
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Born
July 30, 1944
Died
November 24, 2025 (age 81)
Place of Birth
Somerton district of St. James, Jamaica
Also Known As
James Chambers
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.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Jimmy Cliff, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Known For

TV
Saturday Night Live
Self - Musical Guest
1975

TV
Champs-Elysées
Self
1982

TV
Sacrée Soirée
Self
1987

TV
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
Self
1996

TV
TOTP2
Self
1994

TV
Le monde est à vous
Self
1987

TV
Space Ghost Coast to Coast
1994

TV
Rockpalast
1974

TV
Rock Concert
Self
1973

Film
Marked for Death
Himself
1990

TV
Partido Alto
Self
1984
TV
4-3-2-1 Hot and Sweet
Self
1966

Film
Lennon or McCartney
Self
2014

TV
Grandes Nomes
Self
1980
TV
Spotlight
self
1968

Film
Club Paradise
Ernest Reed
1986

Film
Muscle Shoals
Self
2013

Film
O Melhor do Flash Back - 92 Clipes Para Recordar
Self (archive footage)
2009

Film
Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell
Self (archive footage)
2021

Film
Marley
Self
2012
Filmography
2021FilmBiggie: I Got a Story to Tellas Self (archive footage)2019FilmStudio 17: The Lost Reggae Tapesas Self2018FilmReMastered: Who Shot the Sheriffas Himself2016FilmDear Jerry - Celebrating The Music of Jerry Garciaas Self2014FilmLennon or McCartneyas Self2013FilmMuscle Shoalsas Self2012FilmMarleyas Self2011FilmToots and the Maytals Reggae Got Soulas Himself2009FilmTitãs - A Vida Até Parece Uma Festaas Self (archive footage)2009FilmO Melhor do Flash Back - 92 Clipes Para Recordaras Self (archive footage)2008FilmFormel Eins - Die Kultvideos Vol. 2as Self (archive footage)2006FilmJimmy Cliff - Moving Onas Singer2003FilmRude Boy: The Jamaican Donas Wise Man1999FilmOne Love: The Bob Marley All-Star tributeas Self - Perfomer1997FilmAcústico MTVas Self1996TVNever Mind the Buzzcocksas Self1994TVTOTP2as Self1994TVSpace Ghost Coast to Coast1990FilmMarked for Deathas Himself1988FilmA Reggae Sessionas Self1987TVLe monde est à vousas Self1987TVSacrée Soiréeas Self1986FilmClub Paradiseas Ernest Reed1984FilmJimmy Cliff - Rockpalast 841984TVPartido Altoas Self1982FilmBongo Manas Self1982TVChamps-Elyséesas Self1980TVGrandes Nomesas Self1977FilmRoots Rock Reggae: Inside The Jamaican Music Sceneas Self1975TVSaturday Night Liveas Self - Musical Guest1974TVRockpalast1973TVRock Concertas Self1972FilmThe Harder They Comeas Ivanhoe "Ivan" Martin1968TVSpotlightas self1966TV4-3-2-1 Hot and Sweetas Self1964FilmThis Is Skaas Himself