DUBLIN — Oscar-winning Irish musician Glen Hansard died in a motorcycle crash at the age of 56 early on Wednesday, his management company said.
Police appealed for witnesses following the single-vehicle crash, which happened on Lower Road in Lucan, west of Dublin. They said a man in his 50s had died after a single-vehicle motorcycle collision in the west of Dublin.
Emergency services were alerted shortly before 4:30 a.m. (0330 GMT) and the man was pronounced dead a short time after being treated at the scene.
Hansard won a Best Original Song Oscar in 2008 for the indie film “Once” and was lead singer for rock group The Frames.
Fans paid tribute online and Prime Minister Michael Martin said he was deeply saddened to hear of the death of “a talented musician and actor who made a significant contribution to Ireland’s cultural landscape over many years”.
The singer-songwriter began busking on the streets of his native Dublin as a teen before forming the popular Irish band The Frames in 1990.
He released a number of albums under his own name and as part of duo The Swell Season with fellow Oscar winner and “Once” co-star Marketa Irglova.
The pair’s performances in the low-budget movie shot on handheld camcorders where a street musician falls in love with a young Czech immigrant and their Oscar-winning duet “Falling Slowly” brought Hansard’s music to a wider audience.
The film, which featured a number of other songs composed and performed by Hansard and Irglova, was turned into a hit Broadway musical version that won eight Tony Awards in 2012.
Accepting his Oscar from presenter John Travolta, a stunned Hansard said: “What are we doing here? This is mad.”
His only acting experience prior to “Once” was as a band member in Alan Parker’s 1991 hit “The Commitments”.
“With broken hearts we announce the passing of Glen Hansard who passed away, in the early hours of this morning, following a road-traffic accident in Dublin,” ATC Management said in a statement that thanked emergency services.
Hansard was the father of a three-year-old boy.
“Glen’s family is deeply shocked and heartbroken by this tragic loss and respectfully requests privacy at this extremely difficult time.
“The family is grateful for the support they have received and wishes to thank the emergency services who attended the scene.”
Source: Saudi Gazette