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KINGSTON (Reuters) -Jimmy Cliff, the legendary Jamaican singer who along with Bob Marley popularized reggae, ska and rocksteady music over a six decade career, has died, his wife Latifa Chambers announced on Facebook on Monday. The cause was a seizure followed by pneumonia, she said. Born James Chambers on July 30, 1944 during a hurricane in St. James Parish, northwestern Jamaica, he moved in the 1950s from the family farm to the country's capital Kingston with his father, determined to succeed in the music industry. At just 14 he became nationally famous for the song "Hurricane Hattie," which he wrote. Cliff would go on to record over 30 albums and perform all over the world, including in Paris, in Brazil and at the World's Fair, an international exhibition held in New York in 1964. The following year, Island Records' Chris Blackwell, the producer who launched Bob Marley and the Wailers, invited Cliff to work in the U.K. with him. Cliff later went into acting, starring in the 1972 classic film "The Harder They Come," directed by Perry Henzell, which introduced an international audience to reggae music. The movie portrayed the grittier aspects of Jamaican life, redefining the island as more than a tourist playground of cocktails, beaches and waterfalls. "When I've achieved all my ambitions, then I guess that I will have done it and I can just say 'great'," he said in a 2019 interview, as he was losing his sight. "But I'm still hungry. I want it. I’ve still got the burning fire that burns brightly inside of me – like I just said to you. I still have many rivers to cross!" Known in part for singles "You Can Get It If You Really Want It" and "Many Rivers To Cross," as well as for his covers of Johnny Nash's "I Can See Clearly Now," which appeared on the soundtrack of the 1993 movie "Cool Runnings," and Cat Stevens' "Wild World," Cliff was a prolific writer who weaved his humanitarian views into his songs. Bob Dylan said Cliff's "Vietnam" was the best protest song ever written. The anti-establishment bent of Cliff's music gave a voice not only to the hardships faced by Jamaicans, but to the spirit and joy that persevered in spite of poverty and oppression. Over the years, Cliff worked with the Rolling Stones, Elvis Costello, Annie Lennox and Paul Simon. In 2012, he won a Grammy Award for best reggae album for "Rebirth," which was produced by punk band Rancid's Tim Armstrong, and another Grammy in 1984 for "Cliff Hanger." Cliff received the Order of Merit, the highest honour in the arts and sciences, from the Jamaican government. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. (Editing by Diane Craft)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

KINGSTON (Reuters) -Jimmy Cliff, the legendary Jamaican singer who along with Bob Marley popularized reggae, ska and rocksteady music over a six decade career, has died, his wife Latifa Chambers announced on Facebook on Monday. The cause was a seizure followed by pneumonia, she said. Born James Chambers on July 30, 1944 during a hurricane in St. James Parish, northwestern Jamaica, he moved in the 1950s from the family farm to the country's capital Kingston with his father, determined to succeed in the music industry. At just 14 he became nationally famous for the song "Hurricane Hattie," which he wrote. Cliff would go on to record over 30 albums and perform all over the world, including in Paris, in Brazil and at the World's Fair, an international exhibition held in New York in 1964. The following year, Island Records' Chris Blackwell, the producer who launched Bob Marley and the Wailers, invited Cliff to work in the U.K. with him. Cliff later went into acting, starring in the 1972 classic film "The Harder They Come," directed by Perry Henzell, which introduced an international audience to reggae music. The movie portrayed the grittier aspects of Jamaican life, redefining the island as more than a tourist playground of cocktails, beaches and waterfalls. "When I've achieved all my ambitions, then I guess that I will have done it and I can just say 'great'," he said in a 2019 interview, as he was losing his sight. "But I'm still hungry. I want it. I’ve still got the burning fire that burns brightly inside of me – like I just said to you. I still have many rivers to cross!" Known in part for singles "You Can Get It If You Really Want It" and "Many Rivers To Cross," as well as for his covers of Johnny Nash's "I Can See Clearly Now," which appeared on the soundtrack of the 1993 movie "Cool Runnings," and Cat Stevens' "Wild World," Cliff was a prolific writer who weaved his humanitarian views into his songs. Bob Dylan said Cliff's "Vietnam" was the best protest song ever written. The anti-establishment bent of Cliff's music gave a voice not only to the hardships faced by Jamaicans, but to the spirit and joy that persevered in spite of poverty and oppression. Over the years, Cliff worked with the Rolling Stones, Elvis Costello, Annie Lennox and Paul Simon. In 2012, he won a Grammy Award for best reggae album for "Rebirth," which was produced by punk band Rancid's Tim Armstrong, and another Grammy in 1984 for "Cliff Hanger." Cliff received the Order of Merit, the highest honour in the arts and sciences, from the Jamaican government. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. (Editing by Diane Craft)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

