Paul Danan death: Highs and lows of tragic Hollyoaks actor from heartthrob status to battle with drugs
The Hollyoaks actor’s death was announced on Thursday after his management team shared a statement.
TV actor Paul Danan has died at the age of 46. His management confirmed the news in a statement shared on Thursday (January 16). Tributes from fans and celebrity friends including Katie Price, Dean Gaffney and Joe Tracini have since flooded in for the actor.
Paul Danan burst on to TV screens when he joined Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks as Sol Patrick in 1997. The character was known for his bad boy reputation and was eventually sent to jail for four weeks after being caught driving dangerously. The soap earned him heart throb status and was often featured in magazines and posters.
It has been claimed he was given cocaine as a welcome gift on his first day on the set of Hollyoaks. The actor was asked to leave the soap after four years.
Celebrity Love Island
The TV star went on to appear in the original series of Celebrity Love Island in 2005. The series also featured Callum Best and in one scene Paul slapped Calum across the face while they were in a bar. They were later seen pushing and shoving each other outside. Paul Danan returned a year later for season two.
Celebrity Big Brother
In 2017 Paul Danan - who nicknamed himself Dangerous Dan - entered the Celebrity Big Brother house. In a hilarious TV moment the actor accidentally set off the fire alarm that he mistook for the button to enter the diary room.
Paul Danan starred alongside the late Sarah Harding who he had one of the most explosive TV arguments with. The actor had been open about his issues with drug addiction and became infuriated with the Girls Aloud singer after she made a comment about taking a pill, apparently referring to a painkiller.
He also argued with glamour model Jemma Lucy. However, he did strike up a bromance with Made in Chelsea star Sam Thompson - who is yet to comment on the shock death.
The Jeremy Kyle Show
In 2019 Paul Danan went on the ITV daytime show to discuss his battle with drug addiction. He said: “When I left Hollyoaks and when I started to have a bit of time off I'd do [cocaine] and it's an invisible line and when you cross it it's hard to go back. I've got an addictive personality and if I like something I want more of it.”
Coach Trip
His last TV appearance was on Coach Trip in 2022 he starred alongside Linda Robson, Honey G and Ashley McKinzie. The Hollyoaks star admitted that he needed counselling after the show saying: “It taps into a lot of stuff – like rejection. It's brutal.”
Away from TV, the actor was famously sacked from a production of Jack and the Beanstalk in Preston (2007). During the Christmas light switch on, Paul - in front of 3,000 parents and children, shouted: “Come on you motherf******!”
In June 2024 the actor revealed that he was brought back to life after his 'obsessive' vape usage caused respiratory failure. He reportedly collapsed and had to be given CPR by his family after losing consciousness while at home.
According to court documents obtained by the Mail Online Paul Danan was due to appear for a plea hearing at Warrington Magistrates' Court in Cheshire today after being charged with being in possession of several bags of cocaine and a 'quantity' of cannabis.
Natalie Dixon is NationalWorld’s Lifestyle reporter. If you liked this article and want to read more about celebrities, fashion, beauty and lifestyle you can follow Natalie Dixon on X here.