Irish singer-songwriter and actor Glen Hansard has died at the age of 56 following a motorcycle accident in Dublin.
His management company, ATC Management, confirmed the news, saying his family was devastated by the sudden loss and asking for privacy. Irish authorities are continuing to investigate the single-vehicle crash and have appealed for witnesses to come forward.
Glen Hansard rose to prominence as the frontman of The Frames before achieving international recognition through The Swell Season and the acclaimed 2007 film Once. Alongside Markéta Irglová, he won the Academy Award for Best Original Song with “Falling Slowly,” a performance that helped turn Once into a global success and later inspired the Tony Award-winning Broadway adaptation.
Beyond his recording and acting career, Hansard was widely respected for his charity work, particularly his long-running Christmas Eve busking events supporting Dublin Simon Community. Tributes from across the music and film industries, as well as Irish political leaders including Prime Minister Micheál Martin, have praised both his artistic legacy and his lasting contribution to Irish culture.
