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Why DID Julian McMahon flee his secret Californian paradise, vanish from public life, only to die at the ‘Mecca of Scientology’? Unanswered questions about actor’s final years

BBG News

The mystery surrounding Julian McMahon‘s death in the United States grows murkier by the day.

The Australian actor died aged 56 in Clearwater, Florida, on July 2 of an undisclosed cancer.

Last week, it was announced by the Pinellas County Medical Examiner’s office that the actor from Nip/Tuck passed away due to advanced lung spread from head and neck cancer.

His death was ruled natural, and the office confirmed his remains have since been cremated.

There is still uncertainty surrounding the circumstances under which Julian, the son of ex-Australian prime minister Billy McMahon, arrived in Clearwater.

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The coastal city on Florida’s western shore is well-known as a hub for the Church of Scientology, often referred to as its spiritual center.

In Scientology, it’s common practice for followers to opt for cremation since they regard the physical body as having no relevance post-death. This belief was held by the church’s founder, L. Ron Hubbard himself, who chose to be cremated upon his demise.

In my role as a lifestyle expert, I’ve recently come across intriguing findings from a trove of publicly available documents detailing Julian’s journey in the U.S. since the 1990s, as reported by Daily Mail Australia. Interestingly, these documents offer scant insight into what led him to settle in Clearwater in particular.

The records indicate that he obtained his Social Security ID in New York. However, as early as 1997, he started residing in the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles.

His home, directly beneath the Hollywood Sign, was sold in 2015 for AUD$3.3 million. 

In my personal life, I was fortunate enough to own a stunning residence in the picturesque locale of Malibu, California. This haven was shared with my beloved third wife, the radiant model Kelly Paniagua. We parted ways with this property in 2017, when it fetched a handsome sum of approximately AUD $5.41 million.

The exclusive findings of our investigation uncovered that the couple were also proud owners of an exquisite ranch situated in Ventura County, California, as shown in these previously unpublished images.

In the charming agricultural heart of Somis, I reside in a hacienda-inspired abode that sprawls across a generously sized 1.8 hectares, brimming with lush Hass avocado groves. Beyond this, an additional 4.4 acres are dedicated to the cultivation of lemons.

A spacious 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home measuring approximately 2700 square feet was put up for sale by its owners in 2016. However, it was taken off the market in 2017.

The property was listed anew on July 19, 2023; intriguingly, the listing indicated that it came with all necessary furniture; and it was sold on October 5, 2023.

Beginning from 2023, the McMahons didn’t have any additional known homes apart from a professional address tied to a celebrity finance accountant in Encino, California. It appears that the couple relocated to Florida after this point.

It is known that Julian’s daughter, Madison (from his past marriage with the American actress Brooke Burns), is registered at a residence in Charleston, South Carolina, and it is presumed that she studied at a local university there.

However, Madison, 25, teaches yoga classes in Miami. 

Providing an additional hint, it turns out that among the twenty Instagram accounts Julian was following, one belonged to Mari’s Kitchen Italian Market – a restaurant located in Hollywood, Florida, which is situated just north of Miami.

A spokesperson for the restaurant revealed: ‘Yes, he is very missed here. One of our good friends’.

They would not confirm if Julian had lived in the area.

Upon Mrs. McMahon, aged 47, disclosing that her spouse had passed away in Clearwater following a courageous battle against cancer, this news sparked immediate curiosity and discussions on social media, questioning if he might have been associated with the Church of Scientology.

In this local’s words on Instagram, they shared that their residence is situated near the house owned by John Travolta (who is a Scientologist), as we’re approximately a mile away from the Scientology center located in downtown Clearwater.

‘I’ve been curious to know if Julian McMahon is a Scientologist because it seems strange that he would spend the last few months of his life in Clearwater, Florida, which is where many Scientologists live. It’s surprising, since most celebrities who are Scientologists choose to keep that fact private.’

A different user tweeted, ‘What was Julian McMahon doing in Clearwater when he passed away? It seems unusual as it’s often associated with Scientology.’

The city of Clearwater, with a resident population of about 116,000, is well-known for its high concentration of the Church of Scientology.

The world center of this religion, known as Flag, is situated right in the bustling core of a town, with its devotees holding the majority of the commercial property holdings.

It was mentioned on Reddit that Julian’s passing occurred at a location which led some to speculate. However, one individual refuted these theories by stating, “Given he was an Australian who cherished the beach, it seems unlikely that he had ties to Scientology.

