Glen Hansard, the musician and actor best known for starring in The Commitments and Once, has died aged 56 following a motorcycle crash in Co Dublin.
Hansard played Outspan Foster in the 1991 film The Commitments, while also performing with The Frames, then as part of the duo Swell Season, and also as a solo artist.
The north Dublin artist, from Ballymun, won an Oscar in 2008 for the song Falling Slowly in Once, which he wrote with Markéta Irglová, his Swell Season partner.
Hansard is survived by his wife, poet Maire Saaritsa, and his son.
Glen Hansard starred in Once. Photo: Bryan O’Brien/The Irish Times 
Once won an Oscar for best original song for Falling Slowly, written and performed by Hansard and Markéta Irglová. Photo: Bryan O’Brien/The Irish Times 
Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival for Once. Photo: Fred Hayes 
Glen Hansard on guitar and vocals for rock band The Frames at The Borderline, London, 2001. Photo: Richard Ecclestone/Redferns 
The Frames performs at Coachella in 2007, California. Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty 
The Commitments cast, from back row: Dean (Felim Gormley), Joey The Lips (Johnny Murphy), Derek (Kenneth McCluskey), Steven (Michael Ahern) and Mickah (Dave Finnegan).
Front row: Bernie (Bronagh Gallagher) Outspan (Glen Hansard), Deco (Andrew Strong), Natalie (Maria Doyle and Imelda (Angeline Ball). Photo: Collins 
Glen Hansard on stage at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City, 2007. Photo: Brad Barket/Getty for Tribeca Film Festival 
Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová win the Academy Award for best original song in 2008. Photo: Michael Caulfield/WireImage 
The Frames: Glen Hansard and his bandmates 
Mark Dignam and Glen Hansard of the Swell Season performing at the Choice Music awards at Dublin’s Vicar Street in 2010. Photo: Alan Betson 
Glen Hansard of the Swell Season at Dublin’s Vicar Street. Photo: Alan Betson 
Glen Hansard photographed in The Irish Times studio in December 2007, the year of the release of Once. Photo: Bryan O’Brien/The Irish Times 
Glen Hansard photographed among thousands at a water charges protest in Dublin, 2014. Photo: Brenda Fitzsimons/The Irish Times 
Imelda May and Glen Hansard performing at the annual busk on Dublin’s Grafton street in aid of the Simon Community in 2024.
Photograph: Alan Betson 
Glen Hansard performs in aid of the Simon Community at Christmas. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Glen Hansard with his son Christy and wife Marie at the unveiling of a commemorative plaque marking the home of playwright, poet and novelist Brendan Behan on Dublin’s Russell Street. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times 
Glen Hansard and John Carney were both in The Frames. Photo: Bryan O’Brien/The Irish Times 
Glen Hansard at the Auditorium Parco della Musica, Rome, Italy, 2019. Photo: Luciano Viti/Getty Images 
Glen Hansard and Christy Dignam performing at Apollo House on Poolbeg Street, Dublin. Photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins 
Glen Hansard outside the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin, performing in aid of the Simon Community in 2025. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times 
Glen Hansard arrives in Nenagh, Tipperary, for Shane MacGowan’s funeral. Photo: Colin Keegan/ Colins 
Glen Hansard, Bono and Hozier singing on Grafton Street on Christmas Eve, 2001. Photograph: Aidan Crawley/The Irish Times 
Glen Hansard backstage at the Auditorium Parco della Musica, Rome, in 2019. Photo: Luciano Viti/Getty Images 
Glen Hansard performs at The Roundhouse in London in May 2026. Photo: Lorne Thomson/Redferns 
Glen Hansard performs at soundcheck for the People Have The Power – A celebration of Patti Smith in New York. Photo: Al Pereira/Getty Images