Legendary actress Grace Nortey dies at 89

She reportedly passed away at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) in the early hours of Wednesday, August 26, 2026.

Grace Nortey, who was born on February 1, 1937, celebrated her 89th birthday on February 1, 2026. She was widely regarded as one of the most influential figures of Ghanaian theatre and television, particularly during the period often regarded as the golden age of local drama.

Her career spanned theatre, radio, television and film, with her commanding screen presence and versatility earning her a place among Ghana’s most recognisable veteran actresses.

Nortey first made her mark in theatre before gaining wider recognition through Ghanaian television productions. She also hosted Nyeawokoshie, a radio programme for Ga women on Ghana Broadcasting Corporation’s Radio One in the 1970s. Her first major film appearance came in the 1986 production Juju.

She went on to feature in a number of notable Ghanaian productions, including Nana Akoto, The Other Side of the Rich, Escape to Love, Matters of the Heart, Ties That Bind, Sinking Sands and Beasts of No Nation.

Nortey became particularly known for strong, assertive female characters and for her ability to bring authority and emotional depth to her roles. Her work helped define an era of Ghanaian television and drama when productions such as Obra, Osofo Dadzie, Taxi Driver and Thursday Theatre commanded large audiences.

Her contribution to the creative arts earned her several honours, including a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Black Star International Film Festival in 2018. She also received recognition at the Ghana Movie Awards, the Glitz Women of the Year Honours and the 3Music Awards Women’s Brunch.

In 2025, Nortey was among veteran Ghanaian actors honoured at the Ashanti Festival, an acknowledgment of her contribution to the country’s film industry.

Although her public appearances and acting roles became less frequent in her later years, Nortey remained a cherished figure among generations of Ghanaians who grew up watching her performances.

Her death marks the passing of one of Ghana’s enduring cultural icons, whose career helped shape the country’s theatre, television and film landscape for more than five decades.