It appears that there are no records indicating that Julian, the former model known as Kelly, his daughter Madison, or his ex-wife Brooke Burns are associated with Scientology, and Daily Mail Australia has not implied that Julian is or was a member of this organization.

Attempts were made to reach a representative for Julian.

The town’s association with the religion is so well-known that a previous celebrity adherent, Leah Remini, devoted an entire episode of her series “Scientology and the Aftermath” to explaining how the church came to exert control over it.

An examination by the Tampa Bay Times uncovered that a local church, along with its congregation and related businesses, currently holds titles to approximately 185 properties within the city’s central district.

Church figurehead Tom Cruise lives in a penthouse apartment with his son Connor.

Kirstie Alley, the well-known figure who passed away due to colon cancer in 2022, was the proud owner of a beautiful waterfront property. Interestingly, she acquired this mansion back in 2000 from the late Lisa Marie Presley, a former Scientologist.

In 2020, John Travolta’s devoted spouse, Kelly Preston, passed away following a long fight against breast cancer in the city of Clearwater.

In simpler terms, the wife of Julian, who is originally from California and used to be a model, presently identifies herself as a ‘spiritual guide’ and manages a business named Super Spiritual Girl.

As per her site, she is a practitioner specializing in shamanic healing, a Reiki master, an accredited meditation guide, and an intuitive reader. She has led spiritual seminars in Miami.

Announcing the peaceful passing of her cherished husband, Julian McMahon, Kelly shared the sad news in a statement to Deadline, expressing her heartfelt sentiments to the world.

As a devoted admirer, I echo the sentiments of Julian. Life itself was something he cherished deeply. The bond he shared with his family held immense significance for him, as did the friendships that enriched his existence. His passion extended beyond personal relationships to his profession, and he took delight in it wholeheartedly. Furthermore, the affection he felt towards his fans was profound, and he yearned to spread happiness across numerous lives.

The skilled actor, who kick-started his journey on “Home and Away,” gained widespread recognition for portraying Dr. Christian Troy in the television series “Nip/Tuck” on FX.

Later, he captured the affection of numerous people by playing the role of Cole Turner on Charmed from seasons 3 to 5, between 2000 and 2003. He reappeared as a guest star during season 7 in 2005.

Later, Julian took on the role of Jess LaCroix in the CBS series FBI: Most Wanted, starting from 2020. However, he unexpectedly left the show in March 2022, concluding his run after three successful seasons.

In two Marvel films – Fantastic Four (2005) and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), he portrayed the legendary supervillain Dr. Doom on a large cinema screen.

He also appeared alongside Sandra Bullock in 2007 supernatural psychological thriller Premonition.

Most recently, he teamed up with Nicolas Cage for the Australian-made film The Surfer.

According to Deadline, Nicolas shared that he worked with Julian for six weeks, and he was undoubtedly the most gifted actor he’s ever encountered.

Reflecting on our shared moments on The Surfer, I must say they rank among the most cherished experiences I’ve had in my acting career. And let me tell you, Julian is simply one of the finest individuals I’ve ever encountered. He possessed a remarkable blend of kindness and intelligence. My heart goes out to his family during these trying times.

For eleven years, Julian and Kelly were a couple before they tied the knot in a charming wedding at Lake Tahoe, which lies along the boundary between California and Nevada, in the year 2014.

In the past, he was wedded to model and Baywatch star, Brooke Burns, who is also the mom of Madison, from the years 1999 to 2001.

Brooke posted an emotional picture of Julian and Madison on Instagram along with the message “Rest in Peace” and a heart symbol.

In 1991, Julian met his first wife, the Australian actress and pop singer Dannii Minogue, while working together on the set of “Home and Away.

It appeared that their relationship faced challenges, possibly because Dannii didn’t gain approval from Julian’s mother, the late Lady Sonia McMahon, a prominent figure in Sydney society.

Dannii mentioned that her family wasn’t fond of her, explaining that there was a specific social hierarchy and she clearly didn’t fit into it. Sonia barely interacted with her more than a few occasions.

Dannii alleged her former mother-in-law ’caused issues’ at the couple’s 1994 wedding.

On the very day of their wedding, there was quite a bit of tension, as she announced she might not attend, causing some distress. Regardless, Julian and I decided to go through with the wedding.

In the end, she indeed arrived, creating quite a spectacle. To be honest, it wasn’t pleasant… it was challenging. I made an effort to keep my distance. All I really wanted was to savor the day peacefully.

The marriage ended 18 months later.

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2025-07-15 17:07

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