The wildest tales from Paul Danan's VERY eventful life: From what REALLY happened on that Kate Moss ad, to a legendary night with Sopranos star James Gandolfini... before his tragic death aged just 46

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Paul Danan's death at the age of 46 sent shockwaves across the showbiz industry after it was revealed he had passed away on Thursday.

The actor's larger than life personality was well documented and he hit the headlines on numerous occasions as one of the UK's wildest stars.

It was reported that Paul died just hours before he was slated to appear in court facing drug charges, following an ongoing battle with substance abuse.

Prior to his death, Paul suffered a string of struggles and hardships, including going drug withdrawal on a television show, overdosing on heroin, and coming close to death after becoming 'obsessed with vaping.'

Paul was best known for his role on the Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks, but he was also at the centre of some controversial TV moments, including fiery clashes on both Celebrity Love Island and Celebrity Big Brother.

The star also crossed paths with a string of stars, once detailing a wild night out with The Sopranos legend James Gandolfini.

Paul Danan's death at the age of 46 sent shockwaves across the showbiz industry after it was revealed he had passed away on Thursday (stock image) 

The actor's larger than life personality was well documented and he hit the headlines on numerous occasions as one of the UK's wildest stars (stock image) 

His story also includes unlikely meetings with names such as George Michael and Madonna - tales which he detailed as he regaled his life in a podcast just seven months before his tragic death.

And while he earned much of his early fortune as a cast member on the Channel 4 soap, he also made a hefty sum appearing in a Rimmel London advert.

Paul starred in the memorable advert alongside non other than Kate Moss, admitting years later that the money helped to pay for his house - and that they also 'got up to no good'.

So, as a string of stars share their own moving tributes to Paul, MailOnline takes a look at the life and times of Paul...

A wild night out with James Gandolfini

As he made moves stateside, Paul came into contact with Hollywood's elite.

But it was a raucous night out with Sopranos star James Gandolfini, who he met because they had the same agent, which was particularly memorable.

Speaking on podcast The Dozen with Liam Tuffs last May, Paul opened up about the things he got up to when he was in the thralls of addiction. 

Mentioning his night out with James, who died aged 51 in 2013, Paul made the shock revelation that he had snorted cocaine off a 'big knife' the American actor owned. 

Paul said that the Tony Soprano actor had got in touch and asked him to plan a big weekend for him as he was coming to London. 

'I told my brother because I didn't watch Sopranos at the time and my brother and my friend were obsessed,' he said. 'They were like "No f***ing way is he coming, please let us come!" 

'So I said alright and we got to the hotel room and he's there and he pulls out this big blade, because he carries a knife everywhere he goes because of growing up in New York. Like how did you get that through customs, I just don't get it?'

Paul said he had been in discussions to star in a film alongside James so took him out to celebrate - however the film was never made. 

As he made moves stateside, Paul came in contact with Hollywood's elite - but it was his wild night out with Sopranos star James Gandolfini, who he met because they had the same agent, which was particularly memorable

He added: 'We take him out to to Soho House and Chinawhites and my friend Pete - God rest his soul - had all the best cocaine in the world and James just pulled out all this money and must have bought I think five or six grams. 

'He left one or two at the hotel and brought the rest and poured it on the knife. And Tony Soprano is basically feeding us with his knife.'

Paul continued: 'We get to Chinawhites and literally they parted ways - I've never seen people react like this when you walk in with someone like him. We had this booth and we had the best night ever but he sneaked off and I ended up meeting the best girl that night and taking so much drugs - it was brilliant.

'Then I said to the guys "Come on I've got a bit of money, let's stay in the same hotel as him because he's still got two grams left in the room!" And he put down his credit card and bought us all the drinks - bottles and bottles and bottles, like thousands.

'I'm s**gging and we're all in the same room, it was crazy.' 

Shocking TV moments 

Paul became known for his stints on various reality shows including the first series of Love Island and having his own show with Calum Best and Fran Cosgrave.

He also appeared on Celebrity Big Brother - where he famously came to blows with eventual winner Sarah Harding.

Paul claimed he needed therapy after taking part in Celebrity Coach Trip in 2022.

Paul appeared in the first series of Celebrity Love Island in 2005 alongside the likes of Abi Titmuss, Rebecca Loos and Calum Best.

At one point, Paul became so violent that some of the other islanders reportedly refused to sleep in the same room as him. 

