Paul Danan
Birth namePaul Louis Danan
Birth date2 July 1978
Birth placeChigwell, Essex, England
Death date15 January 2025 (aged 46)
Death placeBrislington, Bristol, England
OccupationActor · television personality
Alma materItalia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts
Years active1995–2025

Paul Louis Danan (2 July 1978 – 15 January 2025) was an English actor and television personality, known for playing the role of Sol Patrick in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, between 1997 and 2001. In 2005, he appeared as a contestant on the first series of ITV's Celebrity Love Island and returned for the second series in 2006. He was also a housemate on the twentieth series of Celebrity Big Brother in 2017.

Early life

Danan was born in Chigwell, Essex, to a Moroccan Jewish family, on 2 July 1978.[1][2] His father was from Fez, Morocco.[2] Danan attended the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts.[3]

Career

Between 1997 and 2001, Danan played Sol Patrick in the Channel 4 soap opera, Hollyoaks.[4] Following his departure from the soap, he played "the Monster" in Desires of Frankenstein by James Martin Charlton at the 2002 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.[5] In 2002, Danan played Melody's Agent Max Mitford in the CBBC series The Queen's Nose. In 2005, he appeared as a contestant on the first series of ITV's Celebrity Love Island. He returned for the second series in 2006.[6] Following his appearance on the show, Danan won funniest reality TV personality at the 2007 Loaded Lafta Awards.[7] The same year, he appeared in an episode of Dick & Dom in da Bungalow and presented a television series entitled Test Drive My Girlfriend on ITV2.[8] In September 2006, Danan appeared in the ITV2 series Calum, Fran and Dangerous Danan, in which he traveled from Texas to Los Angeles on America's U.S. Route 66 with Calum Best and Fran Cosgrave.[9] In 2007, Danan was due to play Jack in Jack & the Beanstalk at the Preston Guild Hall, but he was sacked after swearing during the Christmas Lights switch on.[10]

In 2009, Danan was a guest on the first and second series of the Channel 4 sketch show The Kevin Bishop Show. From 2010 to 2011, he co-hosted Stars and Strikes for 4Music with presenter Rick Edwards playing a ten-frame ten-pin bowling match against a popstar or group. In November 2012, Danan appeared in an episode of ITV drama Crime Stories. In 2015, he played the character Steve in the TV series Good Girls Club for Sky TV.[11] In August 2017, Danan competed in the twentieth series of Celebrity Big Brother. On Day 18, he became the fifth evictee.[12] On an episode of The Jeremy Kyle Show broadcast on ITV on 9 February 2019, Danan discussed his substance addiction. He admitted to being a recovering addict.[13] In January 2022, Danan appeared on the seventh series of E4's Celebrity Coach Trip in Northern Portugal, where he was put with Team GB athlete Ashley McKenzie. Danan and McKenzie joined a line-up which featured fellow celebrity travellers like Matt Richardson, Honey G, Ginny Lemon,[14] pop duo Honeyz, and Birds of a Feather stars Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph.[15][16]

Personal life

Danan previously lived in Hertford, where he ran a drama club for local children.[17] He had one son.[18]

In 2010, Danan was given a £350 fine after he was found to be in possession of drugs and swore at a police officer.[19] He was accused of driving under the influence of drugs in Warrington on 2 October 2024.[20] Before his death, Danan had been due to appear at court in Warrington on two drug charges on 16 January 2025.[21]

Health and death

Danan struggled with an addiction to vapes, cigarettes and cocaine.[22][23][24] He said he experimented with ecstasy from the age of 14 and survived a heroin overdose in 2007.[25][26] Danan said that he had been to rehab 17 times by 2022,[23] and that he had spent "about £1 million on rehab and recovery" by then.[27] In June 2024, Danan was hospitalised for respiratory failure caused by "obsessive" vape usage. He had to be given CPR by his family, before being admitted to ICU with pneumonia. Doctors warned him that if he continued smoking in any form, he risked being linked to an oxygen tank later in life.[28]

