The entertainment world is mourning the loss of former Hollyoaks actor Paul Danan, who passed away at the age of 46.
His death was confirmed by Independent Creative PR, his management team, which stated: “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 respect and privacy for Paul’s family, friends, and colleagues. No further comments will be made at this time.”
Danan first captivated UK audiences as Sol Patrick in Hollyoaks from 1997 until 2001. He later became a staple of reality television, participating in shows like Celebrity Big Brother and Celebrity Love Island.
In recent times, Danan had been candid about his mental health struggles, particularly regarding ADHD and its impact on his life, even speculating if rehab centres accounted for its potential role in addiction as detailed by the Mirror.
He disclosed to one podcast: “I was angry that all these treatment centres I’ve gone to, why didn’t they ever test me for it? Why didn’t they help me around that? Why didn’t they go, ‘You know what, this guy, surely there’s a bit of ADHD’, that maybe this is the underlying cause to this addiction and why he keeps using and why he keeps coming back to rehabs,” reports SurreyLive.
“Why? Because they’re businesses and they want you to keep coming back, they want your money. At the same time, they want to see you well.”
Mr Danan faced more struggles when in June 2024, he had to be resuscitated after experiencing respiratory failure because of excessive vaping.
He recounted: “I was dead – it’s a miracle I’m here,” explaining further, “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. I was on a machine in ICU and ended up with pneumonia. My family were warned I might not make it through the night.”
After his passing, tributes flowed from the entertainment world, with EastEnders’ Dean Gaffney describing him as having a “heart of gold” and model Katie Price admitting she was “speechless and shocked” at the loss.
Former EastEnders star Michael Greco took to X to pay his respects to Paul Danan, writing: “So, so sad to read about the passing of Paul Danan. In this day and age of falsities and fake people, he was a genuine and caring man who just wanted to please everyone. A lovely warm man that will be missed by many. R.I.P. Buddy.”