Irish singer-songwriter, guitarist and actor Born: 21st April 1970 Dublin, Ireland Died 29th July 2026 Dublin, Ireland Quit school at age 13 to began busking on the streets Dublin, on the advice of a teacher. He first came to popular attention in the role of guitar player Outspan Foster in the Alan Parker film The Commitments. Best known in his native Ireland as the front man of The Frames, but outside of Ireland, for his leading role in the award-winning film Once. The film was directed by his former Frames band-mate John Carney (2) and co-starred Hansard's real-life musical collaborator Marketa Irglova whom he met when he was on tour in her home town in the Czech Republic. They went on to record and perform as The Swell Season. The soundtrack to Once featured songs from Hansard's writing back catalogue, including new arrangements of songs previously recorded with The Frames and compositions co-written by Marketa Irglova, one of which, Falling Slowly, was nominated for the 2007 Grammy for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture and won the 2007 Academy Award for Best Original Song.
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