Jimmy Cliff

Career overview

Role: Meticulous television and film archivist.
Task: Write a 180-260 word career overview of Jimmy Cliff (focusing on Acting).
Constraints:
Use ONLY verifiable facts from provided SYNOPSIS and SOURCES.
No invented titles, names, dates, awards, etc.
No markdown, no asterisks, no headings, no bullet points.
Plain text, neutral, encyclopedic prose.
Word count: 180-260 words.
Structure: 2-3 short paragraphs.
Name: Jimmy Cliff (The Honourable Jimmy Cliff, OM).
Profession: Jamaican ska, rocksteady, reggae and soul musician, multi-instrumentalist, singer, actor, composer.
Birth: July 30, 1944 (Somerton district of St. James, Jamaica [Source 1, 5] or St. Catherine, Jamaica [Source 2]). Note: Source 1/5 says Somerton, St. James; Source 2 says St. Catherine. I will stick to what is available or mention the discrepancy if necessary, but usually, for a bio, I'll pick one or just say Jamaica.
Death: November 24, 2025 (81 years old) in Jamaica.
Acting Credits/Known For:
The Harder They Come (1972) - instrumental in introducing reggae to international audiences through his performance in this film.
The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996).
Fool's Gold (2008).
Music/Soundtrack connection: Songs "Sitting in Limbo," "You Can Get It If You Really Want," and "Many Rivers to Cross" are from the soundtrack to The Harder They Come.
Awards: Order of Merit (OM), the highest honour from the Jamaican government for achievements in arts and sciences.
Paragraph 1: Introduction and early career/landmark film.
Jimmy Cliff was a Jamaican musician, singer, actor, and composer. He was a ska, rocksteady, reggae, and soul musician and multi-instrumentalist. He is widely recognized for his performance in the 1972 film The Harder They Come. This landmark film helped introduce reggae to an international audience. The soundtrack for The Harder They Come featured his songs, including Sitting in Limbo, You Can Get It If You Really Want, and Many Rivers to Cross.
Paragraph 2: Later acting work and honors.
In addition to his work in The Harder They Come, Cliff was known for his roles in The Long Kiss Goodnight in 1996 and Fool's Gold in 2008. For his achievements in the arts and sciences, he was awarded the Order of Merit, which is the highest honour granted by the Jamaican government. At the time of his death on November 24, 2025, he was the only living reggae musician to hold this honour.
Drafting text:
Jimmy Cliff was a Jamaican musician, singer, actor, and composer known for his work in ska, rocksteady, reggae, and soul. He was a multi-instrumentalist who became instrumental in introducing reggae to an international audience through his performance in the landmark 1972 film The Harder They Come. The soundtrack for this film included his songs Sitting in Limbo, You Can Get It If You Really Want, and Many Rivers to Cross, which helped popularize the genre across the world.

Beyond his work in The Harder They Come, Cliff's acting credits include appearances in The Long Kiss Goodnight in 1996 and Fool's Gold in 2008. For his achievements in the arts and sciences, he held the Order of Merit, the highest honour that can be granted by the Jamaican government. At the time of his death on November 24, 2025, he was the only living