Julian McMahon’s Ex-Wife Brooke Burns Reacts to His Death

Julian McMahon Dead at 56: Alyssa Milano, Ioan Gruffudd & More React

Brooke Burns is remembering her ex-husband Julian McMahon.

After the news broke that the Charmed star died in his Florida home on July 2 following a private battle with cancer, the Shallow Hal actress—who was married to Julian from 1999 to 2001—expressed her grief on social media.

“Rest in peace,” Brooke wrote over an old photo of her ex-husband and their 25-year-old daughter Madison shared to Instagram July 4, adding nothing but a broken heart emoji to the caption.

Brooke’s tribute came just hours after the Nip/Tuck actor’s wife Kelly McMahon—who he wed in 2014—confirmed his passing at age 56 in a heartbreaking statement.

“With an open heart,” Kelly said in a statement to NBC News July 4, “I wish to share with the world that my beloved husband, Julian McMahon, died peacefully this week after a valiant effort to overcome cancer.”

“He loved his family,” she continued. “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.”

Indeed, it didn’t take long for Julian’s former costars and friends to gush about what a great and joyful man the FBI: Most Wanted actor truly was.

“I’m heartbroken,” Alyssa Milano—who portrayed his onscreen wife in Charmed—wrote on Instagram July 4 alongside several photos of the two. “Julian McMahon was magic. That smile. That laugh. That talent. That presence. He walked into a room and lit it up—not just with charisma, but with kindness. With mischief. With soulful understanding.”

And Holly Marie Combs, who also starred in the fantasy drama alongside the Australian actor, couldn’t help but think about his reunion with their late costar Shannen Doherty, who died from cancer last year.

Brooke Burns / Instagram

“One of a kind is an understatement,” the Pretty Little Liars actress wrote alongside a slideshow of photos from their time on Charmed posted to Instagram Reels. “Your unyielding zest for life and crazy making sense of humor will be sorely missed. The joy and laughter you were the direct cause of will always be remembered. I hope you find our lady friend and dance in those rose petals.”

For his part, Ioan Gruffudd—who appeared alongside the late actor in 2005’s Fantastic Four as well as its 2007 sequel—joined in reminiscing on the sweet time he got to spend with his costar on set.

“Even though we played each other’s nemeses, there was always so much lightness and laughter working together,” the actor wrote on Instagram July 4. “Every encounter with him was a joy. It was an honor to be Dr. Richards to his Dr. Doom.”

For more on other stars’ cancer journeys keep reading.

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Colin Egglesfield

The All My Children alum announced in January 2025 that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, his third cancer diagnosis throughout his life.

Despite the devastating news, he announced (for the third time) in February 2025 he was cancer-free following successful surgery and treatments.

“Remember, you’re not defined by any of your challenges,” he wrote in his February 2025 Instagram update. “You’re grander than it all. I’m not my fear, my anxiousness or my scars but I embrace it all because the only way to transform it is to own it.”

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Gerry Turner

The former Golden Bachelor star shared in Dec. 2024 that he had been diagnosed with Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia, a bone cancer.

“Unfortunately, there’s no cure for it,” Gerry noted to People at the time. “So that weighs heavily in every decision I make. It was like 10 tons of concrete were just dropped on me. And I was a bit in denial for a while, I didn’t want to admit to it.”

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Jim Beaver

The actor, known for roles in The Boys and Supernatural, shared on Feb. 3, 2023, that he had battled prostate cancer for years and was cancer free.

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Ariana Madix

“I had to have a lil bit o’cancer removed from my body and lymph nodes biopsied,” the Vanderpump Rules star revealed to fans at the close of 2018. “(In the clear now!)”

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Marcia Cross

The Desperate Housewives star revealed to fans in September 2018 that she survived anal cancer. “After posting a picture of myself here and uttering the words #cancer and #hairloss, I feel liberated, deliriously free and completely me,” she shared on Instagram. 

