The Wolf Entertainment family has sadly lost a beloved member. FBI: Most Wanted star Julian McMahon has passed away at the age of 56. According to Deadline, McMahon passed away on July 2 in Florida following a private battle with cancer.
“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.”
While McMahon had an illustrious career, to Wolf Entertainment fans, McMahon is best known for his role in FBI: Most Wanted. McMahon led the cast of the FBI spinoff as Supervisory Special Agent Jess LaCroix, appearing as a series regular across the show's first three seasons after originating the role in its backdoor pilot, which aired in the first season of FBI.
McMahon exited FBI: Most Wanted unexpectedly during the fourteenth episode of season 3, "Shattered," in which his character was killed in the line of duty while protecting a woman during a shootout with a suspect. Following the exit, it was revealed that McMahon chose to step away from the show to pursue new creative endeavors, a decision he conveyed to the producers which allowed them the chance to craft his exit.
In addition to appearing in 43 episodes of FBI: Most Wanted, McMahon also appeared in three episodes of the flagship series as well as two episodes of FBI: International.
Of course, for One Chicago and Wolf Entertainment fans, McMahon is best known for his work in FBI: Most Wanted, the role was one in a long list of roles he tackled during his career. He made his acting debut in a guest episode of Rafferty's Rules back in 1989. Shortly after, he’d appear in a handful of additional titles, including daytime dramas Home and Away and Another World. His first big break in primetime came in 1996 when he joined the cast of Profiler, remaining on the show through its four seasons.
Following Profiler’s end, McMahon took on the role of Cole Turner in Charmed and his career continued to take off from there. He’d go on to play Doctor Doom in 20th Century Fox’s Fantastic Four movies, bringing to life one of Marvel's most iconic villains, which endeared him to comic book fans who praised his performance in the films. Around this same time, he also booked one of his career-defining roles as Dr. Christian Troy in the hit FX drama Nip/Tuck.
After leaving FBI: Most Wanted, McMahon largely stepped back from acting, taking on only a few roles afterward. His final acting credits came in films The Surfer and The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat, and a role in Netflix’s limited series The Residence.
On behalf of our team at One Chicago Center, our thoughts are with McMahon's loved ones during this difficult time.
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