The Irish singer-songwriter and actor, best known internationally for the 2007 film Once, died at the age of 56 following a motorcycle crash in Dublin on July 29, 2026. His management confirmed his death, while Irish police said a man in his 50s had died after a single-vehicle motorcycle collision in Lucan, west of Dublin.

For many fans, Hansard’s legacy is inseparable from Once, the intimate independent musical he made alongside Czech musician Markéta Irglová. The film followed two struggling musicians who meet on the streets of Dublin and gradually form a powerful creative and emotional connection through their music.

What made Once so memorable was its simplicity. There were no traditional Hollywood spectacle or elaborate production numbers. Instead, Hansard and Irglová used raw performances, quiet conversations and deeply personal songs to tell a story about two people trying to find hope while carrying the weight of their own lives.

At the heart of the film was “Falling Slowly,” the song Hansard co-wrote with Irglová. Its emotional impact helped turn Once from a modest indie film into an international phenomenon.

In 2008, Hansard and Irglová won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Falling Slowly.” Their unexpected Oscar victory became one of the most memorable moments in the film’s remarkable journey.

The success of Once did not end with the movie. Hansard and Irglová continued performing together as The Swell Season, while the story and music eventually inspired a Broadway adaptation that earned major acclaim.

Hansard’s own journey was almost as remarkable as the fictional story he helped create.

Born in Dublin in 1970, he began performing as a street musician before becoming the frontman of the Irish rock band The Frames. He also appeared in the 1991 film The Commitments, but it was Once that brought his music to a worldwide audience.

Beyond his music, Hansard was remembered for his generosity and commitment to helping people experiencing homelessness. His annual Christmas Eve charity performances in Dublin raised more than €2 million for the Dublin Simon Community over the years.

His death prompted an extraordinary wave of tributes. Bruce Springsteen, Bono, Hozier, Eddie Vedder, Billie Eilishand many other artists publicly remembered Hansard and his influence. At his funeral in Dublin, hundreds gathered to honor him, with music once again playing a central role.

Eddie Vedder performed Hansard’s “The Song of Good Hope” with Markéta Irglová during the funeral service, creating a particularly emotional tribute to the musician whose work had connected so many people.

For fans returning to Once now, the movie carries a different weight.

The songs that once represented two fictional musicians searching for connection can now feel like a farewell to the real artist behind them. Hansard’s voice, guitar and deeply vulnerable performances have become part of a story that audiences continue to revisit years after first discovering the film.

Once was ultimately a story about fleeting encounters, unfinished dreams and the way music can remain with us long after people have left our lives.

Glen Hansard’s passing has made that message feel painfully real.

At 56, he leaves behind a body of work that crossed music, film and theater — but for millions of viewers, he will always be remembered as the musician who stood on a Dublin street with a guitar and turned a simple love story into something unforgettable.