The entertainment world was shaken this week by the death of Australian actor Julian McMahon.
Best known for his roles in Nip/Tuck and Charmed, McMahon passed away at age 56 following a private battle with cancer.
His wife, Kelly Paniagua, confirmed the heartbreaking news on July 4, prompting an outpouring of tributes from around the globe.
As admirers celebrate his decades-long career on screen, many are also revisiting the complicated and very human relationships that shaped his personal life—from high-profile romances to a quiet final love story.
Early Fame and a Whirlwind Romance with Dannii Minogue
Before he found Hollywood fame, McMahon was already a big name in Australia thanks to his role on Home and Away.
That’s where he met pop singer and co-star Dannii Minogue in the late ’80s, and the pair quickly became one of Australia’s hottest showbiz couples.
They tied the knot in 1994 in what was dubbed a fairytale wedding.
But behind the scenes, their relationship was far from smooth sailing.
The marriage only lasted 18 months, strained by distance, financial challenges, and deep-rooted family tensions.
Minogue later shared that McMahon’s mother, Lady Sonia McMahon—the stylish widow of former Prime Minister Sir William McMahon—never approved of her.
“There was no relationship,” Dannii once revealed in a candid interview.
“She wouldn’t speak to me, she wouldn’t come to the wedding.”
On top of the family drama, Minogue said she shouldered most of the financial burden in the relationship.
“I paid for everything,” she admitted, recalling how long-distance travel between the UK and US left her financially drained.
“I not only ran out of money—I was in debt.”
A Second Marriage, A Daughter, and a Scandal
Julian’s second marriage came in 1999 when he wed American actress Brooke Burns, best known for Baywatch.
The couple welcomed a daughter, Madison, in 2000, but their marriage ended just two years later in 2001.
After his death, Burns paid tribute to her ex-husband on Instagram, sharing a touching photo of Julian with their daughter and the simple message: “Rest in peace.”
Their relationship, however, wasn’t without controversy.
During the marriage, rumors swirled about an alleged affair between Julian and his Charmed co-star Shannen Doherty.
The reported romance supposedly overlapped with the final season of Doherty’s time on the show.
Burns claimed she found out through tabloid headlines, later telling Nicki Swift that it was “the straw that broke the camel’s back.”
She added that Julian got “caught up in all the Los Angeles hoopla.”
Despite the rocky end, Julian always spoke respectfully about Burns and their co-parenting dynamic.
In a 2003 interview, he said their focus remained on giving their daughter the best life possible, explaining, “It’s not about fighting anymore. It’s about what’s best for her.”
Finding Peace and Privacy with Kelly Paniagua
After two public divorces, Julian stepped away from the spotlight when it came to his personal life.
In 2003, he began a relationship with model and author Kelly Paniagua.
They dated quietly for over a decade before marrying in an intimate ceremony at Lake Tahoe in 2014.
The couple kept their relationship almost entirely private—rarely seen at red carpet events or speaking about their life together in the media.
But Kelly’s love for Julian was evident in her emotional statement confirming his passing.
“Julian loved life. He loved his family. He loved his friends.
He loved his work, and he loved his fans,” she said.
“His deepest wish was to bring joy into as many lives as possible.”
She added that Julian passed peacefully following a brave fight against cancer and asked for privacy as the family grieves.
“We are grateful for the memories,” she wrote.
A Final Performance Before Goodbye
Remarkably, Julian was still doing what he loved just weeks before his death.
He appeared in The Surfer, a Stan original film alongside Nicholas Cage, where he played Scally—a magnetic and intimidating surf gang leader ruling over Luna Bay.
His performance was widely praised and served as a poignant final chapter in a career that spanned over 30 years.
From soap opera heartthrob to Hollywood staple, Julian McMahon left an undeniable mark—not just through his work, but through the messy, complicated, and deeply human relationships that defined his life behind the scenes.