Who Was Glen Hansard? ‘Once’ Star and ‘Falling Slowly’ Oscar Winner Dies at 56

Glen Hansard, the Irish musician and actor who starred in the 2007 indie film Once and won the Best Original Song Oscar for “Falling Slowly,” died early Wednesday morning in a motorcycle crash in Dublin. He was 56.

His management company ATC Management confirmed the Glen Hansard news in a statement issued hours after the accident. “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,” the statement read. “Glen’s family is deeply shocked and heartbroken by this tragic loss and respectfully requests privacy at this extremely difficult time.”

The Glen Hansard death sent shockwaves across Ireland, the global music community, and millions of fans who had first discovered him through “Falling Slowly,” a song that changed his life and theirs.

Glen Hansard Dies at 56 in Dublin Motorcycle Crash

The 56-year-old died following a single-vehicle crash at the Strawberry Beds near Lucan in West Dublin, just before 4:30 a.m. The location is a quiet stretch of Lower Road between Tinkers Hill and Rugged Lane, a road along the River Liffey on the outskirts of the city.

Gardaí confirmed that the motorcyclist, a man in his 50s, was treated at the scene but was pronounced deceased a short time later. The scene was preserved for examination by Garda forensic collision investigators, and local traffic diversions were put in place.

Irish police are calling for witnesses and the investigation remains active. The family said: “As this matter remains the subject of an active Garda investigation, no further comment will be made at this time.”

The glen hansard motorcycle accident was a single-vehicle collision, no other vehicles were reported to be involved.

Who Was Glen Hansard?

The singer-songwriter began busking on the streets of his native Dublin as a teenager before forming the popular Irish band The Frames in 1990.

Raised in Ballymun in north Dublin, Hansard might never have become a professional musician had his headmaster not recognised his talent and suggested he start busking with his guitar. That decision turned into a decades-long career that would eventually reach the Academy Awards stage.

Career timeline at a glance:

Hansard played Outspan Foster in The Commitments, the 1991 Alan Parker film based on Roddy Doyle’s first novel, while simultaneously pursuing a career in music, first with The Frames, then as part of the duo The Swell Season, and also as a solo artist.

The Frames became a cornerstone of Irish alternative rock through the 1990s and 2000s, making regular appearances at major music festivals including Oxegen and Electric Picnic, with their indie songs becoming staples of alternative rock radio.

Why Was Glen Hansard Famous? The Once Movie and Beyond

Many people know the song before they know the name. For millions of listeners worldwide, glen hansard’s voice is the sound of Falling Slowly, even if they could not have told you who sang it.

Glen Hansard starred in the 2007 film Once, a low-budget Irish romantic musical drama written and directed by John Carney. He played a Dublin street musician who falls in love with a young Czech immigrant. The film was shot on handheld cameras for a fraction of a standard Hollywood budget and became a critical and commercial sensation.

Once later became a celebrated Broadway musical, further cementing Hansard’s place in popular culture beyond Ireland.

What is “Falling Slowly”? The Oscar-Winning Song Explained

“Falling Slowly” is the duet at the heart of Once. Glen hansard wrote it with Markéta Irglová,  his co-star in the film and his musical partner in The Swell Season.

He and Irglová won the Best Original Song Oscar in 2008 for “Falling Slowly.” The win was considered one of the great underdog stories in Academy Awards history, a small Irish film, made with almost no money, beating major studio productions for Hollywood’s most prestigious music prize.

At the ceremony, Irglová was famously cut off during her acceptance speech. Host Jon Stewart brought her back out after the commercial break to finish her remarks, a moment that became part of Oscar night lore.

Hansard himself once said of the song: “It was one of those tunes I wrote in three minutes and wasn’t really into, but everyone I played it to went wild.”

The Swell Season, the duo Hansard formed with Irglová, recorded two albums and toured extensively on the back of Once‘s success. Their partnership, musical and personal, was documented in the 2011 concert film The Swell Season.

Glen Hansard’s Wife and Family

Hansard is survived by his wife, Máire Saaritsa, and their 3-year-old son, Christy.

In 2020, Hansard married Máire Saaritsa, and the couple became parents to a boy, Christy, in 2022. Reflecting on life as a parent, Hansard said that it meant a “complete perspective shift.”

