Showbiz

Kelly McMahon Delivers Heartfelt Speech at AACTA Award

Bintano News Desk
February 7, 2026
Kelly McMahon Delivers Heartfelt Speech at AACTA Award

Julian McMahon was posthumously honoured for his role in The Surfer at the AACTA Awards on Friday night.

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The Australian actor, who died of cancer aged 56 in Florida on July 2 last year, starred alongside US star Nicolas Cage in the psychological thriller.

His widow, Kelly Paniagua, accepted the Award for Best Supporting Actor in Film on his behalf during the ceremony, which was held at HOTA on the Gold Coast.

She gave an emotional speech as she took to the stage, saying: 'He knew everyone was special.

'To get this moment tonight, the reason he loved this project so much was that he came home to Australia.

'I know Julian would want to dedicate this to his family, who he loved so deeply… I would like to dedicate this to you, Australia, the country that made him.'

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Julian McMahon was posthumously honoured for his role in The Surfer at the AACTA Awards on Friday night, with widow Kelly accepting the award on his behalf

Julian McMahon was posthumously honoured for his role in The Surfer at the AACTA Awards on Friday night, with widow Kelly accepting the award on his behalf

Kelly went on to make a cheeky joke on behalf of her late husband, saying: 'He would want me to say, go the Wallabies, and go the Blues. Sorry, Queensland.' 

The Surfer premiered at Cannes in 2024 and was released in 2025, with Julian attending the SXSW premiere just months before his death.

It was the final movie he appeared in before his passing, delivering a searing performance as a surf gang leader named Scally.

Julian married model and author Kelly in 2014.

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They had been together for 11 years before tying the knot in a romantic ceremony in Lake Tahoe, a lakeside area on the edge of California and Nevada.

He was previously married to Baywatch actress Brooke Burns, with whom he shares daughter Madison, 25.

The pair tied the knot in 1999, before calling it quits three years later.

He then married Australian actress and singer Dannii Minogue, after the pair fell in love on the set of Home and Away, in which Julian played fan favourite Ben Lucini.

'He knew everyone was special. To get this moment tonight, the reason he loved this project so much was that he came home to Australia,' Kelly said during her emotional speech

'He knew everyone was special. To get this moment tonight, the reason he loved this project so much was that he came home to Australia,' Kelly said during her emotional speech

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They were wed in 1994, but the union proved short-lived, with the couple splitting just a year and a half later.

During his time on Charmed, Julian was also romantically linked to Shannen Doherty, with the pair dating briefly during the show's third season from 2000 to 2001.   

Kelly confirmed Julian's death in July, revealing he passed away following a secret battle with cancer.

The son of former Australian Prime Minister William McMahon, Julian rose to fame in Australia on the iconic Channel Seven soap Home and Away.

He starred as Ben Lucini on the soap from 1990 to 1991, before heading to the US to make it big in Hollywood.

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After moving to the US, Julian secured a role in the long-running NBC soap Another World in 1993, and his star continued to rise.

Never far from the camera, Julian amassed a formidable list of small and big screen credits, picking up a Golden Globe Best Actor nomination in 2004.

He played everything from a playboy plastic surgeon to a nefarious superhero villain throughout his long career.

The Surfer was the final movie Julian appeared in before his passing, delivering a searing performance as a surf gang leader named Scally

The Surfer was the final movie Julian appeared in before his passing, delivering a searing performance as a surf gang leader named Scally

He also starred as Special Agent Jess LaCroix on the Dick Wolf-created series FBI, as well as its spin-offs FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International.

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His turn as the lothario doctor Christian Troy earned Julian a Golden Globe Best Actor nomination in 2004, losing out to Ian McShane.

Prior to Nip/Tuck, Julian starred alongside Shannen Doherty and Alyssa Milano on the cult Aaron Spelling-created magical drama Charmed.

He played Cole Turner, the half-demon ex-husband of Alyssa's character, Phoebe Halliwell.

Original Source

This article has been aggregated directly from the Daily Mail.

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