Veteran Ghanaian actor Fred Amugi has recalled a challenging chapter in his career, saying he was at one point sidelined from movie roles because some people in the industry considered him too old to remain active on screen.
The acclaimed actor said the situation became particularly frustrating when filmmakers initially approached him for roles, only for others to allegedly lobby against his casting and convince directors to select different actors.
“People said I was too old and my time had already passed. When someone called me for a job, some people would conspire, talk behind my back to directors, and they would choose another person,” he said.
According to Fred Amugi, younger actors were sometimes brought in to portray characters who were supposed to be much older. He specifically mentioned comedian and actor Kwadwo Nkansah, popularly known as LilWin, as one of the performers who was frequently cast in elderly roles during that period.
“At some point, Kwadwo Nkansah was playing old men in movies. He’s one of the few people that wherever you put him, he fits in. I’m not trying to say anything bad about him, but he can act like an old man with his natural features,” Fred Amugi stated.
Fred Amugi also pointed to actor David Dontoh as another performer whose appearance naturally suited older characters. However, he noted that Dontoh eventually relocated to the United States, leaving fewer actors who could convincingly fill such roles.
The veteran actor further questioned the effectiveness of some makeup work in Ghanaian productions, arguing that transforming a younger actor into an elderly character requires more than adding facial lines or changing the colour of the hair.
“LilWin can change his voice and imitate an old man, but when you look at his hands, the skin is very smooth. Makeup should correct that so it matches the age he’s playing,” he said.
For Fred Amugi, the issue goes beyond individual casting decisions. He believes filmmakers need to pay closer attention to the physical age and characteristics of actors when assigning roles, rather than depending heavily on younger performers to imitate people several decades older.
“We should use the required age group and stop imitating because it doesn’t always match the character well. That is why Nigerians are currently leading us,” he further stated.
