Hollyoaks star Paul Danan has died at the age of 46. The actor also appeared in Love Island and Celebrity Big Brother.
His management announced his death on social media, hailing him as a “beacon of light”. The star’s death comes months after he revealed he had nearly died as a result of his vaping habit.
Speaking June 2024 he said it was “a miracle” that he survived after collapsing at home last May. He spent a week in intensive care and had pneumonia during his stay at Whipps Cross Hospital in East London.
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A statement released on Thursday from Independent Creative Management said: “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.”
Paul Danan when he appeared on Celebrity Big Brother -Credit:2017 Karwai Tang / Getty
Paying tribute DJ Fat Tony called Paul Danan “one of the sweetest men” and said his death at 46 “hurts so bad”. On Instagram, the DJ said: “This hurts so bad god bless you Paul one of the sweetest men I’ve ever met what a sad day x.”
The star appeared on Celebrity Love Island in both 2005 and 2006, but failed to win either series. In 2017, he took part in Channel 5’s Celebrity Big Brother, where he was evicted early, and said at the time he hoped the series would give him a “second chance” at his career.
He regularly called for his return to Hollyoaks, and later began the podcast The Morning After With Paul Danan, which lasted from 2019 until 2023. His other appearances included E4’s Celebrity Coach Trip, and Channel 4 sketch comedy programme The Kevin Bishop Show.
But writing on Instagram in June last year he told how he had nearly died after collapsing. He said: “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.”
He added: “I was on a machine in ICU and ended up with pneumonia. My family were warned that I might not make it through the night. I’m so lucky.”
The star was told his vaping, following years of cigarette smoking, was the reason for his life-threatening condition. He said the doctor was “harsh” with him and told him how serious it was, warning him that if he ever smoked again he could be linked to an oxygen tank later in life.
Danan had given up smoking in 2021 but later admitted he had become “obsessed” with vapes. He had told how he would “always have one in my hand, I would even go to sleep with it, like a comfort thing”.
The actor, who has a son, Deniro, had also told of his battle with drugs saying he was introduced to cocaine when he was just 19. Speaking on The Dozen podcast with Liam Tuffs, he said it happened on his first day on the set of Hollyoaks.
He said: “The day I started there, someone and I am not going to say who, handed me an eighth of cocaine and I didn’t really know much about coke and he was like, ‘welcome.’ It was the first day, the first read through, I hadn’t even filmed anything.”