Oscar Winner Glen Hansard, 'Once' Singer-Songwriter, Dies at 56 in Dublin Motorcycle Crash

Irish singer-songwriter Glen Hansard, celebrated for his Academy Award-winning work on the 2007 film "Once," has died at the age of 56 following a motorcycle accident on the outskirts of Dublin.

According to Irish police, the crash occurred in the early hours of Wednesday near Lucan, on Dublin's western fringe, when a man in his 50s lost control of his motorcycle in a single-vehicle collision. Emergency responders treated him at the scene, but he was pronounced dead shortly after. Officials had not officially confirmed the victim's identity in their initial statement, though Hansard's management later verified the news.

Hansard's talent agency, ATC Management, announced the loss in a statement to Irish broadcaster RTÉ, describing his family as devastated by the sudden tragedy.

Born in Ballymun, Dublin, in 1970, Hansard first stepped into the spotlight as a busker on the city's streets before landing a breakout role in the 1991 film "The Commitments," where he played guitarist Outspan Foster. Music, however, remained his true calling - he fronted the rock band The Frames for decades and later formed The Swell Season with actress-musician Markéta Irglová.

It was his collaboration with Irglová on "Once," a low-budget musical about two struggling musicians, that brought him global recognition. The duo co-wrote "Falling Slowly," which won the Oscar for Best Original Song in 2008 and later inspired a Tony-winning Broadway adaptation of the film.

Beyond his onscreen success, Hansard built a reputation as one of Ireland's most community-rooted artists. He was known for spearheading the annual Christmas Eve busking tradition outside Dublin's Gaiety Theatre, an event that raised funds for homelessness charities and drew top Irish musicians onto the street each year.

Tributes poured in quickly after news of his death broke. Bruce Springsteen, who once brought Hansard onstage to perform alongside him in Kilkenny, wrote on Instagram that he was heartbroken, remembering him as a generous and gracious friend. Ireland's President Catherine Connolly praised Hansard as one of the driving forces of Irish music, while former President Michael D. Higgins highlighted his lifelong commitment to social causes. Actor Chris O'Dowd, his former "Commitments" co-star, also shared a personal tribute honoring Hansard's soulful voice and lasting influence on fans.

Hansard is survived by his wife, Finnish poet Maire Saaritsa, whom he married in 2022, and their young son, Christy.