Glen Hansard, the renowned Irish singer-songwriter known for his Oscar-winning work on the film Once, died in a motorcycle accident near Dublin early Wednesday. He was 56 years old.

Hansard’s management, ATC Management, expressed the family’s shock and heartbreak over his unexpected death. Fellow musicians have shared their condolences, with Bruce Springsteen noting on Instagram the loss of “a great musician, a good friend, and a generous and gracious man.”

Irish police reported that a man in his 50s died in a solo motorcycle crash in Lucan, located in the western part of the Irish capital, shortly before 4:30 a.m. Although emergency services attended to the scene, he was pronounced dead shortly afterward.

Glen Hansard was not only a musician but also an actor. He gained fame playing in the 1991 film The Commitments as part of a Dublin soul band. In 2008, he received an Oscar for the song “Falling Slowly,” co-written for the indie musical Once with Markéta Irglová. The success of Once extended to Broadway, where it won eight Tony Awards in 2012, including Best Musical.

Hansard’s contributions to the Irish music scene brought people together through live performances, stated Ireland’s President Catherine Connolly. His work will be sorely missed by all who knew or experienced it.

Hansard fronted the rock band The Frames, was part of the duo The Swell Season with Irglová, and released solo albums like Didn’t He Ramble, which was nominated for a Grammy for Best Folk Album in 2016.

Actor and comedian Chris O’Dowd praised Hansard’s impact, saying his melodies and searching voice helped make difficult times more manageable and joyful moments unforgettable.

Starting as a busker in Dublin, Hansard became famous for leading the Christmas Eve busk outside Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre. Here, people would gather to enjoy performances by famous Irish musicians in support of a homelessness charity.

Former Irish president Michael D. Higgins highlighted Hansard’s dedication to social issues, confirming him as both a “wonderful musician and performer” and an advocate for societal improvement.

Hansard’s vibrant musical legacy includes his performance at Shane MacGowan’s funeral in 2023, where he sang The Pogues’ “Fairytale Of New York” with Lisa O’Neill, uplifting the congregation.

Glen Hansard is survived by his wife, Finnish poet Maire Saaritsa, and their three-year-old son, Christy.