Julian McMahon and Shannen Doherty briefly dated during the making of their classic TV series Charmed.
Tragically, the Charmed costars died within one year of each other after they both battled cancer. Doherty passed away at 53 in July 2024, while McMahon’s death was confirmed nearly one year later on July 4, 2025. The actor was 56.
The former couple reportedly got together during Charmed’s third season in 2001, which turned out to be Doherty’s last playing Prue Halliwell. At the time, Doherty’s departure – and the on-screen death of her character – were blamed partially on off-screen tension with costar Alyssa Milano, who played Prue’s sister, Phoebe Halliwell. (Rose McGowan was eventually cast as a long lost Halliwell sister, Paige, to essentially replace Doherty’s Prue.)
Doherty and McMahon’s dating situation during Charmed season 3 may have been especially complicated since McMahon played Milano’s on-screen love interest, Cole Turner. McMahon was also going through a divorce from first wife, Baywatch star Brooke Burns, at the time.
Doherty addressed the tense Charmed set environment during a December 2023 interview with former costar Holly Marie Combs on her “Let’s Be Clear with Shannen Doherty” podcast. Combs briefly acknowledged Doherty and McMahon’s relationship as she discussed the events that led up to Doherty being dropped from Charmed in 2001.
“You know, [Brian Krause, who played Leo] and [Alyssa] were dating at the time when this all went down, which, to me, us being completely oblivious, to me was the worst part,” Combs said. “Where, it was all sort of part of this plan that was happening and unfolding through over months. It was months of that year. You were dating Julian [McMahon]. So you guys were off in that world. Brian was off with Alyssa.”
Away from the Charmed set, Doherty and McMahon played lovers in the 2001 TV movie Another Day. In the film, Doherty’s character Kate developed feelings for childhood friend David (McMahon) after mysteriously being sent back in time to two days before her late boyfriend Paul’s death in a fire.
McMahon and Doherty were reportedly already split up by the time Another Day premiered. Having previously been married to actor Ashley Hamilton in the 1990s, Doherty wed poker player Rick Salomon in 2002, though they were granted an annulment the following year. (Salomon went on to promote a sex tape that he shot with ex-girlfriend Paris Hilton, and was later married to Pamela Anderson twice, between 2007 and 2008 and again between 2014 and 2015.)
Doherty married her third husband, photographer Kurt Iswarienko, in 2011. They announced their split in April 2023, but their divorce was not finalized until hours before Doherty’s death from breast cancer in July 2024.
Meanwhile, McMahon’s first marriage was with Australian pop star Dannii Minogue between 1994 and 1995. Following his divorce from second wife Burns in 2001, he tied the knot with third wife Kelly Paniagua in 2014 and was with her until his death.
McMahon’s family confirmed on July4 that he died following a private battle with an unspecified form of cancer. His former Charmed costar Combs mourned McMahon by expressing hope that he would reconnect with Doherty in the afterlife.
“One of a kind is an understatement,” Combs remembered via Instagram. “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.”
She then referenced Doherty in writing, “I hope you find our lady friend and dance in those rose petals.”
McMahon is survived by his third wife Paniagua and 25 year-old daughter Madison, who was born during his marriage to Burns.
“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,” his wife, Kelly, said in a statement. “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.”
