When people ask who played Cole in Charmed, they aren't just looking for a name. They're usually looking for an explanation for why they were so obsessed with a half-demon attorney back in the early 2000s. The answer is Julian McMahon. He didn't just play Cole Turner; he fundamentally shifted the DNA of the show. Before his arrival in the third season, Charmed was a fairly straightforward "monster-of-the-week" procedural about sisterhood and spells. Once McMahon stepped onto the set of Manor, everything got a lot darker, sexier, and significantly more complicated.
Honestly, it’s hard to imagine anyone else in those expensive suits. McMahon brought a specific kind of Australian charisma that felt dangerous yet weirdly vulnerable. He was Belthazor, an ancient demonic soldier of the Underworld, but he was also a guy who just really, really loved Phoebe Halliwell. That tension is what made him the most popular male lead in the series' eight-year run.
How Julian McMahon Became the Underworld’s Most Famous Resident
Julian McMahon didn't start out as a demon. The son of a former Australian Prime Minister, Sir William McMahon, Julian actually spent time as a model and a soap opera star before landing on American shores. You might remember him from Another World or the NBC profiler drama Profiler, where he played John Grant. But Charmed was different. It was the WB. It was peak teen-dream television.
When he joined the cast in 2000, the chemistry between him and Alyssa Milano was instantaneous. It wasn't just "good for TV" chemistry; it was the kind of friction that changes scripts. Initially, Cole Turner was only supposed to be a short-term antagonist. The writers planned for him to be vanquished rather quickly. However, the audience reaction was so overwhelming—and the dynamic with the Charmed Ones was so electric—that the producers realized they couldn't let him go. He stayed for nearly three full seasons as a series regular, and his shadow loomed over the show long after he left.
The Belthazor Problem
Playing a dual-natured character is a tightrope walk. McMahon had to play the cold, calculating human lawyer while hiding the fact that he was actually a red-and-black-skinned demon known as Belthazor.
Think about the physical demand of that. He spent hours in the makeup chair for the prosthetic-heavy demon scenes, only to pivot back to playing the romantic lead. He made us believe that a soul-less killer could actually develop a conscience just by being around the Halliwell sisters. It was a redemption arc that paved the way for characters like Spike in Buffy or Damon in The Vampire Diaries. He was the blueprint.
Why the Phoebe and Cole Dynamic Still Matters
We have to talk about the "toxic" elephant in the room. By 2026 standards, the relationship between Phoebe and Cole is... a lot. It’s a mess. But that’s exactly why people are still googling who played Cole in Charmed decades later.
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Julian McMahon played the descent into madness with terrifying precision. When Cole became the Source of All Evil, the show took its biggest risks. The wedding in the mausoleum? The dark pregnancy? These were high-stakes storylines that worked because McMahon could sell the tragedy of a man who wanted to be good but was literally possessed by the ultimate darkness.
You’ve probably seen the memes. Cole standing in the rain. Cole looking longingly at the Manor. It’s iconic stuff. Even when the writing got a bit shaky in Season 5—and let’s be real, turning Cole into an obsessive, invincible stalker was a weird choice—McMahon’s performance never wavered. He stayed committed to the character’s pain, even when the plot required him to do some pretty questionable things.
Life After the Underworld: Nip/Tuck and Beyond
Leaving Charmed wasn't a career death sentence. In fact, it was the opposite. McMahon left the show in its fifth season to lead a little show called Nip/Tuck on FX.
Playing Dr. Christian Troy, a narcissistic plastic surgeon, allowed him to lean into the "bad boy" persona he’d polished as Cole Turner, but with a much sharper, adult edge. Nip/Tuck became a cultural phenomenon, earning him a Golden Globe nomination. It’s funny to think about: the guy who was throwing shimmering energy balls at the Halliwell sisters on a Sunday night was suddenly the face of prestige cable drama.
He also made a massive jump to the big screen as Victor Von Doom in the Fantastic Four films. While those movies have a complicated reputation among Marvel fans today, McMahon’s portrayal of Doctor Doom was perfectly in line with his ability to play arrogant, powerful men who are secretly falling apart inside.
A Quick Rundown of Julian McMahon’s Iconic Roles
- Cole Turner / Belthazor (Charmed): The reformed demon who couldn't quite escape his past.
