Joey Ansah (born November 24, 1982) is an English actor, martial artist, stuntman, and director, best known for his roles in The Bourne Ultimatum (2007), Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist (2014), and The Old Guard (2020). Born in Hackney, London, he is of Ghanaian and British descent—his father was renowned fashion designer Kofi Ansah. From ages 10 to 15, Ansah lived in Ghana, where he trained in Tae Kwon Do, later returning to England and pursuing stunt and acting roles, inspired by performances like Ray Park’s Darth Maul in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.
Ansah’s early work included indie films such as Love Struck (2005) and appearances in British television series like Spooks and Timewatch. He landed a minor role in Batman Begins (2005) as a Shadow Warrior, but his breakout came in The Bourne Ultimatum as Desh Bouksani, a deadly assassin. His intense hand-to-hand combat scene with Matt Damon drew critical acclaim for its realism and energy, with Ansah performing all his own stunts. This performance earned him an MTV Film Award nomination in 2008 for “Best Fight.”
A lifelong fan of the Street Fighter video game franchise, Ansah transitioned into writing and directing with Street Fighter: Legacy (2010), which aimed to present a faithful adaptation of the series. He later co-created and starred in Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist (2014) and helped develop follow-ups including Street Fighter: Resurrection and the planned Street Fighter: World Warrior. He continues to blend his passions for martial arts and filmmaking in both independent and mainstream projects.
