Paul Danan, best remembered for his role as Sol Patrick in Hollyoaks and his appearances on reality shows like Celebrity Love Island, died in January at the age of 46. An inquest has now concluded that his death was accidental as a result of a dangerous combination of drugs.
On 15 January, Danan was found unresponsive on his sofa with the TV still on at his flat in Brislington, Bristol. His partner, Melissa Crooks, had tried to contact him after they’d gone out drinking the night before. When she couldn’t reach him, a neighbour used a ladder to enter his flat. Emergency services were called, but he was pronounced dead at 5:20 p.m.
Paul Danan had recently been helping others through drama workshopsGetty Images
A postmortem revealed that Danan had taken a mix of substances including heroin, cocaine, methadone, pregabalin, codeine, zopiclone, and benzodiazepines. None were in high doses, but together they caused his breathing to slow fatally.
The assistant coroner, Debbie Rookes, confirmed there was no sign that Danan meant to end his life. There was no suicide note, and previous evidence including a non-fatal overdose in May 2024 had also been ruled accidental. Despite his long struggle with addiction and mental health issues, Rookes said there was no indication of suicide, and recorded the cause of death as “misadventure.”
Friends and family described Paul Danan as a generous soul who always cared for othersGetty Images
Danan had spent years trying to fight his addiction, even appearing on The Jeremy Kyle Show to speak openly about his experiences. He once said he had spent over £1 million (₹10.6 crore) on treatment and had to work every day to stay on the path to recovery. In recent years, he had started offering drama workshops to people dealing with trauma, addiction, and prison experiences.
He was due in court the day after his death to face charges for drug possession and drug-driving in Warrington.
Paul Danan died accidentally following years of battling addictionGetty Images
His mother, Beverley Danan, shared a statement during the inquest, saying her son helped many people through their own struggles, even though he couldn’t quite save himself. “His smiling face and love of life will always be remembered,” she said.
Friends, including Calum Best, described Danan as generous, funny, and full of heart. His agents said he was a “beacon of light” who left behind a deep void.
