Glen Hansard, the acclaimed Irish musician and actor, has died at the age of 56. His management confirmed the news, stating he passed away following a motorcycle accident near Dublin, Ireland. The crash occurred early Wednesday morning, according to Irish Police.
Hansard was widely known as the lead singer of the popular Irish rock band The Frames. His career also included significant roles in film, notably in the 1991 movie "The Commitments," and he achieved international recognition when his song "Falling Slowly" from the 2006 film "Once" earned an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2008. He also starred in "Once" alongside Markéta Irglová.
Following the success of "Once," Hansard and Irglová released a black and white documentary that chronicled their lives and the impact of fame. Hansard's last acting credit was in Joe Wright's 2021 musical film "Cyrano," where he played a guard and contributed his singing voice.
Though not appearing on screen in "Sing Street," directed by his former bandmate John Carney, Hansard contributed to the film's music, co-writing the track "Go Now" that plays during the credits.
Fellow artists and fans have begun sharing tributes to Hansard. Actress Rachel Zegler posted on Instagram, remembering him as a friend and sharing photos of them performing together. The artist's impact on the music and film industries is widely acknowledged as he is mourned by fans globally.