TV icon Paul Danan, who appeared on Hollyoaks and Love Island, suffered health woes before his death at the age of 46.
Hollyoaks heartthrob Paul’s death was announced by his management team on social media this morning. A statement read: “It is with heavy hearts that we share the tragic news of the passing of Paul Danan at just 46 years old. Known for his television presence, exceptional talent, and unwavering kindness, Paul was a beacon of light to so many.
“His untimely departure will leave irreplaceable voids in the lives of all who knew him. During this difficult time we kindly request the respect and privacy for Paul’s family, friend and colleagues. No further comments will be made at this time.”
It was later reported that he died after he ‘slipped and fell’ in a luxury apartment near Bristol. Neighbours reportedly said that an ambulance was called to the flat on Wednesday evening. Avon and Somerset Police said in a statement: “Officers attended a property in Brislington, Bristol, at around 5.20pm yesterday (Wednesday 15 January) where sadly a man in his 40s was declared deceased by paramedics.
“His family have been notified and our thoughts are with them. They have asked for people to respect their privacy during this incredibly difficult time,” the statement read. “His death is not being treated as suspicious and officers are preparing a file for the coroner.”
Last year, the Sol Patrick actor predicted his own death after he collapsed at home and was rushed to hospital in June 2024. Paul received treatment for respiratory failure and pneumonia in intensive care at Whipps Cross Hospital in East London.
He revealed his vaping addiction was the cause of his hospital stay at the time. Paul said last year: “I was dead – its a miracle I’m here.”
“I’m upstairs puffing away on my vape then suddenly I lost my breath and collapsed. My family called for an ambulance and started giving me CPR, then police arrived and took over before paramedics took me to hospital,” Paul added to The Sun on Sunday.
Paul told he was hooked up to a machine in the ICU and his family were warned he “might not make it through the night” at the time.
Paul had quit smoking in 2021 but began vaping as he believed it was the “safest way to smoke”. But, the TV icon soon became obsessed with vaping.
“I saw a YouTube video where someone blew cigarette smoke into cotton wool then did the same with a vape. The cotton wool turned black from the smoke from the cigarette, but the wool remained the same colour after the vape vapour hit it… Off the back of that, in my head – because I have ADHD everything is very visual – I’ve always thought they’d be OK,” he recalled. He added: “Everywhere I went I’d have my vape with me. I’d always have one in my hand, I would even go to sleep with it, like a comfort thing.”
The actor has been frank about his drug addiction over the years, following various trips to rehab and another near-death experience following an overdose.
Paul previously revealed how he was handed cocaine on the first day on the set of Channel 4 soap, Hollyoaks. He joined the show in the 90s, playing Sol Patrick.
Speaking on The Dozen with Liam Tuffs podcast, Paul recounted his first day. He said: “The day I started there, someone and I am not going to say who, handed me an eighth of cocaine and I didn’t really know much about coke and he was like, ‘welcome’.
“It was the first day, the first read through, I hadn’t even filmed anything.”
Paul has been open about his issues with drugs and admitted to being an addict during a candid chat on The Jeremy Kyle Show. He recounted how he was saved by his parents after almost dying in a “Pulp Fiction moment”.
Recalling the brush with death, Paul explained he had not long returned from rehab – which he had visited around 17 times – when he decided to meet with a drug dealer and purchased some cocaine to “calm down”. However, the decision proved near-fatal as his drug dealer had actually given him heroin and Paul had overdosed after snorting it.
He said: “I went to a meeting and went back to my parents’ and told them I was going to sleep. My mum came into the bedroom and heard me making these noises.
“It sounded like I was snoring but it was me choking on my last breaths.
“I was overdosing.” He added: “They found me in my bed and they didn’t know what was going on. They didn’t think I’d taken anything because I’d just come back from rehab.”
When quizzed by Jeremy why he continued to take drugs despite his brush with death, the TV star frankly said: “Because I’m an addict.”
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