Oscar-winning Irish musician Glen Hansard dies in motorcycle crash
Life, Career, and Legacy of Glen Hansard
(Fixes first name of Irish prime minister to Micheal from Michael)
By Padraic Halpin
Details of the Accident
DUBLIN, July 29 (Reuters) - Irish musician Glen Hansard, who won a Best Original Song Oscar in 2008 for the indie film "Once" and was lead singer for rock group The Frames, died in a motorcycle crash at the age of 56 early on Wednesday, his management company said.
Irish police 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.
"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.
Tributes and Reactions
Public and Official Tributes
Fans paid tribute online and Prime Minister Micheal 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".
Musical Career
Early Years and The Frames
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.
The Swell Season and "Once"
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.
Broadway Success
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.
Oscar Win
Accepting his Oscar from presenter John Travolta, a stunned Hansard said: "What are we doing here? This is mad."
Other Acting Work
His only acting experience prior to "Once" was as a band member in Alan Parker's 1991 hit "The Commitments".
(Reporting by Padraic Halpin and Conor Humphries, editing by Sam Tabahriti and Andrew Heavens)
