Oscar-winning musician Glen Hansard dies in motorcycle accident in Dublin
He was 56, and news of the death of the prominent Irish musician and actor was confirmed by his management, according to Tagesschau.
He was 56, and news of the death of the prominent Irish musician and actor was confirmed by his management, according to Tagesschau.
Irish musician, Oscar winner and frontman of The Frames, Glen Hansard, died in a motorcycle accident in Dublin at the age of 56. According to initial reports, the accident occurred on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, and the news was confirmed by German outlet Tagesschau, citing his management.
As reported by BBC World, Irish police reported a single-vehicle accident on Lower Road in Lucan, west of Dublin. Emergency services were notified shortly before 4:30 AM local time. Medical assistance was provided at the scene, but the musician died shortly thereafter. Police have appealed for any witnesses to come forward.
Born in Dublin in 1970, Hansard began his career as a street busker, gaining wider recognition in 1991 when he played guitarist Outspan Foster in the cult film "The Commitments". However, the peak of his musical career came with the low-budget film "Once", and the song "Falling Slowly" earned him an Oscar for Best Original Song. There is a slight discrepancy regarding the exact year: BBC World cites 2007, while German Tagesschau mentions 2008, likely due to the difference between the film's release year and the ceremony.
He was also half of the rock duo The Swell Season and released several solo albums. The album Didn't He Ramble was nominated for a Grammy in 2016 for Best Folk Album, according to BBC World. Tagesschau (DE) also recalls his collaboration with Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder. Hansard is survived by his three-year-old son.
