At 56: Glen Hansard passes away in a motorcycle accident
Hansard, lead singer of The Frames and star of the film "Once", was killed in a motorcycle accident early in the morning. The police in Ireland are asking witnesses to provide information.
Irish musician Glen Hansard, an Oscar winner for the song Falling Slowly, has died in a motorcycle accident in Dublin at the age of 56. According to a statement from ATC Management, which represented him, Hansard was killed early in the morning in a traffic incident within the city.
"It is with a broken heart that we announce the death of Glen Hansard, who passed away early this morning following a traffic accident in Dublin," the company stated.
Glen's family is shocked and heartbroken by this tragic loss and has requested privacy during this difficult time. The family expressed gratitude for the support received and thanked the emergency services that arrived at the scene. Irish police have appealed to witnesses to provide information regarding the accident, which involved only one vehicle. The incident occurred west of Dublin and was reported to emergency services early in the morning.
Hansard was the lead singer of the rock band The Frames, starred in the film The Commitments as Outspan Foster, and was one half of the duo The Swell Season. Born in Dublin in 1970, he performed as a street musician before landing his role in The Commitments. In 2008, Hansard won the Oscar for Best Original Song for Falling Slowly, which he wrote for the low-budget film Once. In the 2007 film, he starred alongside Czech musician Markéta Irglová; the two played musicians who meet in Dublin, create music together, and perform under the name The Swell Season. The film won the World Cinema Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival, and its Broadway adaptation later won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
Later in his career, Hansard released solo albums, including Didn't He Ramble, which was nominated for a 2016 Grammy for Best Folk Album. In 2002, he became the original host of Other Voices, a music series by the Irish broadcaster RTÉ. He collaborated with artists including Eddie Vedder, Bono, Sinéad O'Connor, Eddi Reader, and Lisa Hannigan, and was deeply involved in annual Christmas Eve charity events for the Dublin Simon community.
"On to the next journey, friend. You fulfilled all your dreams," wrote Mike Scott, lead singer of The Waterboys, adding: "I am so sorry that he leaves behind a wife and a 3-year-old child." Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin expressed his deep sadness, describing Hansard as a talented musician and actor who made a significant contribution to Ireland's cultural landscape for many years. Martin added: "My sincere condolences to his family, friends, and fans."
