The death of troubled Hollyoaks actor Paul Danan has been ruled as misadventure by a coroner after the 46-year-old was found to have taken a fatal cocktail of drugs including cocaine and heroin.
The former soap star, who played bad boy Sol Patrick on the Channel 4 drama from 1997 to 2001, was discovered dead on his sofa with the television still on at his home in Brislington, Bristol, on January 15.
Today’s inquest heard that Danan, who had battled addiction for years and was open about his struggles, had taken a combination of illegal substances that proved fatal.
The coroner concluded that while Danan had voluntarily taken the drugs, there was no evidence he intended to take his own life, leading to the misadventure verdict – meaning his death was the unintended consequence of a deliberate act.
Friends and colleagues had expressed concern about the actor in recent months, with several noting he had seemed to be struggling with his demons despite periods of sobriety.
Paul fought so hard against his addictions,” a close friend told reporters outside the coroner’s court. “He’d have good periods and then slip back. This time, tragically, there was no coming back.”
Danan rose to fame playing Sol Patrick, the troubled teenager who became one of Hollyoaks‘ most memorable characters during the show’s early years. His portrayal of the complex character, dealing with family trauma and relationship drama, made him a household name.
After leaving the soap in 2001, Danan became a regular on reality TV, appearing on Celebrity Love Island in 2005 and Celebrity Big Brother in 2017, where his larger-than-life personality and emotional outbursts made him a memorable contestant.
He was also known for his appearance on Celebrity Coach Trip and various other reality shows, often speaking candidly about his struggles with addiction and mental health.
The inquest heard that Danan was found by a friend who had become concerned after being unable to reach him for several days. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.
Toxicology reports revealed the presence of cocaine, heroin, and other substances in his system. The coroner noted that the combination of drugs had caused respiratory failure.
Mr Danan’s death is a tragic reminder of the dangers of drug use,” the coroner said. While he did not intend to end his life, the substances he took had fatal consequences.
Throughout his career, Danan had been refreshingly honest about his battles with addiction, using his platform to warn others about the dangers of drug use. He had spoken in interviews about multiple stints in rehab and his ongoing struggle to stay clean.
In a 2019 interview, he said: “Addiction is a daily battle. Some days you win, some days you lose. The important thing is to keep fighting and to ask for help when you need it.”
Former Hollyoaks cast members paid tribute to their colleague, with many expressing sadness that his battle with addiction had ended so tragically.
Paul was a talented actor who brought so much to Hollyoaks in those early years,” said one former co-star. Behind the loud personality was someone who was struggling, and it’s heartbreaking that he couldn’t overcome those demons.
The actor had attempted to rebuild his career in recent years, appearing in independent films and running acting workshops. He had also launched a podcast where he interviewed other celebrities about their own struggles.
Friends said he had been particularly proud of his work helping young actors, using his experiences to guide others away from the pitfalls he had encountered.
“He wanted to use his story to help others,” explained a colleague from his workshop business. “He’d tell young actors about the dangers of fame, the temptations, and how quickly it can all go wrong.”