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Dustin Hoffman

The two-time Oscar winner underwent successful treatment for cancer, and his rep confirmed to E! News that doctors deemed Hoffman “surgically cured.”

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Hugh Jackman

The X-Men star was treated for his third basal cell carcinoma back in 2014, and after his third treatment, Jackman’s rep told E! News that he’s “all good” now.

In April 2023, Hugh had two biopsies for additional basal cell carcinoma. At the time, he told fans, “If I can just take this opportunity to remind you summer is coming for those of us in the northern hemisphere, please wear sunscreen.”

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Camille Grammer

The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star celebrated one year of being cancer-free in January. The mother of two was diagnosed with endometrial cancer back in 2013 and underwent a radical hysterectomy.

Then in 2017, Camille had surgery to remove Squamous Cell Carcinoma, a type of skin cancer. 

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Cobie Smulders

The Avengers: Age of Ultron actress battled ovarian cancer at the age of 25 and overcome odds when she welcomed two children with husband Taran Killam.

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Dr. Drew Pinsky

TV host reveals he underwent surgery for prostate cancer in July 2013 and has since been given a clean bill of health.

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Brooke Burke

The Dancing with the Stars cohost underwent successful surgery for thyroid cancer. The mother of four tweeted, “Thx for all the twitter love. I’m [home] recovering & resting.”

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Angie Everhart

“MY DR CALLED ME ON A SAT. MORNING TO TELL ME I AM CANCER FREE!!!!! #wootothemotherf–kinhoo,” the actress tweeted after receiving the good news.

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Christina Applegate

The Up All Night star was declared “100-percent clear” of breast cancer after treatment and a double mastectomy.

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Michael C. Hall

The Dexter star used a hiatus from his hit series to slay Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

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Michelle Monaghan

The Australian actress revealed in October 2011 that she had a cancerous mole removed from her calf after her hubby encouraged her to get the suspicious-looking mark checked out.

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Ewan McGregor

The Scot is trainspotting just fine these days after having a cancerous mole removed from beneath his right eye.

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Sheryl Crow

The singer beat breast cancer in 2004 with a “minimally invasive” lumpectomy and radiation therapy.

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Michael Douglas

The Oscar winner declared in early 2011 that his tumor was gone and he had throat cancer “beat.”

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Edie Falco

The Emmy winner whacked breast cancer in 2004.

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Anderson Cooper

Surely the CNN veteran wears his SPF when he’s braving the elements now after having a cancerous growth removed from under his left eye in 2008.

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Kylie Minogue

The Australian pop star underwent successful surgery for breast cancer in 2005.

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Barry Watson

The 7th Heaven star was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease when he was only 28. He’s 50 now and looking good!

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Maura Tierney

The ER fave had to abandon her role in Parenthood to fight breast cancer in 2009—but her treatment was a success and she was back on the red carpet in no time.

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Sharon Osbourne

The America’s Got Talent judge was diagnosed with colon cancer while shooting The Osbournes in 2002 and used the opportunity to stress the importance of regular screenings while attacking the #@%! with chemotherapy. She was declared cancer-free the following year.

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Robert De Niro

The Oscar winner took prostate cancer down, down to Chinatown, in 2003, and has been in about 400 movies since then.

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Robin Roberts

The Good Morning America cohost proudly flaunted her smooth scalp while undergoing chemotherapy to treat breast cancer in 2007.

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Lance Armstrong

The champion cyclist battled back from stage-four testicular cancer before winning seven straight Tour de France titles.

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Melissa Etheridge

The Grammy and Oscar winner became an inspiring activist after a lumpectomy and chemotherapy cleared her of breast cancer in 2005.

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Julia Sweeney

The former Saturday Night Live standout mined her breast cancer battle for comedic material that turned into God Said Ha!, her successful one-woman show that eventually went to Broadway.

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Cynthia Nixon

The Sex and the City star was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, and after surgery and radiation treatments, she was given the clear.

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