Inquest Reveals Paul Danan Died From Drug Overdose at 46

Bristol, England – Paul Danan, a 46-year-old actor known for his role in the soap opera “Hollyoaks,” was found dead at his home in Brislington, Bristol, on January 15. An inquest into his death revealed that Danan died from a combination of drugs, including cocaine and heroin.

Emergency services responded to a report of an unresponsive individual at Danan’s residence shortly after 5 p.m., where paramedics confirmed his death. His partner, Melissa Crooks, identified his body at the scene, according to coroner’s officer Alexis Camp during an inquest opening at Avon Coroner’s Court on Tuesday.

“The circumstances are that Mr. Danan was found unresponsive at his home address. Emergency services attended and confirmed he had sadly died,” Camp stated. A post-mortem examination indicated the provisional cause of death to be a toxic combination of heroin, methadone, codeine, pregabalin, cocaine, and zopiclone, with the use of benzodiazepines also contributing.

Camp further noted, “I understand there are no family concerns; no note was left.” The coroner set a provisional date for the full inquest hearing for May 28, as investigations remain ongoing, including inquiries from Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust.

Danan had a well-documented history of drug addiction. He previously disclosed that he had spent around £1 million on rehabilitation services over the years and faced a relapse during the COVID-19 pandemic, living on the streets before entering a rehabilitation facility in the Cotswolds.

Reports indicated that Danan was due to appear at Warrington Magistrates’ Court shortly after his death for a plea hearing regarding charges of possession of cocaine and cannabis. He was also accused of driving under the influence of drugs in October 2022.

In addition to his work on “Hollyoaks,” where he portrayed Sol Patrick from 1997 to 2001, Danan gained notoriety for his appearances on reality television shows, including “Celebrity Love Island” and “Celebrity Big Brother.” Despite his struggles, he worked on bettering the lives of others by launching drama classes in Bristol aimed at adults dealing with mental health and addiction issues.

Following his death, tributes flowed in from his colleagues and fans alike. Calum Best described Danan on social media as one of the “funniest, kindest, and most authentic people” he knew. His management team remembered him as a “beacon of light” and requested privacy for his family and friends during this difficult time.