Jimmy Cliff

Acting

Jimmy Cliff

Born
Died
(aged 81)
Birthplace
Somerton district of St. James, Jamaica
Credits
40 titles

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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Signature work

Known For

Acting credits 37

YearTitleRole
2021 Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell Film Self (archive footage)
2019 Studio 17: The Lost Reggae Tapes Film Self
2018 ReMastered: Who Shot the Sheriff Film Himself
2016 Dear Jerry - Celebrating The Music of Jerry Garcia Film Self
2014 Lennon or McCartney Film Self
2013 Muscle Shoals Film Self
2012 Marley Film Self
2011 Toots and the Maytals Reggae Got Soul Film Himself
2009 Titãs - A Vida Até Parece Uma Festa Film Self (archive footage)
2009 O Melhor do Flash Back - 92 Clipes Para Recordar Film Self (archive footage)
2008 Formel Eins - Die Kultvideos Vol. 2 Film Self (archive footage)
2006 Jimmy Cliff - Moving On Film Singer
2003 Rude Boy: The Jamaican Don Film Wise Man
1999 One Love: The Bob Marley All-Star Tribute Film Self - Perfomer
1997 Acústico MTV: Titãs Film Self
1996 Never Mind the Buzzcocks TV Self (1 ep)
1994 TOTP2 TV Self (1 ep)
1994 Space Ghost Coast to Coast TV (1 ep)
1992 Later... with Jools Holland TV (1 ep)
1990 Marked for Death Film Himself
1989 Ôrí Film Self
1988 A Reggae Session Film Self
1987 Le monde est à vous TV Self (1 ep)
1987 Sacrée soirée TV Self (1 ep)
1986 Club Paradise Film Ernest Reed
1984 Partido Alto TV Self (1 ep)
1982 Bongo Man Film Self
1982 Champs-Elysées TV Self (1 ep)
1980 Grandes Nomes TV Self (1 ep)
1977 Roots Rock Reggae: Inside The Jamaican Music Scene Film Self
1975 Saturday Night Live TV Self - Musical Guest (2 ep)
1974 Rockpalast TV Self (1 ep)
1973 Rock Concert TV Self (1 ep)
1972 The Harder They Come Film Ivanhoe "Ivan" Martin
1968 Spotlight TV self (1 ep)
1966 4-3-2-1 Hot and Sweet TV Self (1 ep)
1964 This Is Ska Film Himself

Crew credits 4

YearTitleJob
2005 Squidbillies TV Theme Song Performance (1 ep)
2005 Engine TV Theme Song Performance (11 ep)
1984 Miami Vice TV Songs (1 ep)
1972 The Harder They Come Film Music
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