Oscar-Winning Musician Glen Hansard Dies at 56

Irish musician and actor Glen Hansard died early Wednesday morning at the age of 56 in a motorcycle accident in Dublin. His management company, ATC Management, confirmed his death. Irish police said he died at the scene despite the efforts of emergency responders.

Hansard rose to fame as the frontman of the Irish rock band The Frames, which he founded in 1990. He achieved international success with the 2007 low-budget film Once, in which he played a street musician in love with a young Czech immigrant. Together with Czech singer Marketa Irglova, he won an Oscar in 2008 for Best Original Song for "Falling Slowly".

The film was later adapted into a successful Broadway musical, which won eight Tony Awards. Hansard released several solo albums and also performed with Irglova as the duo The Swell Season.

Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin described Hansard as a talented musician and actor who made a significant contribution to the country's cultural life over many years. Fans also paid tribute to him on social media.

(Reuters, Lud)