Veteran Ghanaian actress Grace Nortey has died at the age of 89, just months after celebrating her birthday.

The actress passed away at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), according to reports.

Born on February 1, 1937, Grace Nortey celebrated her 89th birthday on February 1, 2026, after a career spanning more than five decades.

She was one of the foundational figures of Ghanaian film and television, becoming a familiar face to generations of audiences through classic productions including Juju, Nana Akoto, The Other Side of the Rich, Baby Thief, Matters of the Heart, Who Killed Nancy?, Escape to Love and Expectations.

Her performances, particularly in the era of Ghana’s popular television and home-video productions, helped establish her reputation as one of the country’s most recognisable actresses.

Nortey was particularly known for portraying strong-willed, outspoken and often feisty matriarchs, with roles that frequently confronted patriarchy and social injustices.

Her career later extended into internationally acclaimed productions. She featured in the Ghanaian film Sinking Sands (2011) and the Netflix war drama Beasts of No Nation (2015).

She is survived by five children, including actress Sheila Nortey, who followed her mother into the acting profession. Grace Nortey's death marks the loss of one of the pioneering figures of Ghanaian screen acting, whose work spanned generations and some of the country's most memorable television and film productions.

Source: Classfm