Glen Hansard dies in Dublin motorcycle crash

Glen Hansard, the Oscar-winning Irish singer-songwriter whose songs for the film “Once” brought him international acclaim, died early Wednesday in a motorcycle crash in Dublin, his management said. He was 56.

“With broken hearts we announce the passing of Glen Hansard who passed away, in the early hours of this morning, following a road traffic accident in Dublin,” ATC Management said in a statement. “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.”

Irish police said a man in his 50s died after a single-vehicle motorcycle crash on Lower Road in Lucan, west of Dublin. The crash was reported to emergency services shortly before 4:30 a.m. local time. The man was treated at the scene but was pronounced dead a short time later. Police are appealing for witnesses.

Hansard was born in Dublin in 1970, according to the BBC, and began busking on the city’s streets before moving into film and a wider music career. He made his acting debut as Outspan Foster in Alan Parker’s 1991 film “The Commitments,” about a soul band made up of working-class young people from Dublin. He had founded the rock band The Frames a year earlier and became its long-serving frontman.

He later starred opposite Czech musician Markéta Irglová in the 2007 low-budget musical film “Once,” in which the two played musicians who meet in Dublin and form a creative partnership. Hansard and Irglová co-wrote the film’s songs and won the 2008 Academy Award for best original song for “Falling Slowly.” The film won the World Cinema Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival. A Broadway adaptation featuring their songs ran from 2012 to 2015 and won eight Tony Awards, including best musical.

Hansard and Irglová also performed together as the rock duo The Swell Season. Hansard released five solo albums, including “Didn’t He Ramble,” which was nominated for a Grammy for best folk album in 2016. In 2002, he became the original presenter of Irish broadcaster RTÉ’s music series “Other Voices.”

He was also known for his charity work in Dublin. Hansard started the city’s annual Christmas Eve charity busk in 2010 in support of the Dublin Simon Community, which helps homeless people. The event drew high-profile musicians over the years, including Bono, Sinéad O’Connor, Imelda May and Shane MacGowan. At MacGowan’s funeral in 2023, Hansard performed The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York” with Irish singer Lisa O’Neill, prompting dancing in the church aisles.

The Dublin Simon Community said it was “devastated” by his death. “While known to many as a genius songwriter and storyteller, for us, he was threefold that, in his generosity, a true advocate for our work and a giant in the fight against homelessness,” the charity said.

Tributes also came from Ireland’s political and entertainment worlds. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he was “deeply saddened” and called Hansard “a talented musician and actor who made a significant contribution to Ireland’s cultural landscape over many years.” Andrew Strong, Hansard’s co-star in “The Commitments,” called the death “a truly senseless, tragic loss.” Actor Chris O’Dowd wrote: “Can’t believe Glen has left the world so terribly early.”

Hansard is survived by his wife and a 3-year-old son. In a 2023 BBC interview, he said fatherhood had “completely, in the greatest way possible, upturned everything that I know.”