
Person
Jimmy Cliff
Acting · 1944–2025 · Somerton district of St. James, Jamaica
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

Saturday Night Live
Self - Musical Guest

Miami Vice
Songs

Champs-Elysées
Self

Sacrée soirée
Self

TOTP2
Self

Le monde est à vous
Self

Never Mind the Buzzcocks
Self

Rockpalast
1974

Squidbillies
Theme Song Performance

Space Ghost Coast to Coast
1994
Filmography
- 2021Biggie: I Got a Story to TellSelf (archive footage)
- 2019Studio 17: The Lost Reggae TapesSelf
- 2018ReMastered: Who Shot the SheriffHimself
- 2016Dear Jerry - Celebrating The Music of Jerry GarciaSelf
- 2014Lennon or McCartneySelf
- 2013Muscle ShoalsSelf
- 2012MarleySelf
- 2011Toots and the Maytals Reggae Got SoulHimself
- 2009Titãs - A Vida Até Parece Uma FestaSelf (archive footage)
- 2009O Melhor do Flash Back - 92 Clipes Para RecordarSelf (archive footage)
- 2008Formel Eins - Die Kultvideos Vol. 2Self (archive footage)
- 2006Jimmy Cliff - Moving OnSinger
- 2005SquidbilliesTheme Song Performance
- 2005EngineTheme Song Performance
- 2003Rude Boy: The Jamaican DonWise Man
- 1999One Love: The Bob Marley All-Star TributeSelf - Perfomer
- 1997Acústico MTV: TitãsSelf
- 1996Never Mind the BuzzcocksSelf
- 1994TOTP2Self
- 1994Space Ghost Coast to Coast
- 1990Marked for DeathHimself
- 1989ÔríSelf
- 1988A Reggae SessionSelf
- 1987Le monde est à vousSelf
- 1987Sacrée soiréeSelf
- 1986Club ParadiseErnest Reed
- 1984Miami ViceSongs
- 1984Partido AltoSelf
- 1982Bongo ManSelf
- 1982Champs-ElyséesSelf
- 1980Grandes NomesSelf
- 1977Roots Rock Reggae: Inside The Jamaican Music SceneSelf
- 1975Saturday Night LiveSelf - Musical Guest
- 1974Rockpalast
- 1973Rock ConcertSelf
- 1972The Harder They ComeIvanhoe "Ivan" Martin
- 1968Spotlightself
- 19664-3-2-1 Hot and SweetSelf
- 1964This Is SkaHimself
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