
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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Gallery


Known For
Acting History
2021
Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell as Self (archive footage)
2019Studio 17: The Lost Reggae Tapes as Self
2018ReMastered: Who Shot the Sheriff as Himself
2016Dear Jerry - Celebrating The Music of Jerry Garcia as Self
2014Lennon or McCartney as Self
2013Muscle Shoals as Self
2012Marley as Self
2011Toots and the Maytals Reggae Got Soul as Himself
2009Titãs - A Vida Até Parece Uma Festa as Self (archive footage)
2009O Melhor do Flash Back - 92 Clipes Para Recordar as Self (archive footage)
2008Formel Eins - Die Kultvideos Vol. 2 as Self (archive footage)
2006Jimmy Cliff - Moving On as Singer
2003Rude Boy: The Jamaican Don as Wise Man
1999One Love: The Bob Marley All-Star tribute as Self - Perfomer
1997Acústico MTV: Titãs as Self
1996Never Mind the Buzzcocks as Self
1994TOTP2 as Self
1994Space Ghost Coast to Coast
1990Marked for Death as Himself
1988A Reggae Session as Self
1987Le monde est à vous as Self
1987Sacrée Soirée as Self
1986Club Paradise as Ernest Reed
1984Jimmy Cliff - Rockpalast 84
1984Partido Alto as Self
1982Bongo Man as Self
1982Champs-Elysées as Self
1980Grandes Nomes as Self
1977Roots Rock Reggae: Inside The Jamaican Music Scene as Self
1975Saturday Night Live as Self - Musical Guest
1974Rockpalast
1973Rock Concert as Self
1972The Harder They Come as Ivanhoe "Ivan" Martin
1968Spotlight as self
19664-3-2-1 Hot and Sweet as Self
1964This Is Ska as Himself








