Irish musician Glen Hansard has passed away. The BBC first reported that he died in single-vehicle motorcycle crash. The accident took place this morning around 4:30 AM in Dublin. Hansard was 56.

His management group later announced: “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. Glen’s family is deeply shocked and heartbroken by this tragic loss and respectfully requests privacy at this extremely difficult time. The family is grateful for the support they have received and wishes to thank the emergency services who attended the scene.”

Hansard, who was raised in Dublin, was still a teenager when he left school and founded The Frames, which recorded 6 albums of soulful folk-inflected music between 1991 and 2006. In 1991 Hansard also appeared in the Alan Parker film The Commitments, which tracks the development of a Dublin-based group that draws together young working-class musicians.

In 2006 he also moved into his post-Frames career with The Swell Season, in which he collaborated with Czech singer and multi-instrumentalist Markéta Irglová. The Swell Season released its eponymous album that year and followed up with Strict Joy in 2029.

Hansard and Irglová also gained renown through their appearance in the music drama Once (2007), which tracked a romantic relationship between two musicians. Hansard and Irglová wrote all the compositions in the film and “Falling Slowly,” which they perform the movie, received the Oscar for best original song at the 80th Academy Awards in February 2008. Once was later adapted for Broadway and received eight Tonys, including Best Musical.

Hansard, who toured with Eddie Vedder in 2011, released his debut studio album, Rhythm and Repose in 2012. He followed this up with four additional records, most recently 2023’s All That Was East Is West of Me Now.

Over the years he reconnected with Irglová and they finally recorded a third Swell Season album, Forward, which came out earlier this month.

Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin posted that he was “deeply saddened” to learn of Hansard’s death. “A talented musician and actor who made a significant contribution to Ireland‘s cultural landscape over many years. My sincere sympathies to his family, friends, and fans.”