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The world of reggae music is mourning the loss of legendary musician and actor Jimmy Cliff, who died at the age of 81. His family confirmed his passing in a heartfelt statement.
Cliff’s wife, Latifa Chambers, took to Instagram to share the news, explaining that he succumbed to illness. “With deep sorrow, I announce that my beloved husband, Jimmy Cliff, has departed this world due to a seizure followed by pneumonia,” she wrote, alongside their children, Lilty and Aken. “I am grateful for everyone—family, friends, artists, and colleagues—who shared in his journey. To his fans globally, your unwavering support was his source of strength throughout his career. He cherished each of you. Jimmy, my love, rest peacefully. I will honor your wishes.”
Cliff’s musical journey began in the 1960s, but he skyrocketed to international fame with his role in the 1972 film The Harder They Come, for which he also contributed significantly to the soundtrack. His portrayal of Ivanhoe “Ivan” Martin earned him widespread acclaim.
In an interview with Variety in 2023, Cliff reflected on his life experiences: “I might not be a bad man, but I’ve known plenty of them. When I arrived in Kingston, I was often in their company. During the filming of the movie, I even had the chance to converse with them, asking if they would do what my character did. While I am a man of peace, I have been acquainted with many who were not.”
“I may not be a bad man, but I have known a lot of bad men,” he told Variety in 2023. “When I got to Kingston, I was among those types of people a lot. When I was shooting the movie I even got a chance to speak to them, ask them if they would do what I was doing in the movie. So, you’re right I am a man of peace, but I knew plenty of people who were not.”
The Jamaican film earned international acclaim and was released three years later in the United States, introducing more of the world to reggae as a genre.
Cliff composed the title track and others including “You Can Get It If You Really Want,” “Many Rivers To Cross,” and others. The album has been hailed as one of the greatest soundtracks of all time and was preserved in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress in 2021. Cliff was also awarded Jamaica’s Order of Merit in 2003.
He later also appeared in the 1986 comedy Club Paradise alongside Robin Williams and the 2003 film Rude Boy: The Jamaican Don.
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness praised Cliff’s legacy in a statement.
“Jimmy Cliff told our story with honesty and soul,” he wrote. “His music lifted people through hard times, inspired generations, and helped to shape the global respect that Jamaican culture enjoys today.”