Irish musician Glen Hansard killed in motorcycle crash
Glen Hansard performs at Michael Dorf Presents: The Music Of Van Morrison at Carnegie Hall on March 21, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bobby Bank/Getty Images)
Irish musician and Oscar winner Glen Hansard, died in a motorcycle crash early Wednesday morning in Dublin.
What we know:
According to ATC Management, Hansard was involved in an early morning crash. "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.
Police in Ireland said a man in his 50s was killed in a single-vehicle collision in the west of Dublin, according to Reuters. Emergency services were alerted just before 4:30 a.m. local time, where he was pronounced dead shortly afterward.
The backstory:
Hansard began his career busking in his late teens before rising to prominence as the frontman of the Irish band The Frames. He later teamed up with Marketa Irglová to form the folk duo The Swell Season, releasing several albums before starring together in the low-budget film "Once." Their performance of "Falling Slowly" earned the Academy Award for Best Original Song and introduced Hansard's music to a global audience.
Beyond his Oscar-winning role in "Once", Hansard has appeared in several documentaries and made guest appearances on television series including The Simpsons and Parenthood.
What they're saying:
Fans paid tribute online as Prime Minister Micheál Martin said he was deeply saddened by the death of "a talented musician and actor who made a significant contribution to Ireland's cultural landscape over many years."
The Source: This story was written with information provided by Reuters. This story was reported from Orlando.