- Dr. Christian Troy (Nip/Tuck): The role that solidified him as a TV icon.
- Doctor Doom (Fantastic Four): His foray into superhero villainy.
- Jess LaCroix (FBI: Most Wanted): A much more grounded, heroic turn later in his career.
- Jonah (Runaways): A return to his supernatural roots in the Marvel TV universe.
The 150th Episode Cameo and the Legacy
One of the most touching moments for fans happened in Season 7. In the episode "The Seven Year Witch," Julian McMahon returned for a guest spot. He wasn't there as a villain. He was a spirit trapped in a cosmic limbo, helping Piper save her marriage to Leo.
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It was a full-circle moment. It confirmed that, despite all the demonic possession and the multiple vanquishings, Cole actually did care about the sisters. He was their guardian angel in the shadows. That one appearance served as a massive "thank you" to the fans who had campaigned for his return.
Even now, if you go to a comic-con or a fan activation, the line for Julian McMahon is usually out the door. People don't forget the way he looked at Phoebe. They don't forget the "vanquish" that broke everyone's hearts.
Why Was Cole Written Out?
There’s always a lot of chatter about behind-the-scenes drama, but the reality of Julian McMahon leaving Charmed was mostly about career growth. He’d done three years. His contract was up. The opportunity to work with Ryan Murphy on Nip/Tuck was too good to pass up.
From a narrative standpoint, Cole had become too powerful. How do you write a show about three witches fighting evil when one of them is dating the strongest demon in existence? He had to go so the sisters could grow. But the void he left was never truly filled. Characters like Coop (the Cupid Phoebe eventually marries) were nice, but they lacked the "punch-you-in-the-gut" intensity that McMahon brought to the table.
Surprising Facts About the Man Who Played Cole
Most fans don't realize that Julian was actually married to Shannen Doherty (Prue Halliwell) in a weird "what if" world? No, that’s a common misconception—he was actually briefly married to Dannii Minogue and later Brooke Burns. However, his off-screen friendship with the cast was well-documented, which made the on-screen tension even more impressive.
Another fun bit of trivia: McMahon actually did a lot of his own stunts. The wire-work in the early 2000s wasn't exactly the seamless CGI we see in the MCU today. It was jerky, physical, and often painful. He threw himself into the physicality of the role, which is why the fights between Cole and Leo always felt so visceral.
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What Julian McMahon is Doing Now
If you’ve watched TV lately, you’ve definitely seen him. He spent several seasons as the lead of FBI: Most Wanted as Jess LaCroix. He’s transitioned into that "stately veteran actor" phase of his career beautifully. He’s got the grey hair now, the rugged look, but that sparkle in his eye—the one that suggested he might just be hiding a demonic alter-ego—is still very much there.
He recently exited the FBI franchise, leading many to wonder what his next move will be. Whether he returns to the supernatural genre or stays in the world of procedurals, his impact on TV history is set in stone.
The Enduring Appeal of the Half-Demon
So, who played Cole in Charmed? It was Julian McMahon, a man who took a guest-starring role and turned it into the emotional backbone of a cult classic series. He taught a generation of viewers that villains could be sympathetic and that love isn't always enough to save someone.
If you’re looking to revisit his work, the best way to start is by re-watching the Season 3 premiere, "The Honeymoon's Over." It’s the first time we see Cole, and the immediate shift in the show’s energy is palpable. You can also find him in the later seasons of Runaways on Disney+ if you want to see him playing a much more detached, alien kind of antagonist.
For those diving back into the series for the first time in years, pay attention to the subtle choices McMahon makes in Season 4. His portrayal of a man losing his soul while trying to keep his family together is some of the best acting the WB ever produced.
To really understand the impact of the character, look into the fan-run archives like the Charmed Wiki or listen to the House of Halliwell podcast, where the original cast members often discuss the casting process and what it was like working with Julian on set. You'll find that the consensus is unanimous: he was a pro, a gentleman, and the best "bad guy" the sisters ever faced.
Go back and watch the "Centennial Charmed" episode (the 100th episode). It’s the official end of Cole’s primary arc. It’s a brutal, tragic, and perfect exit for a character who was never meant to have a happy ending. Julian McMahon played that final scene with a mix of arrogance and heartbreak that reminds you exactly why he’s a household name for anyone who grew up in the era of the Power of Three.