Glen Hansard, the Irish singer-songwriter who fronted the Frames and co-starred in the 2007 film Once, has died at the age of 56 following injuries sustained in a motorcycle crash in Dublin. His death was confirmed by his management, and Ireland's prime minister Micheál Martin paid tribute to him as a talented musician and actor who made a significant contribution to the country's cultural life over many decades.

Born in Dublin in 1970, Hansard rose from busking on the streets to founding the Frames in 1990 and later the folk duo the Swell Season with Markéta Irglová. Their music underpinned Once, a low-budget romantic drama in which the pair starred, and its song "Falling Slowly" won them an Academy Award for Best Original Song as well as Grammy nominations; the film was later adapted into a Broadway musical that won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical.