Irish Singer-Songwriter Glen Hansard Dies at 56 After Motorcycle Accident

Irish singer-songwriter and actor Glen Hansard has died at 56 from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident, according to Pitchfork. The news was confirmed via Pitchfork's official Instagram account, per the report.

Hansard is best known as the frontman of the Frames and as one half of the Swell Season, and for starring in the 2007 musical film Once alongside Markéta Irglová. Their duet "Falling Slowly" from that film won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

What we know so far

Pitchfork's report, sourced from an announcement on the outlet's own official Instagram account, confirms the cause of death as injuries from a motorcycle accident and gives his age as 56. Beyond that, further details about the accident have not yet been released by organizers or his family.

A career from Dublin's streets to the Oscars

Hansard built his reputation in the 1990s fronting the Frames, an Irish band whose sound moved across folk, post-rock and soul, establishing him as a fixture of Ireland's independent music scene. In 2006, he and Irglová formed the Swell Season and recorded the soundtrack to Once, the film that introduced Hansard's story as a Dublin busker to audiences worldwide. He continued releasing solo material and performing live in the years since.

What hasn't been announced yet

The source report does not include additional specifics on the circumstances of the accident, the date or location of his death, or statements from his family, bandmates, or representatives. Any further details will depend on additional reporting or an official statement.