On 15 January 2025, Avon and Somerset Police attended an address in Brislington, Bristol, where Danan was pronounced dead, aged 46.[29] His death was announced the following day, with a statement from his management giving no cause of death and saying that no further comments would be made.[4][30] His death was not treated as suspicious.[31] Following the inquest into his death on the 11 March 2025, it was announced he had died from a cocktail of drugs with heroin, methadone, pregabalin, cocaine and zopiclone found in his system, with a secondary finding of benzodiazepine use.[32]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1997The KnockGang Member1 episode
1997–2001HollyoaksSol PatrickSeries regular
1999TV Hits AwardsHimselfGuest; 1 episode
1999Brookside: Double TakeHimselfGuest; 1 episode
2000FBiHimselfGuest; 1 episode
2001A Question of TVHimselfGuest; 1 episode
2001Liquid NewsHimselfGuest; 1 episode
2001, 2002Night FeverHimselfGuest; 2 episodes
2001The Saturday ShowHimselfGuest; 1 episode
2002Daddy’s GirlNathanTelevision film
2002The Basil Brush ShowRefereeEpisode: "The Date"
2003The Queens NoseMax3 episodes
2003Adventure Inc.Cedric1 episode
2003CasualtyCedric1 episode
2003The Pilot ShowHimselfGuest; 1 episode
2003Ten MinutesChrisShort film
2004Football ChallengeHimselfGuest; 1 episode
2004One Man and His DogWayneFilm role
2005–2006Celebrity Love IslandHimselfContestant; series 1 & 2
2005–2006Celebrity Love Island: AftersunHimselfGuest
2005Death of CelebrityHimselfDocumentary
2005Dick & Dom in da BungalowHimselfGuest; 1 episode
2005Live at the ApolloHimselfAudience member
2005Britain and Ireland's Next Top ModelHimselfGuest; 1 episode
2005Top of the Pops ReloadedHimselfGuest; 1 episode
2006Richard & JudyHimselfGuest; 1 episode
2006Test My GirlfriendHimselfGuest; 1 episode
2006Showbiz PokerHimselfGuest; 1 episode
2006The Sharon Osbourne ShowHimselfGuest; 1 episode
2006The Charlotte Church ShowHimselfGuest; 1 episode
2006Brainiac's Test Tube BabyHimselfGuest; 1 episode
2006Ant & Dec's Saturday Night TakeawayHimselfGuest; 2 episodes
2008Balls of SteelHimselfGuest; 1 episode
2009The Alan Titchmarsh ShowHimselfGuest; 1 episode
2009The Justin Lee Collins ShowHimselfGuest; 1 episode
2009The Kevin Bishop ShowHimselfGuest; 1 episode
2010Celebrity QuittersHimselfParticipant
2010–2011Stars and StrikesHimselfPresenter
2012Celebrity Come Dine with MeHimselfGuest; 1 episode
2012Celebrity JuiceHimselfGuest; 1 episode
2012Crime StoriesKevin Baker1 episode
2014Most Shocking Reality TV MomentsHimselfDocumentary
2015Good Girls ClubSteveMain role
2016, 2017Sam Delaney's News ThingHimselfGuest; 7 episodes
2017AmocDCI CollinsFilm role
2017Loose WomenHimselfGuest; 1 episode
2017Celebrity Big BrotherHimselfHousemate; series 20
2017When Reality TV Goes Horribly WrongHimselfDocumentary
2017Most Shocking Celebrity Moments 2017HimselfGuest; 1 episode
2017The Story of Reality TVHimselfGuest; 1 episode
2019Are We Dead YetGavinFilm role
2019Judge RomeshHimselfGuest; 1 episode
2019When Soap Stars Go Horribly WrongHimselfDocumentary
2020Doll HouseAndyFilm role
2021The B@itHimselfEpisode: "Is Xmas Offensive?"
2021The Gift MusicalWashyEpisode: "Is Xmas Offensive?"
2021At Home with HayleyHimselfGuest; 2 episodes
2022Celebrity Coach TripHimselfContestant; series 7
2022FarageHimselfGuest; 1 episode
2025Bloody LoveBrianPosthumous
Sources: [33][34][35]

Awards and nominations

YearAssociationCategoryWorkResultReference
1999Inside Soap AwardsBest ActorHollyoaks[36]
2006Loaded Laftas Comedy AwardsFunniest TV Reality Person[37]