Paul and Fran eventually made up though as they, along with Calum Best, appeared on the ITV2 show Calum, Fran and Dangerous Danan in 2006.

Paul originally rose to fame as Sol Patrick on the Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks from 1997 to 2001

During his time on Love Island in 2005, Paul (left) came to blows with Fran Cosgrave (right), a nightclub manager and a former manager of Westlife

The series followed the trio as they travelled from Texas to Los Angeles on America's U.S. Route 66.

It was on this series that Paul ended up squaring off with Calum as the pair got into a drunken fight where punches were thrown. 

In one scene from the show, Paul slapped Calum across the face while they were in a bar. They were later seen pushing and shoving each other outside.

Paul shouted: 'Who the f**k do you think you are? I'll f***ing kill you' as they brawled.

In 2007, he was memorably sacked from a production of Jack and the Beanstalk in Preston, where he had been invited to turn on the Christmas lights, after offering a sweary but characteristically enthusiastic greeting to the assembled crowd.

In front of 3,000 parents and children, he said: 'Come on you motherf******!'

He was hit with an £80 fine on the spot and was sacked from his panto gig. 

Another one of Paul's most memorable TV moments came over a decade later when he appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2017.

The soap star came to blows with late Girls Aloud singer Sarah after fellow housemate Brandi Glanville told him: 'Sarah said that you were taking a pill', apparently referring to a painkiller.

Paul, who was open about his battle with drug addiction, became infuriated and confronted Sarah who was sat in the garden smoking area. 

'Don't ever insinuate a pill I'm taking,' he said. 'Don't ever say or predict or assume or insinuate I'm taking any kind of tablet.'

'You need to calm down,' Sarah said, to which he replied: 'How dare you sink that low, what's your f***ing problem? How dare you, you're f***ing out of order.'

'I didn't say anything,' Sarah said. 'I just heard it from five people,' Paul shouted. 'Don't you f***ing dare do that, you're f***ing out of order. You want to hit low? Go below the belt? 

'You ain't got a f***ing clue. I'm the one that's clean and sober, what the f**k are you doing?'

Paul and Fran eventually made up though as they, along with Calum Best, appeared on the ITV2 show Calum, Fran and Dangerous Danan in 2006

It was on this series that Paul ended up squaring off with Calum as the pair got into a drunken fight where punches were thrown

Paul became the fifth housemate evicted on Day 18 while Sarah went on to win the show. She died of breast cancer aged 39 in 2021. 

Paul memorably appeared on The Jeremy Kyle Show in 2019 to discuss his battles with addiction.

The actor recalled a time his parents saved his life after he snorted heroin, thinking it to be cocaine - something which shocked Jeremy.

Paul revealed on the show that he had been to rehab 17 times: '[Rehab does] work, they're amazing, they've saved my life plenty of times but it's maintenance and it's about maintaining that recovery and not putting anything before that recovery, even my little boy who I love to death.'

He admitted that he last checked himself into rehab on his birthday the summer before.

'So I went there for about two months and stayed good for about three then relapsed about a month ago.

'I just did, I thought I'll have a beer, it was hot and the weather was good, it was just one of those things but now I'm back on track again. Next week, I don't know. I know I don't want to live in that world because it's horrible.'

In 2007, he was memorably sacked from a production of Jack and the Beanstalk in Preston, after offering a sweary but characteristically enthusiastic greeting to the assembled crowd

Another one of Paul's most memorable TV moments came over a decade later when he appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2017

The soap star came to blows with Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding after he was told the singer had said he was 'taking a pill' 

Paul memorably appeared on The Jeremy Kyle Show in 2019 to discuss his battles with addiction

'I could still do my work and I could still party and that. I would never smoke while I worked but the night before I'd have a joint or I'd learn my lines [for Hollyoaks] and celebrate by getting stoned,' he said. 

'When I left Hollyoaks and when I started to have a bit of time off I'd do [cocaine] and it's an invisible line and when you cross it it's hard to go back. I've got an addictive personality and if I like something I want more of it.'     

One of his last reality TV appearances was Celebrity Coach Trip in 2022. 

The series featured a variety of celebrity couples on a 10-day tour, the couples get to vote off the other couples that they do not get along with.

Paul admitted he was left needed therapy after the show, saying: 'I had to get a bit of counselling. It taps into a lot of stuff – like rejection. It's brutal.'    

