known for her days on Baywatch. We share a beautiful daughter, Madison, who’s all grown up at 25 now. It’s amazing how quickly time flies!
The pair tied the knot in 1999, before calling it quits three years later.
Julian later married Australian actress and singer Dannii Minogue. They met and fell in love while working together on the popular TV show Home and Away, where Julian played the character Ben Lucini.
They got married in 1994, but their marriage didn’t last long, ending after only a year and a half.
While working on Charmed, Julian briefly dated Shannen Doherty during the show’s third season, from 2000 to 2001.
Kelly announced in July that Julian had passed away after privately fighting cancer.
Julian McMahon, the son of a former Australian Prime Minister named William McMahon, first became well-known in Australia for his role on the popular TV show Home and Away.
He played the role of Ben Lucini on the soap opera from 1990 to 1991, and then moved to the United States hoping to become a successful actor in Hollywood.
In 1993, after relocating to the United States, Julian landed a part on the long-running NBC soap opera, Another World, which helped launch his career.
Julian was a frequent presence on both television and in films, building an impressive career that earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in 2004.
Throughout his extensive career, he portrayed a wide range of characters, including charming playboys, plastic surgeons, and even menacing supervillains.
He played the lead role of Special Agent Jess LaCroix in the TV series FBI, and also appeared in its related shows, FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International.
But he’s probably most famous for playing a main role in the medical drama Nip/Tuck, which ran for many seasons and also starred Dylan Walsh.
Julian received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in 2004 for his role as the charming doctor Christian Troy, but Ian McShane ultimately won the award.
Before his role on Nip/Tuck, Julian appeared with Shannen Doherty and Alyssa Milano in the popular magical drama, Charmed, created by Aaron Spelling.
He played Cole Turner, the half-demon ex-husband of Alyssa’s character, Phoebe Halliwell.
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2026-02-07 05:49