Glen Hansard, Oscar-winning singer-songwriter, dies at 56 in motorcycle crash near Dublin

Glen Hansard, the Oscar-winning Irish singer-songwriter and actor best known for Once, The Frames and the song “Falling Slowly,” has died at 56 after a single-vehicle motorcycle crash near Dublin, according to Irish police and multiple media reports. The Associated Press reported that police said a man in his 50s died in the crash in Lucan, on Dublin’s western outskirts, before 4:30 a.m. Wednesday. Hansard was identified as the person who died. Police treated the motorcyclist at the scene and pronounced him dead there.

Hansard’s family and management said in a statement that they were “deeply shocked and heartbroken” and asked for privacy as the investigation continues. “Glen’s family is deeply shocked and heartbroken by this tragic loss and respectfully requests privacy at this extremely difficult time. The family is grateful for the support they have received and wishes to thank the emergency services who attended the scene. As this matter remains the subject of an active Garda investigation, no further comment will be made at this time.” Gardaí, Ireland’s police, are investigating the crash and have appealed for witnesses.

Born in Dublin on April 21, 1970, Hansard became one of the most recognizable figures in modern Irish music, first as the founder and longtime frontman of The Frames and later as the star of the 2007 film Once. He co-wrote “Falling Slowly” with Markéta Irglová; the song won the Academy Award for best original song in 2008 and made Hansard an international name.

His career stretched across film, bands and solo work, but remained closely tied to Dublin. AP noted that Hansard also appeared in Alan Parker’s 1991 film The Commitments, an early screen role that helped introduce him to wider audiences. With The Frames, he built a devoted following over years as one of Ireland’s best-known live acts, admired for emotionally direct songwriting and a fiercely independent spirit.

Hansard’s partnership with Irglová extended beyond Once through The Swell Season, the duo whose music became inseparable from the film’s success. Once, a modestly budgeted Dublin-set musical romance, became a breakout hit and gave Hansard his widest global audience. “Falling Slowly” outlasted the film as a modern standard, while Hansard’s reputation as a songwriter and performer continued through his solo career.

His solo albums included Rhythm and Repose in 2012 and Didn’t He Ramble in 2015. AP reported that Didn’t He Ramble was nominated for a Grammy Award for best folk album, further cementing a career that moved easily between Irish rock, folk and film music without losing its intimate scale.

Tributes quickly reflected both his national stature and his international reach. Ireland’s Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, called Hansard “a talented musician and actor who made a significant contribution to Ireland’s cultural landscape over many years.” The Sundance Institute also mourned him in a Bluesky post, writing: “We are saddened by the passing of Glen Hansard, the musician, songwriter, and star of ‘Once.’ Earlier this week, we lost an artist whose music and performances brought people together around the world.”

For many in Dublin, Hansard’s importance went beyond records, awards or film credits. He remained a visible presence in the city’s music community, especially through the annual Christmas Eve charity busk outside the Gaiety Theatre, which raised money for the Dublin Simon Community, a homelessness charity.

That mix of local commitment and international acclaim made Hansard a singular figure in Irish culture: a working musician who became a global success, yet stayed rooted in the city and scene that shaped him.