Oscar-winning Once Star and Musician Glen Hansard Dies Aged 56

Irish musician, actor and Oscar winner Glen Hansard has died aged 56 following a motorcycle accident in Dublin, his management has confirmed.

Hansard was best known to film audiences for starring in John Carney‘s acclaimed 2007 musical drama Once alongside Markéta Irglová. The pair also wrote and performed the film’s soundtrack, with their heartfelt ballad Falling Slowly winning the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2008. The success of Once later inspired the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical of the same name.

“Glen’s family is deeply shocked and heartbroken by this tragic loss and respectfully requests privacy at this extremely difficult time. The family is grateful for the support they have received and wishes to thank the emergency services who attended the scene,” an official statement reads. “As this matter remains the subject of an active Garda investigation, no further comment will be made at this time.”

Born in Dublin, Hansard began his career busking on the city’s streets before founding the rock band The Frames in 1990. He later formed the folk duo The Swell Season with Irglová, and their collaboration on Once brought them international recognition. Alongside his work in music, Hansard also appeared in Alan Parker‘s 1991 film The Commitments.

Tributes have poured in from across the music and film industries following news of his death. Bruce Springsteen described Hansard as a “great musician” and a “generous and gracious man“, while U2 frontman Bono paid tribute to his fellow Dubliner, calling him “a choir of angels in one man“. Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin also honoured Hansard’s lasting contribution to Ireland’s cultural landscape.

Away from the stage and screen, Hansard was widely recognised for his charity work. His annual Christmas Eve busking event in Dublin raised more than €2 million for the Dublin Simon Community, supporting people experiencing homelessness.

Hansard is survived by his wife, Maire Saaritsa, and their young son. His legacy spans music, cinema and humanitarian work, with Once and Falling Slowly remaining enduring reminders of an artist whose storytelling resonated with audiences around the world.

Megan Hilborne

Author

Megan is a freelance writer and film critic based in Portsmouth. She graduated with a degree in Film in 2020 and has continued her study of the medium in her day-to-day life. She takes particular interest in indie, horror, feminist and queer cinema. Some of her writing credits include an interview with Academy Award winner Sean Baker and Time’s 2025 Most Influential People inductee Mo Abudu.