Irish President Michael D. Higgins expressed his deepest condolences to Glen’s wife Máire, to his son Christy, and to all his family, friends, bandmates, fellow musicians, and fans.

The family has requested privacy as the Garda investigation continues.

Tributes Pour-in from Around the World

The reaction to glen hansard’s death has been immediate and deeply felt, from the Irish government to fellow musicians to fans who saw him perform in small venues decades ago.

• Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin: “Deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Glen Hansard. A talented musician and actor who made a significant contribution to Ireland’s cultural landscape over many years. My sincere sympathies to his family, friends, and fans.”
• Irish President Michael D. Higgins: Higgins paid tribute to Hansard’s “extraordinary talent, integrity and compassion,” saying he used his music to shine a light on social injustice and foster community.
• Victoria Mary Clarke, widow of Shane MacGowan: “The most loving man, the most thoughtful man, the most compassionate and generous man. Somebody who cared about people on an epic level, like more than anyone I had ever met.”
• Rachel Zegler: The stage and screen star wrote: “Oh I will love you forever. Rest now, my friend,” accompanying her post with photos of herself and Hansard on stage and backstage.
• National Concert Hall, Dublin: “An artist of extraordinary talent, integrity and compassion, Glen used his music to shine a light on social injustice, celebrate our shared humanity and foster a sense of community. His remarkable contribution to music and culture, both in Ireland and internationally, leaves an enduring legacy.”

Broadcaster Dave Fanning called Glen Hansard one of Ireland’s best-ever songwriters. Fans online recalled seeing him in small Dublin venues long before Once made him internationally known, and many noted that he always remained exactly the same person he had been on the streets of the city as a teenager.

One fan wrote: “Absolutely gutted to hear the passing of Glen Hansard. He gave a voice to the voiceless upcoming artists, in fact gave Dermot Kennedy his early break.”

Aslan, whose frontman Christy Dignam died in 2023, said: “We are absolutely devastated to hear of the tragic passing of the incredibly talented Glen Hansard. The news has completely floored us. Glen was a remarkable artist whose music touched so many lives.”

Glen Hansard’s Legacy

Glen hansard was not simply a musician who had a famous moment. He was someone whose entire life was built around music as a form of community, service, and truth-telling.

Throughout his career, Glen made a particular effort to keep alive the work of those who came before him, preserving the songs of previous generations of Irish musicians and singers, including departed friends like Mic Christopher and Fergus O’Farrell.

He was also known for his humanitarian work. Former Late Late Show presenter Ryan Tubridy said: “Apart from his talent as an artist, he also cared. He cared about the homeless and he cared about Ireland. The Oscar, the achievements and the humanity were all part of a life well lived.”

Hansard had been due to headline the Púca Festival on October 29 in Trim, Co Meath. That performance will now never happen. But his music, recorded across four decades, from The Frames’ earliest work to his 2023 solo album, remains.

He started with a guitar on the streets of Dublin. He ended with an Oscar, a family, and a body of work that will outlast all of it.

FAQs

How did Glen Hansard die?
Glen Hansard died following a single-vehicle motorcycle crash at the Strawberry Beds near Lucan in west Dublin, in the early hours of Wednesday, July 29, 2026. Emergency services were alerted shortly before 4:30 a.m. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.

How old was Glen Hansard?
Glen Hansard was 56 years old at the time of his death. He was born in Dublin in 1970.

Was Glen Hansard married?
Yes. Glen Hansard married Máire Saaritsa in 2020. The couple had a son, Christy, born in 2022.

What song made Glen Hansard famous?
“Falling Slowly,” a duet written with Markéta Irglová for the 2007 film Once, brought Hansard to international attention and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2008.

Did Glen Hansard win an Oscar?
Yes. Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2008 for “Falling Slowly” from the film Once.

What band was Glen Hansard in?
Glen Hansard was the lead singer and founder of The Frames, which he formed in 1990. He also performed as one half of the duo The Swell Season alongside Markéta Irglová, and released several solo albums.

Was Glen Hansard in Once?
Yes. Glen Hansard starred in and co-wrote the music for the 2007 Irish film Once, directed by John Carney. He played a Dublin busker who falls in love with a young Czech immigrant.

What was Glen Hansard’s last album?
His most recent solo album was All That Was East Is West of Me Now, released in 2023.