Mingling with Hollywood's elite

Paul spoke about how he was cast in Cheaper By The Dozen with Steve Martin as the boyfriend of one of the actor's children - but the director bumped into Ashton Kutcher and instead offered it to him. 

'It had happened to me before with Orlando Bloom on a film called Calcium Kid where I got the part and the casting director said in the end "Look we're going to go with Orlando" because he had been in The Hobbit. And it's Ashton Kutcher, you know.'

But he went on to describe his more positive celebrity interactions as he recounted his trip to the MTV European Music Awards in Milan with pals The Prodigy.

Paul revealed he partied with the likes of Madonna, George Michael and all of the Spice Girls at Donatella Versace's house. 

Paul revealed he was cast in Calcium Kid before ultimately being replaced by Orlando Bloom (Pictured)

'Before I moved to LA I was really into The Prodigy. I was kind of friendly with Liam a little bit, and Kitty, who is Maxim the MC. I used to go and watch them live and stuff and I knew that they were up for an award at the MTV Awards in Milan.'

Paul revealed he convinced the Hollyoaks producers to sort him tickets for him and a co-star to head out for the awards and 'represent Hollyoaks'. 

'I got to the awards and watching it there's Madonna, George Michael winning all these awards and The Prodigy win best dance act, wicked, they win the award,' he said. 

'Then there's a little after thing afterwards that we had tickets for, in the venue. We're having a drink and there's Liam and the guys and Louis and I'm like "What you up to, what's going on now". They're like "Yeah we've got something do you want to come with us?".'

Recalling the trip to the after party, Paul said: 'We get in the minibus, driving through Milan and we pull up to this f***ing incredible house. And they're like "This is Donatella Versace's house". I was like what no way! There was this red carpet that went on for ages.

'So we go up one floor and there's all there's all these tables and waiters and we're on the Maverick table which is Madonna's label because they had just signed The Prodigy on her label Maverick for America release. 

But he went on to describe his more positive celebrity interactions as he recounted his trip to the MTV European Music Awards in Milan with pals The Prodigy where he partied with Madonna (Pictured that night) 

'So we're on Madonna's table. So I'm sitting down it's me, The Prodigy guys, Tasha, because Liam liked her, then Madonna - she just comes and sits down, that's her place. 

He added: 'Then the next minute there's this guy just goes "So, so" like that and I'm like "Who is it?" and I swear on my life, it's George Michael calling like "Come here". he's sat at another table and he says "Me and Kenny we love you, we watch you every Sunday, we just wanted to say we love your character." I was like "Thanks so much you're amazing".

'There was The Spice Girls and Lenny Kravitz. It was literally everyone, but llike the coolest. There was Pras from the Fugees. There was Pharrell but no one really knew him back then. After the dinner we go upstairs to a nightclub.'

A Rimmel London ad that paid for his house

Paul previously revealed that his small role in a Rimmel London advert earned him enough cash to pay for his house.

In 2001, Paul starred as a graffiti artist opposite supermodel Kate Moss in an advert for the British make-up brand.

The advert sees Kate strutting into a nightclub, where she catches the eye of Paul's character.

Paul then draws a tag on her face using a Rimmel London lipstick, before a confident Kate struts away.

Paul previously revealed that his small role in a Rimmel London advert earned him enough cash to pay for his house

In 2001, Paul starred as a graffiti artist opposite supermodel Kate Moss in an advert for the British make-up brand 

Back in May, Paul discussed how the success of the advert earned him enough income to buy a house.

Speaking on The Dozen with Liam Tuffs podcast, he also reflected on spending three days with Kate on-set, admitting they 'got up to no good' on set.

He said: 'I owned that because I did this Kate Moss advert, which really did me well.

'I did this Rimmel advert with her where I played this graffiti artist, and I had to draw a tag on her face with the lipstick, and it did really well and sold to 22 countries, and because it's her, it bought me my place and I was really lucky. 

'It was brilliant doing that. Kate was special she was so amazing, we got up to no good together.'

Speaking on The Dozen with Liam Tuffs podcast, he also reflected on spending three days with Kate on-set, admitting they 'got up to no good' on set

Drug withdrawal on Celebrity Love Island

Paul took part in the first series of Celebrity Love Island in 2005 alongside the likes of Abi Titmuss, Rebecca Loos and Calum Best.

During his time on the show, Paul came to blows with Fran Cosgrave, a nightclub manager and a former manager of Westlife. 

