Biography
Jimmy Cliff, also credited as James Chambers, is a Jamaican actor and musician. He is known for his lead performance as Ivanhoe 'Ivan' Martin in the 1972 film The Harder They Come, directed by Perry Henzell, in which he also contributed several songs to the soundtrack.
Born James Chambers on 30 July 1944 in the Somerton district of St James, Jamaica, Cliff had no prior professional acting experience when cast in the film. He later appeared in other productions including Club Paradise (1986). Cliff received the Jamaican Order of Merit and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. He died on 24 November 2025.