References

  1. ^ Agbonlahor, Winnie (17 August 2017). "Everything you need to know about Celebrity Big Brother housemate Paul Danan". The Mirror. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  2. ^ "CELEBRITY 'BAD BOY' PAUL IS LOOKING FOR A 'NICE JEWISH GIRL'". Jewish Telegraph. Archived 21 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  3. ^ "A JEWISH TELEGRAPH NEWSPAPER". Jewish Telegraph. Archived 26 February 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  4. ^ "Ex-Hollyoaks star Paul Danan dies at 46". BBC News. 16 January 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  5. ^ "Thrive Themes – Conversion Focused WordPress Themes". Archived 23 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 30 January 2007.
  6. ^ "Love Island final watched by 3.8m". BBC News. 29 August 2006. Archived 17 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 9 October 2007.
  7. ^ "Russell Brand bags comedy award". BBC News. 4 October 2006. Archived 2 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 9 October 2007.
  8. ^ "The Tuesday column: romance". The Daily Telegraph. 14 February 2006. Archived from the original on 26 November 2007. Retrieved 9 October 2007.
  9. ^ "Love Island and Hollyoaks icon Paul Danan dies aged 46 as star branded 'beacon of light'". Daily Record. 16 January 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  10. ^ "Actor swears at switch-on crowd". BBC News. 22 November 2007. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  11. ^ "Paul Danan". IMDb. Archived 2 May 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  12. ^ "Paul Danan and Brandi Glanville leave CBB in double eviction showdown". Colchester Gazette. 19 August 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  13. ^ Deen, Sarah (8 February 2019). "Paul Danan's parents saved his life in 'Pulp Fiction moment' after overdose". Metro. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  14. ^ "Worcester's Ginny Lemon appears on Celeb Coach Trip and clashes with Paul Danan". Worcester News. 5 January 2022. Archived 6 January 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  15. ^ Moss, Molly (11 January 2022). "Celebrity Coach Trip 2022 cast | Meet the line-up of the new series". Radio Times. Archived 4 January 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  16. ^ "Celebrity Coach Trip". Channel 4. Archived 6 January 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  17. ^ Robinson, Peter (29 November 2012). "Hollyoaks actor turns to acting for a living". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  18. ^ Dowell, Ben (10 August 2017). "Who is Paul Danan? Celebrity Big Brother 2017 contestant profile". Radio Times. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  19. ^ "Ex-Hollyoaks star Paul Danan fined over drugs". BBC News. 21 September 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  20. ^ Sansome, Jessica (16 January 2025). "Police issue statement after Hollyoaks' Paul Danan dies age 46". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  21. ^ Campbell, Tina (16 January 2025). "Love Island and Hollyoaks star Paul Danan dies hours before drugs court hearing". The Standard. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  22. ^ McArdle, Tom (16 January 2025). "Paul Danan, the Hollyoaks star, dies aged 46 after 'obsessive vaping' habit". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  23. ^ Campbell, Tina (16 January 2025). "Paul Danan's troubled life had more twists than the Hollyoaks soap he starred in". The Standard. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  24. ^ Gallagher, Declan (16 January 2025). "Soap Opera Actor, Reality TV Star Dies at 46". Men's Journal. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  25. ^ White, Vikki (16 January 2025). "Paul Danan told how mum saved him from brink of death after horror drug overdose". The Mirror. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  26. ^ "Paul Danan 'died' after snorting heroin". Female First. 2 August 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  27. ^ "Hollyoaks' Paul Danan 'relapsed on drugs and ended up homeless' during lockdown". Metro. 5 March 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  28. ^ Adams, Michael & Kitson, Calli (16 January 2025). "Hollyoaks star Paul Danan dead at 46 after revealing health battle from "obsessive" vaping". Metro. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  29. ^ "Tributes paid to Hollyoaks actor Paul Danan who died aged 46". ITVX. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  30. ^ "Hollyoaks star Paul Danan dies aged 46". Sky News. 16 January 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  31. ^ Duggins, Alexi (16 January 2025). "Former Hollyoaks star Paul Danan dies aged 46". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  32. ^ Paul Danan died after taking cocktail of drugs, inquest hears. BBC News. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
  33. ^ "Paul Danan". TV Guide. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  34. ^ "Paul Danan". Plex. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  35. ^ "Paul Danan". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  36. ^ Travis, Emlyn (16 January 2025). "Paul Danan, 'Hollyoaks' and 'Love Island' star, dies at 46". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  37. ^ "Russell Brand bags comedy award". BBC News. 4 October 2006. Archived 2 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 9 October 2007.