Oscar-winning 'Once' singer-songwriter Glen Hansard dies in motorcycle accident

Glen Hansard, the Irish singer-songwriter and actor famously known for the 2007 film "Once," has died following a motorcycle accident. His management company, ATC Management, confirmed his death on Tuesday, stating that his family is in shock and mourning. The accident occurred early Tuesday morning near the Strawberry Beds in Lucan, west Dublin. Hansard was the sole rider in the single-vehicle incident and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police are investigating the exact circumstances of the crash and are seeking witnesses and dashcam footage. Born in Dublin in 1970, Hansard began his career as a busker in his teenage years before forming the rock band The Frames in 1990. He also acted in the 2002 film "The Commitments." His international breakthrough came with "Once," where he starred alongside Markéta Irlová. The duo wrote and performed "Falling Slowly," which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2008. They also performed together as The Swell Season and toured internationally, including in South Korea. Hansard continued with a successful solo career, releasing albums such as "Rhythm and Repose" and "Didn't He Ramble," the latter earning a Grammy nomination for Best Folk Album in 2016. He recently reactivated The Swell Season, releasing the album "Forward" in 2025. Beyond his music, Hansard was dedicated to social causes, notably holding annual charity concerts on Christmas Eve in Dublin to support the homeless. Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin expressed his condolences, calling Hansard a "talented musician and actor" who made a "profound contribution to Irish culture." He is survived by his wife, Finnish poet Mairead Sarić, and their three-year-old son, Kristy.

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The family is in great shock and grief