Irish musician and actor Glen Hansard, who gained international fame for his role in the indie film 'Once' and won an Oscar for Best Original Song, has died at the age of 56. Police reported that a man in his fifties died early on Wednesday morning, 29 July, after a single-vehicle motorcycle collision in west Dublin.
Emergency services were called shortly before 4:30 am, and the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Police are currently appealing for witnesses to the incident.
Hansard's management company, ATC, released a statement confirming his death: “With broken hearts we announce the passing of Glen Hansard in the early hours of this morning. 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.”
Born in Dublin in 1970, Hansard was awarded the Academy Award in 2008 for “Falling Slowly,” a song he wrote and performed with co-star Markéta Irglová in 'Once'. He had previously acted in the 1991 film 'The Commitments' and was also known for forming the band The Frames.