Paul Danan's tragic regret after spiralling from Hollyoaks fame to fixing phones
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Paul Danan shot into the spotlight after taking part in Love Island, but it had a detrimental impact on his acting career. The Hollyoaks star has sadly passed away at the age of 46, his management announced this morning. A statement read: "It is with heavy hearts that we share the tragic news of the passing of @pauldanan 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." The actor rose to fame playing Sol Patrick in the Channel 4 soap between 1997 and 2001.
As he tried to break away from the soap, Paul went on to appear on reality TV shows Celebrity Love Island and Celebrity Big Brother. In 2005, he was an islander alongside the likes of Calum Best and Rebecca Loos. The series was won by Jayne Middlemiss and Fran Cosgrave. But while it did well for some stars, it only set Paul back in acting.
While on an episode of the Dozen podcast in November 2024, he reflected on his career choices. Speaking about life after being in the villa, he said: "I've never known fame like it. I've never seen people go so mental. Four years on a soap opera - that was nothing compared to these six weeks [in terms] of the stature of fame.".
Host Liam Tuffs asked: "So Love Island was the one that skyrocketed you into fame?" Paul, who returned for the second series in 2006, said: "Like ridiculously." He said that it was "mental" that he was on the cover of magazines and said it became "too much," saying that he hadn't ever wanted to be famous. He added: "I just want to be respected as an actor.".
