Personal Info
Known For:
Acting
Birthday:
July 30, 1944
Place of Birth:
Somerton district of St. James, Jamaica
Social Media
Jimmy Cliff
Biography
The Honourable Jimmy Cliff, OM (30 July 1944 – 24 November 2025), known professionally as Jimmy Cliff, was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady, reggae and soul musician, multi-instrumentalist, singer and actor. At the time of his death, he was the only living reggae musician to hold the Order of Merit, the highest honour that can be granted by the Jamaican government for achievements in the arts and sciences. He is best known among mainstream audiences for songs such as "Sitting in Limbo," "You Can Get It If You Really Want," and "Many Rivers to Cross" from the soundtrack to The Harder They Come, which helped popularize reggae across the world; and his covers of Cat Stevens' "Wild World" and Johnny Nash's "I Can See Clearly Now" from the film Cool Runnings. Outside of the reggae world, he is probably best known for his film appearance in The Harder They Come. Jimmy Cliff was one of five performers inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.
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Known For
Filmography
| Year | Movie | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell | Self (archive footage) |
| 2019 | Studio 17: The Lost Reggae Tapes | Self |
| 2018 | ReMastered: Who Shot the Sheriff | Himself |
| 2016 | Dear Jerry - Celebrating The Music of Jerry Garcia | Self |
| 2014 | Lennon or McCartney | Self |
| 2013 | Muscle Shoals | Self |
| 2012 | Marley | Self |
| 2011 | Toots and the Maytals Reggae Got Soul | Himself |
| 2009 | O Melhor do Flash Back - 92 Clipes Para Recordar | Self (archive footage) |
| 2009 | Titãs - A Vida Até Parece Uma Festa | Self (archive footage) |
| 2008 | Formel Eins - Die Kultvideos Vol. 2 | Self (archive footage) |
| 2006 | Jimmy Cliff - Moving On | Singer |
| 2003 | Rude Boy: The Jamaican Don | Wise Man |
| 1999 | One Love: The Bob Marley All-Star tribute | Self - Perfomer |
| 1997 | Acústico MTV: Titãs | Self |
| 1990 | Marked for Death | Himself |
| 1988 | A Reggae Session | Self |
| 1986 | Club Paradise | Ernest Reed |
| 1984 | Jimmy Cliff - Rockpalast 84 | |
| 1982 | Bongo Man | Self |
| 1977 | Roots Rock Reggae: Inside The Jamaican Music Scene | Self |
| 1972 | The Harder They Come | Ivanhoe "Ivan" Martin |
| 1964 | This Is Ska | Himself |
| Year | TV Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Never Mind the Buzzcocks | Self |
| 1994 | TOTP2 | Self |
| 1994 | Space Ghost Coast to Coast | |
| 1987 | Le monde est à vous | Self |
| 1987 | Sacrée Soirée | Self |
| 1982 | Champs-Elysées | Self |
| 1980 | Grandes Nomes | Self |
| 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Self - Musical Guest |
| 1974 | Rockpalast | |
| 1973 | Rock Concert | Self |
| 1968 | Spotlight | self |
| 1966 | 4-3-2-1 Hot and Sweet | Self |