Glen Hansard, the Irish singer-songwriter and actor whose raw voice became known around the world through the film Once, has died at the age of 56 following a motorcycle crash in Dublin.

Hansard died in the early hours of July 29, 2026, after a single-vehicle motorcycle crash in Lucan, on the outskirts of the Irish capital. He was treated at the scene but was pronounced dead shortly afterward. Irish police said the investigation remains active.

For many fans, Hansard will forever be remembered as the musician behind one of the most emotional movie songs of the 2000s.

From Dublin street performer to Oscar winner
Hansard’s journey to international fame was anything but conventional.

Born in Dublin in 1970, he began performing on the streets of the city as a teenager. He later became the frontman of the Irish rock band The Frames, building a reputation for deeply personal songwriting and intense live performances.

He also appeared in the 1991 film The Commitments, but it was a small independent movie called Once that transformed his career.

Released in 2007, Once starred Hansard alongside Czech musician Markéta Irglová. They played two struggling musicians who meet in Dublin and begin writing and recording music together.

The film was made on a tiny budget, but its intimate story and stripped-down soundtrack connected with audiences around the world.

At the center of it all was “Falling Slowly.”

The song that changed everything
Written and performed by Hansard and Irglová, “Falling Slowly” became the emotional centerpiece of Once.

The song eventually won the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 2008 Oscars, giving Hansard one of the most remarkable victories in the history of independent cinema.

The Oscar moment became legendary in its own right.

Hansard and Irglová walked onto the stage as two musicians from a tiny Irish film and suddenly found themselves holding Hollywood’s most famous golden statue.

For Hansard, it was the culmination of a journey that had started on the streets of Dublin.

His music was always bigger than the Oscar
Hansard never became simply “the guy who won an Oscar.”

He continued performing with The Frames, worked with Irglová as The Swell Season, and built a respected solo career.

His music was known for its honesty rather than polished pop production. He often performed with nothing more than his voice and an acoustic guitar, creating the feeling that the audience was listening to someone tell them a deeply personal story.

His work also extended beyond music. He remained closely connected to Dublin and was known for using his platform to support people experiencing homelessness. He regularly participated in Christmas Eve busking events that raised money for homelessness initiatives.

A sudden loss
News of Hansard’s death sent shockwaves through the music world.

Tributes came from artists including Bruce Springsteen, Bono and Eddie Vedder, who remembered him not only as an extraordinary musician but also as a generous friend and deeply human performer.

His death came just weeks after the release of his latest album, Don’t Settle (Vol. 2 – Transmissions West), making the loss feel even more sudden for fans who were still following his music.

He leaves behind his wife, Finnish poet Maire Saaritsa, and their young son, Christy.

The voice that will remain
Glen Hansard’s career began with a young man singing on the streets of Dublin.

It took him from busking to The Frames, from independent films to an Academy Award stage, and eventually to concert halls around the world.

But perhaps the most lasting part of his legacy is much simpler.

A guitar.

A voice.

And one song that made millions of people stop and listen.

More than 15 years after Once introduced Hansard and “Falling Slowly” to the world, that song remains inseparable from his name.

Glen Hansard is gone, but the voice that once echoed through the streets of Dublin — and then around the world — will not be easily forgotten.