Julian McMahon, the Australian-born actor who turned heads with his smoldering performances in Nip/Tuck, Charmed, and FBI: Most Wanted, has died following a private battle with cancer. He was 56.

“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,” McMahon’s wife, Kelly McMahon, said in a statement to Deadline. “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. We ask for support during this time to allow our family to grieve in privacy. And we wish for all of those to whom Julian brought joy, to continue to find joy in life. We are grateful for the memories.”

McMahon’s onscreen charisma and versatility helped define some of the most memorable genre shows of the late ’90s and 2000s. Born in Sydney in 1968, McMahon came from a prominent background — his father, Billy McMahon, served as Australia’s Prime Minister in the early ’70s — but the younger McMahon carved out his own path, first as a model before turning to acting.

After early roles on Aussie soaps like The Power, The Passion and Home and Away, McMahon made his U.S. debut on Another World in 1993. From there, he jumped to primetime, starring on NBC’s Profiler, but it was his seductive, sinister turn as Cole Turner on Charmed that turned him into a cult favorite.

Then came Nip/Tuck, Ryan Murphy’s glossy, provocative FX drama about the dark side of plastic surgery, where McMahon played Dr. Christian Troy — a role that earned him a Golden Globe nod and a spot in TV drama canon.

He later headlined CBS’ FBI: Most Wanted as team leader Jess LaCroix, a role he played for three seasons before departing the show in 2022.

“What shocking news,” said FBI creator Dick Wolf in a statement to Deadline. “All of us at Wolf Entertainment are deeply saddened by Julian’s passing and our condolences go out to his entire family.”

McMahon also left a mark on the big screen, most notably as the villainous Dr. Doom in the 2000s Fantastic Four films. He worked steadily across genres, appearing in thrillers (Premonition, Paranoia), action flicks (RED), and indies (You’re Not You, Swinging Safari). His most recent credits include The Surfer opposite Nicolas Cage, which premiered at Cannes earlier this year, and The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat.

“Such deeply saddening news. I spent six weeks working with Julian, and he was the most talented of actors,” Cage told Deadline. “Our scenes together on The Surfer were amongst my favorites I have ever participated in, and Julian is one of my favorite people. He was a kind and intelligent man. My love to his family.”

Fittingly, McMahon’s final role brought his life full circle: he played the Australian Prime Minister in Netflix’s upcoming whodunit series The Residence.