Actor Paul Danan was found dead on his sofa at his home in Bristol, England, on January 15, after taking a fatal combination of prescription and illicit drugs, according to a coroner’s ruling delivered this week. The 46-year-old star of the British soap opera “Hollyoaks” and reality television shows was discovered unresponsive in front of his television at 5:20 p.m. local time.

Assistant Coroner Deborah Rookes concluded at Avon Coroner’s Court in May in Flax Bourton that Danan’s death was ruled as misadventure. A postmortem examination revealed his death resulted from the combined toxicity of heroin, methadone, codeine, pregabalin, cocaine and zopiclone, with benzodiazepine use contributing to the fatal outcome. The coroner determined that while none of the drugs were found in high levels individually, their combined effect resulted in fatal respiratory depression.

The actor’s body was discovered at his first-floor flat in Brislington, Bristol, after his partner Melissa Crooks raised the alarm when she could not reach him following a night out drinking on January 14. A ladder was used to gain entry to his apartment, where Danan was found slumped on the sofa with the television still on. Emergency services attended the scene and confirmed his death, with Crooks identifying his body at the location.

Rookes emphasized during the hearing that there was no evidence Danan intended to take his own life. She noted that the actor had suffered an accidental overdose in May 2024 but had been adamant at the time that it was unintentional. The coroner indicated that although Danan had occasional suicidal thoughts, he had no active plans to harm himself. Rookes stated, “Paul Danan was clearly much loved and is very much missed.”

In a written statement read at the inquest, Danan’s mother Beverley Danan described her son as someone who helped many people from all walks of life but could not help himself in the same way. She indicated that his smiling face and love of life would always be remembered. The coroner noted that Danan had maintained a long history of drug misuse and struggles with mental health issues dating back to his early twenties.

Danan had been scheduled to appear for a plea hearing at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on January 16, the day after his death, facing charges of cocaine and cannabis possession. He was also accused of driving under the influence of drugs on October 2 in Warrington, Cheshire. The actor had openly discussed his substance abuse struggles, including an appearance on ITV’s “The Jeremy Kyle Show” in 2019, where he acknowledged battling addiction since his teenage years.

Born to a Moroccan Jewish family in Essex, Danan rose to prominence playing Sol Patrick on Channel 4’s “Hollyoaks” from 1997 to 2001. He later became known for his reality television appearances, including “Celebrity Big Brother” in 2017 and “Celebrity Love Island” in 2005 and 2006. The actor also appeared on various other programs including “Celebrity Coach Trip” and “The Kevin Bishop Show.”

During his career struggles with addiction, Danan admitted to spending more than £1 million on rehabilitation and recovery efforts over the years. In 2019, he indicated he had to work hard every day to maintain his recovery. Despite his personal challenges, Danan launched drama classes in Bristol in 2020 for former convicts and adults struggling with mental health issues, addiction or trauma.

Following his death, Independent Creative Management described Danan as a beacon of light to many people, noting his television presence, exceptional talent and unwavering kindness. The agency indicated his untimely departure would leave irreplaceable voids in the lives of those who knew him.

Calum Best, son of footballer George Best and Danan’s co-star on various reality programs, characterized him as one of the funniest, kindest and most authentic people he had known. Best noted that while life was not always easy for Danan, he faced challenges with heart and courage that inspired many others.

The actor’s death came approximately six months after he was hospitalized for respiratory failure, which he later confirmed resulted from excessive vaping. Following that incident, Danan had expressed determination to lead a healthier lifestyle and indicated he felt ready to advance his career while being in the best mental state he had experienced in years.