A heartwarming final public exchange between the late actor and his daughter has emerged again, highlighting the tender side of a man whose romantic life was marked by scandal and tension until he finally found the one.
Julian McMahon’s death at 56 after a battle with cancer shocked fans worldwide, and his last online message to daughter Madison McMahon now offers a glimpse into the private world he protected after his first two marriages ended.
The handsome actor was born on July 27, 1968, in Sydney, Australia. His father, Billy McMahon, briefly led the country as Prime Minister between 1971 and 1972, but despite this political lineage, Julian charted his own course in life.
He built a long acting career, starting as a model in Australia, before his breakthrough on “Home and Away” (1990-1991) led him to Hollywood.
He gained recognition on “Profiler” and became a household name as Cole Turner on “Charmed” alongside Alyssa Milano, Shannen Doherty, and Holly Marie Combs.
His role as Dr. Christian Troy on “Nip/Tuck” (2000s) earned him a Golden Globe nomination. He later starred in “FBI: Most Wanted” and played Dr. Doom in “Fantastic Four” films (2005, 2007).
Additionally, he starred alongside Nicolas Cage in “The Surfer” in 2024, and his final role was playing the Australian Prime Minister on Netflix’s “The Residence” in 2025.
Yet, Julian’s life behind the cameras was just as interesting as his roles. At first, his relationships were right in the spotlight for the world to see, but after scandal and heartbreak, he went private. Let’s discover what happened!
His First Marriage: Short and Tense
Julian’s first marriage was romantic, but they also faced some harsh realities. He married “Home and Away” co-star Dannii Minogue in 1994 after meeting on set in the late ’80s. The wedding was called a showbiz fairy tale. Unfortunately, the reality proved far more complicated.
Their marriage lasted only 18 months. Distance, pressure, and family tensions tore them apart, with Dannii later revealing that Julian’s mother, Lady Sonia McMahon, never approved of their union.
The former Prime Minister’s wife made her feelings clear, refusing to speak to Dannii or let her into the family home. In a past interview, Dannii recalled that they had “no relationship,” and when Lady Sonia threatened not to attend the wedding, she admitted that they “had no idea how to handle it.”
Furthermore, financial struggles worsened things. Dannii claimed she supported Julian monetarily, while his mother refused to help, and the constant travel between countries to maintain their relationship left her in debt.
In the end, Lady Sonia attended their wedding, but her presence still stirred up drama. “I just tried to stay away from it, I just wanted to enjoy the day,” Dannii shared.
The marriage’s failure set the stage for the actor’s next relationship, which would bring him great joy, but also complications due to rumors with a co-star.
His Second Marriage: A Daughter and Scandal
In 1999, Julian found love again with American actress Brooke Burns, who was widely recognized for her role on “Baywatch.” The couple tied the knot that same year and welcomed their daughter, Madison, in 2000.
However, this second marriage collapsed in 2001 amid controversy. Julian was reportedly involved in a rumored romance with his “Charmed” co-star Shannen Doherty, who passed away a year ago in 2024.
The alleged romance reportedly happened during the final season of Shannen’s role between 2000 and 2001. Brooke claimed to have discovered the affair through tabloid reports.
“It was the straw that broke the camel’s back,” Brooke once said to Nicki Swift, later adding that Julian “got carried away by all the Los Angeles hoopla.”
Despite the difficult end to their relationship, Julian and Brooke successfully established a cooperative co-parenting dynamic.
He also emphasized that their focus was no longer on conflict, but on ensuring Madison had “the best life” and “everything we can offer her.”
This dynamic seemed to succeed because as the news about Julian’s passing on July 2, 2025, spread, Brooke took to her Instagram and posted a picture of him and Madison with the words “Rest in Peace” next to them. The caption was a simple, “💔,” showing that she still cared for her daughter’s father.
The rest of Brooke’s social media shows her daughter over the years, and it’s clear that she and Julian both raised Madison well, even though their relationship ended on complicated terms. Afterward, the actor learned from his experiences, which shaped his final, most enduring romance.
His Last Marriage: The Most Private One
After two public breakups, Julian chose a different path. He began dating author and model Kelly Paniagua in 2003, and their relationship was kept private, as they only appeared together at a few events. Additionally, they didn’t discuss details about each other in interviews.
After spending over ten years together, Julian popped the question during a romantic getaway to Melbourne in late 2013.
After a six-month engagement, the couple tied the knot the following year in an intimate ceremony by Lake Tahoe. The lakeside location, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and forest, provided the perfect backdrop.
Kelly confirmed Julian’s passing on July 4, 2025, through a heartfelt statement shared with Deadline. She revealed that he had died “peacefully” after a “valiant effort to overcome cancer.”
Remembering her husband, she said that he “loved life,” along with his family, friends, work, and fans. Kelly also expressed gratitude for the support they had received and kindly requested privacy as they navigated their loss.
Despite how private he had become after all his experiences, Julian was not afraid to show that love for family that Kelly talked about, especially when it came to his daughter, as evidenced by the final public conversation they had.
His Last Message: A Father’s Love
Madison, now 25, has grown into a beautiful young woman who inherited her father’s striking crystal-blue eyes — one of the features that made him such a heartthrob during his “Charmed” and “Nip/Tuck” eras.
She works as a yoga teacher and has built her own path away from the spotlight. Her Instagram posts reveal her confident side, featuring proud selfies and glimpses of her travels.
But one conversation resurfaced after Julian’s passing. On March 8, Madison posted a video showing her teaching a yoga class. She added the caption, “Taught my first yoga class today at @ahanayoga!! I guess dreams do come true ✨.”
In the comment section, her proud dad wrote, “Your [sic] awesome!!!!!” to which Madison responded, “No YOU’RE awesome,” playfully correcting his grammar.
The timing makes this interaction even more poignant, as the actor was already battling cancer privately when he left this comment. Yet he took the time to support his daughter’s new career milestone.
Julian McMahon’s life story reveals a man who learned from his past and became private to have a more stable personal life. Now, he has left behind a legacy of great television performances, as well as family and fans who will always remember him.