Fran took issue with Paul - who became known as 'Dangeorus Danan' for his antics - for drunken comments he made about some of the female islanders.

Speaking to Vice, Fran said: 'When I came out, my Mum was like, 'I'm so glad you didn't hit that boy. 

'He got right up in my face but then security separated us. He was screaming and blinding while being dragged away.'

At one point, Paul became so violent that some of the other islanders reportedly refused to sleep in the same room as him. 

Paul took part in the first series of Celebrity Love Island in 2005 alongside the likes of Abi Titmuss, Rebecca Loos and Calum Best

At one point, Paul became so violent that some of the other islanders reportedly refused to sleep in the same room as him

Paul later admitted on the Teenage Diary Podcast that he was going through drug withdrawal while on the show 

Paul later admitted on the Teenage Diary Podcast that he was going through drug withdrawal while on the show.

'I remember actually crawling to the beach hut in the first few days and I was shivering and shaking, going, "Oh my god, I don't know what's going on with me," he said.

The actor also had a flirty relationship with glamour model Abi while on the show and was seen cupping her breast while they were in bed together.

Paul later confessed that it was his stint on Celebrity Love Island that made it more difficult for him to land other acting roles, as producers continued to view him as a reality TV star.

Looking back on that period in his life, Paul told MailOnline: 'It was a detriment to my acting career because it didn't help. Maybe if I had stayed in the background and didn't make a big splash, I would probably have been alright. But you know me, if I'm on a show, I'm going to give it my all and be TV gold.

'It didn't help with my acting career because suddenly people were like 'oh, we don't want to hire a reality star' Casting directors were a bit snobby like that, they don't people want to see me on a TV show thinking 'isn't that the guy from Love Island?'

'It wasn't good for my acting career and it took a long time to get that back. I don't know if it's even fully redeemed even all these years later.

'Back then in 2005/6/7, if you're going to be on a reality show, that's what you were known for. People suddenly forgot that I was on Hollyoaks for four years and that I was in films and did theatre and was classically trained.

'Suddenly when you make such a big splash on a reality show... that is so powerful. It's just six weeks but suddenly casting directors are like 'we can't have him because he was on that Love Island!''

His 'Pulp Fiction' moment   

Paul got candid as he revealed he almost died when he overdosed on heroin right out of rehab and paramedics were forced to inject him with opioid antidote.

He recalled how he was ‘lucky to be alive’ in the heartbreaking interview from just seven months before his tragic death.

'I went to that rehab where Robbie (Williams) went,' he said. 'I really really enjoyed rehab. Both being with my tribe, like-minded people but I enjoyed being clean.'

However his release was short-lasted after news broke of his addiction in the papers.

'A week before my graduation there was a message from my agent saying "One of the guys in your group has sold you out to the News Of The World". They told them all my personal stuff that I'd said in group so my trust went really down.'

Paul revealed he was devastated as he had been enjoying his sobriety. Angry, he later demanded to know who it was that had ratted him out, threatening to throw a chair at the group. 

Paul got candid as he revealed he almost died when he overdosed on heroin right out of rehab and paramedics were forced to inject him with opioid antidote (Pictured in 2006)

He was thrown out of rehab for 'threatening behaviour' and he never discovered who told the paper about his story. 

Paul then got straight in a taxi, went to Brixton, scored drugs and stayed in a Chigwell hotel, before embarking on a two-day bender.

'I could have died from relapsing that night,' he said. 

'They gave me my keys and car and I detoured and got some gear, some coke. I got a bag of brown [heroin] which I'd never done before. 

'I snorted it and shouldn't have snorted it because that's dangerous. I ended up having an overdose really bad.'

Paul returned home and went to bed but his parents realised something was wrong and called an ambulance.

He said: 'My mum found me and I couldn't breath, it was terrible. Apparently my mum heard me gagging on my last breath. She came into the room and couldn't wake me up. 

'My little brother was next door which was the saddest thing about it because still to this day he's been traumatised by it. 

'She called the ambulance and luckily they were parked down the end of the road. They came and said what has he taken and she said he doesn't do drugs. They knew they had to give me the antidote. F**k me, it was Pulp Fiction.

He added: 'All I could see was my dad's face at the end of the ambulance. My mum said to me she'd already said goodbye to me. I saw my dad's face and could see this look of absolute disgust and hate, but relief, 'Oh my God, he's alive.'