Glen Hansard, Irish Singer-Songwriter and Actor, Dead at 56

Glen Hansard, the Irish folk and rock musician and Oscar-winning star of the film Once, is dead at 56. Hansard was involved in a single-vehicle motorcycle crash in Dublin early in the morning on July 29 and was pronounced dead at the scene. A statement on Hansard’s Instagram confirmed the singer’s death. “We are still dealing with the shock of it all, so we kindly ask that the privacy of Glen’s family, colleagues, and friends is respected at this difficult time,” the post read.

Hansard rose to fame in Ireland in the 1990s as the front man of the band the Frames. In 1991, he made his feature-film debut as guitar player Outspan Foster in The Commitments. Hansard found international acclaim starring in John Carney’s 2007 romantic drama Once, in which Hansard starred with his Swell Season bandmate and then-partner, Markéta Irglová. Their song “Falling Slowly” won the Oscar for Best Original Song, and Once was later adapted into a stage musical. Hansard continued to act occasionally as well as play music both with the Swell Season and as a solo artist. Rachel Zegler, who joined Hansard onstage for a rendition of “Falling Slowly” earlier this year, posted a tribute on Instagram to the musician, writing, “Rest now, my friend.”