Irish musician and actor Variety, who won an Academy Award for the song Falling Slowly and fronted the rock band The Frames, died in a motorcycle crash in Dublin on Wednesday. He was 56 years old, according to CBS News.
Glen Hansard, Oscar-Winning ‘Once’ Star and The Frames Frontman, Dies at 56
Irish police stated that a man in his 50s was involved in a single-vehicle motorcycle collision in the west of Dublin, specifically in Lucan on the outskirts of the Irish capital. Emergency services were alerted shortly before 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning, and though the man was treated at the scene, he was pronounced dead a short time later.
ATC Management confirmed the tragic news in a statement shared by Reuters, saying: 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.
The management company also expressed gratitude to the emergency services who attended the scene and requested privacy for the artist’s family, who are deeply shocked and heartbroken.
From Dublin Busker to International Acclaim with The Frames and ‘The Commitments’
Born in Dublin in April 1970, Hansard developed an early interest in music and dropped out of school at age 13 on the advice of a teacher. He spent five years working as a street busker on the thoroughfares of the Irish capital before forming the rock band The Frames in 1990. The group, whose name was inspired by the bicycle frames scattered around his family’s garden, became a hit in Ireland, blending alt-rock intensity with the intimacy of a street performance.
Before achieving widespread musical success, Hansard made his acting debut in Alan Parker’s 1991 musical film NPR, playing Outspan Foster, a young working-class guitarist in a Dublin soul band. His career expanded further when he starred in the 2007 low-budget musical drama Variety, written and directed by John Carney.
Oscar Glory and Collaboration with Markéta Irglová
Solo Career, Activism, and Tributes
As a solo artist, Hansard released several albums, earning a Grammy nomination for Best Folk Album for 2015’s Didn't He Ramble.
Beyond his artistic output, Hansard was a prominent advocate for social causes, notably leading the traditional Christmas Eve charity busk outside Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre to raise funds for the Dublin Simon Community. The organization released a statement calling him a giant in the fight against homelessness.
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin paid tribute on social media, describing him as a talented musician and actor who made a significant contribution to Ireland’s cultural landscape. Hansard is survived by his partner, poet Maire Saaritsa, and their 3-year-old son.
