Broadway Star Steve Kazee Honors ‘Hero’ Glen Hansard After Tragic Dublin Crash
Glen Hansard, the Oscar-winning Irish musician who won an Academy Award for the 2007 film “Once,” died early Wednesday in a motorcycle crash on the outskirts of Dublin. He was 56. Within hours, Broadway star Steve Kazee, who won a Tony Award for his portrayal of Hansard’s role in the stage adaptation, shared an exclusive statement with PEOPLE magazine, calling Hansard his “hero, mentor, and friend.”
TL;DR
- Glen Hansard died in a motorcycle crash near Strawberry Beds in Chapelizod, Dublin, on July 29
- Steve Kazee credited Hansard’s artistry for shaping his career and inspiring him to perform the role on Broadway
- The musical Once won eight Tony Awards on Broadway in 2012 and received the Olivier Award in the UK’s West End production in 2013
- Hansard is survived by his partner, the poet Maire Saaritsa, and their three-year-old son
The Connection That Changed Everything
Kazee recalled first seeing Once in “a tiny art house cinema in New York” and becoming captivated by Hansard’s voice, learning every song from the 2007 film and playing them for four years before being cast in the stage musical’s first workshop.
The relationship between the two quickly became personal. Kazee remembered Hansard attending the Cambridge workshop and enthusiastically supporting the cast. That genuine mentorship defined both their careers.
“Falling Slowly,” the song Hansard co-wrote with Markéta Irglová for the film, won the Oscar in 2008. Years later, when Broadway producers adapted the film into a musical, Kazee inherited the role that made Hansard a household name.
Brad Barket/Getty
A Global Phenomenon on Stage
Once premiered at New York Theatre Workshop in 2011 before transferring to Broadway in 2012, where it won eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical, and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.
In the UK, the musical cemented its cultural impact. The West End production in 2013 received the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music, recognizing Hansard and Irglová’s songwriting at one of British theatre’s most prestigious ceremonies. The show opened at the Phoenix Theatre on 9 April 2013 and was met with critical acclaim from audiences and critics alike.
The musical would go on to tour internationally, introducing millions to Hansard’s intimate, haunting compositions.
A Lifetime of Artistry
Beyond Once, Hansard left an indelible mark on Irish and global culture. He founded The Frames in 1990 after quitting school in his teens to busk on Dublin’s streets, releasing seven studio albums including 2004’s “Burn the Maps,” which hit No. 1 in Ireland, and 2006’s “The Cost,” which reached No. 2.
Hansard launched a solo career in 2012, releasing his most recent solo album, “All That Was East Is West of Me Now,” in October 2023. He was also known for organizing the Christmas Eve Busk, impromptu performances on Grafton Street in Dublin to raise money for the homeless community.
Bruce Springsteen paid tribute on social media, writing: “We met in Ireland many years ago and he was always nothing but a great musician, a good friend and a generous and gracious man. Always positive, smiling and ready to sing. God bless him and his loved ones.”
The Mentor’s Legacy
What made Hansard extraordinary was his willingness to nurture the next generation. Kazee’s tribute highlighted not just Hansard’s musical genius, but his generosity—how he showed up for fellow artists and believed in their potential.
In an industry often defined by ego and competition, Hansard represented something rarer: an artist secure enough to lift others. Every Tony-winning performance by Kazee carried Hansard’s fingerprints. Every Grammy-winning cast recording preserved his voice, his vision, his gift.
ATC Management released a statement: “Glen’s family is deeply shocked and heartbroken by this tragic loss and respectfully requests privacy at this extremely difficult time.” Irish police are conducting an investigation into the single-vehicle crash.
Related Coverage:
- Once: How a €150,000 Irish Film Became a Global Broadway Phenomenon
- The Frames: Glen Hansard’s Sonic Legacy
- WICKED to ONCE: The Best Mentor Relationships in Theatre
Reported from publicly available interviews and verified press sources. Last reviewed July 30, 2026.
Elena Vane is an award-winning comics historian and pop culture journalist. Specializing in the DC/Marvel universes and independent graphic novels, Elena has been documenting the rise of cosplay culture for over a decade . She is a frequent panelist at New York Comic Con and provides in-depth biographies of industry pioneers. Elena’s expertise ensures that every comic-related update is factually grounded and community-focused .
