Veteran actress Grace Nortey, a pioneering figure in the country’s theatre, television, and film industries, has died at the age of 89.
She passed away in the early hours of Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), according to multiple reports. The cause of death has not yet been made public.
Born on February 1, 1937, Nortey enjoyed a career that spanned more than five decades, during which she became one of the most recognisable and enduring faces in Ghanaian entertainment.
She was particularly celebrated for her portrayal of strong-willed, outspoken, and commanding female characters. This signature earned her the popular nickname “Maame Gyata,” meaning Lion Woman or Lion Lady.
Her body of work included roles in some of Ghana’s most beloved television and theatre productions, such as Obra, Osofo Dadzie, Key Soap Concert Party, Cantata, Taxi Driver, and Thursday Theatre.
Her major screen debut came in the 1986 comic film Juju, produced by King Ampaw and Peter Wohlgemuth-Reinery, in which she starred opposite veteran actor Joe Eyison.
She went on to feature in numerous Ghanaian productions, including Nana Akoto, The Other Side of the Rich, Escape to Love, Matters of the Heart, Expectations, Jewels, The Ties That Bind, and Sinking Sands.
Nortey also extended her talent to international projects, most notably appearing in the 2015 Netflix film Beasts of No Nation, directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga and starring Idris Elba and Abraham Attah.
She played the role of the Old Witch Woman in the Ghana-shot production.
Beyond her on-screen achievements, Nortey worked as a Senior Administrative Assistant with the Ghana Education Service and was a passionate advocate for the welfare of veteran actors.
Her contributions to the creative industry were widely recognised: she won Best Cameo Actress at the Ghana Movie Awards in 2011 for her role in Adams Apple, received the Excellence in Arts award at the Glitz Women of the Year Honours in 2016, and was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Black Star International Film Festival in 2018.
In 2020, she received a Legendary Award for Outstanding Contributions at the Ghana Actors Entertainment Awards. In 2021, she was recognised for Outstanding Contribution to Women’s Excellence in the Performing Arts at the 3Music Awards Women’s Brunch.
Most recently, in April 2025, she was honoured during the Ashanti Festival for her lasting impact on Ghanaian entertainment.
Nortey was married to the late Daniel Nortey, and the couple had five children, including actress Sheila Nortey.
In her later years, Nortey scaled back her acting commitments due to mobility and eyesight challenges. She had previously shared that reading lengthy scripts had become difficult, though she remained open to smaller roles that allowed her to work from scenarios and improvise.
Her passing marks the loss of a veteran performer whose career bridged Ghana’s early radio, theatre, and television eras with the modern film industry, leaving behind a legacy that has inspired generations of actors and storytellers.
