The Frames frontman Glen Hansard has died. He was 56.
Hansard died following his involvement in a motorcycle crash in Dublin, Ireland, early on Wednesday, July 29, according to the BBC. The outlet reported that local police are seeking witnesses after the single-vehicle collision.
Hansard is survived by his wife, Maire Saaritsa, and their 3-year-old son, Christy.
“For 52 years, I was the most important person in my own life, and then suddenly I got a complete perspective shift, and I’m absolutely loving it,” Hansard told The Times of London in October 2023 of fatherhood. “To be of service to this young mind, to this young life … I can’t believe I didn’t do it before now. Isn’t it true that when the student is ready, the teacher appears?”
Hansard had been content with his role as “the guy in the band” before meeting poet Saaritsa.
“I was just busy making my story, making my life, moving forward. I guess opportunities were there, of course, but it just wasn’t really on my list of things to do,” he said at the time. “Then, I met Maire, and it was, like, ‘Oh, there’s the mother of my children.’”
According to Hansard, becoming a father made him feel more grounded.
“It’s wonderful, but also challenging. I mean, we’re both exhausted,” he said, referring to his wife. “I just went down and took the groceries out of the bag, and there’s a pile of work that needs to be done, but I just haven’t got to it because between being with him and being available for Maire, it’s incredible how tiny tasks can go for ages without me.”
He continued, “Is this the happiest time of my life? I would say it’s probably the most adventurous, the time I feel most engaged of all of my life so far.”
Born in Dublin in 1970, Hansard scored his big break just 21 years later when he landed the role of Outspan Foster in 1991’s The Commitments. He later served as the frontman of rock band The Frames and notably wrote “Falling Slowly” for 2007’s Once movie musical, in which he also starred. The song ultimately won Hansard an Academy Award trophy for Best Original Song.
“I love this life, and I get to play to people all over the world who are interested in hearing what I have to say, people who actually pay me to do it. That’s a huge privilege,” Hansard told The Times in 2023. “I’m not a pop star, so I’m not restricted by tunes needing to be three-and-half minutes. There’s nobody in my corner telling me to shorten an album, to make it longer or to wear my hair this way, that way or the other. I get to be who I am, and that privilege is not lost on me.”
Saaritsa has yet to publicly address Hansard’s death as of publication.