KINGSTON (Reuters) -Jimmy Cliff, the legendary Jamaican singer who along with Bob Marley popularized reggae, ska and rocksteady music over a six decade career, has died, his wife Latifa Chambers announced on Facebook on Monday. The cause was a seizure followed by pneumonia, she said. Born James Chambers on July 30, 1944 during a hurricane in St. James Parish, northwestern Jamaica, he moved in the 1950s from the family farm to the country's capital Kingston with his father, determined to succeed in the music industry. At just 14 he became nationally famous for the song "Hurricane Hattie," which he wrote. Cliff would go on to record over 30 albums and perform all over the world, including in Paris, in Brazil and at the World's Fair, an international exhibition held in New York in 1964. The following year, Island Records' Chris Blackwell, the producer who launched Bob Marley and the Wailers, invited Cliff to work in the U.K. with him. Cliff later went into acting, starring in the 1972 classic film "The Harder They Come," directed by Perry Henzell, which introduced an international audience to reggae music. The movie portrayed the grittier aspects of Jamaican life, redefining the island as more than a tourist playground of cocktails, beaches and waterfalls. "When I've achieved all my ambitions, then I guess that I will have done it and I can just say 'great'," he said in a 2019 interview, as he was losing his sight. "But I'm still hungry. I want it. I’ve still got the burning fire that burns brightly inside of me – like I just said to you. I still have many rivers to cross!" Known in part for singles "You Can Get It If You Really Want It" and "Many Rivers To Cross," as well as for his covers of Johnny Nash's "I Can See Clearly Now," which appeared on the soundtrack of the 1993 movie "Cool Runnings," and Cat Stevens' "Wild World," Cliff was a prolific writer who weaved his humanitarian views into his songs. Bob Dylan said Cliff's "Vietnam" was the best protest song ever written. The anti-establishment bent of Cliff's music gave a voice not only to the hardships faced by Jamaicans, but to the spirit and joy that persevered in spite of poverty and oppression. Over the years, Cliff worked with the Rolling Stones, Elvis Costello, Annie Lennox and Paul Simon. In 2012, he won a Grammy Award for best reggae album for "Rebirth," which was produced by punk band Rancid's Tim Armstrong, and another Grammy in 1984 for "Cliff Hanger." Cliff received the Order of Merit, the highest honour in the arts and sciences, from the Jamaican government. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. (Editing by Diane Craft)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

MUMBAI (Reuters) -Dharmendra Deol, who became one of India's most prominent actors and a Bollywood action hero, died in Mumbai on Monday, local media said. He was 89. Dharmendra, who is survived by two wives and six children, had been ill for the past month and died at home, media reported. There was no official statement from the actor's family, but several of his contemporaries, including actor Amitabh Bachchan, gathered at a crematorium in the Mumbai suburb of Juhu for his funeral. "A massive mega star, the embodiment of a hero in mainstream cinema," producer and director Karan Johar, who cast Dharmendra in his 2023 film "Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani" (Rocky and Rani's Love Story), wrote in an Instagram post. Known to his legion of fans by his first name, Dharmendra acted in more than 300 films in a career spanning more than six decades. Born in Punjab province in 1935, Dharmendra won a talent show organised by a film magazine, moving to Mumbai and acting in his first film in 1960.  In the years that followed, he appeared in everything from arthouse films to soft romances, action films and goofy comedies, making him the top actor of his generation. Notable films included Bollywood cult classic "Sholay" (Embers), in which he played one half of a team of small-time thugs tasked with catching a bandit. The film, which was released in 1975, has become part of Indian popular culture and Dharmendra's dialogue from the film has influenced movies ever since. In recent years, it has become a meme. Dharmendra married his first wife, Prakash Kaur, before he found fame. After starring alongside Hema Malini in several films, he married her in 1980, without divorcing Prakash. He was a lawmaker in the Indian parliament from 2004 to 2009. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Draupadi Murmu and several others also sent their condolences on the actor's death. "He was an iconic film personality, a phenomenal actor who brought charm and depth to every role he played," Modi said in a post on X. (Reporting by Shilpa Jamkhandikar; Editing by Kate Mayberry)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

MUMBAI (Reuters) -Dharmendra Deol, who became one of India's most prominent actors and a Bollywood action hero, died in Mumbai on Monday, local media said. He was 89. Dharmendra, who is survived by two wives and six children, had been ill for the past month and died at home, media reported. There was no official statement from the actor's family, but several of his contemporaries, including actor Amitabh Bachchan, gathered at a crematorium in the Mumbai suburb of Juhu for his funeral. "A massive mega star, the embodiment of a hero in mainstream cinema," producer and director Karan Johar, who cast Dharmendra in his 2023 film "Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani" (Rocky and Rani's Love Story), wrote in an Instagram post. Known to his legion of fans by his first name, Dharmendra acted in more than 300 films in a career spanning more than six decades. Born in Punjab province in 1935, Dharmendra won a talent show organised by a film magazine, moving to Mumbai and acting in his first film in 1960.  In the years that followed, he appeared in everything from arthouse films to soft romances, action films and goofy comedies, making him the top actor of his generation. Notable films included Bollywood cult classic "Sholay" (Embers), in which he played one half of a team of small-time thugs tasked with catching a bandit. The film, which was released in 1975, has become part of Indian popular culture and Dharmendra's dialogue from the film has influenced movies ever since. In recent years, it has become a meme. Dharmendra married his first wife, Prakash Kaur, before he found fame. After starring alongside Hema Malini in several films, he married her in 1980, without divorcing Prakash. He was a lawmaker in the Indian parliament from 2004 to 2009. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Draupadi Murmu and several others also sent their condolences on the actor's death. "He was an iconic film personality, a phenomenal actor who brought charm and depth to every role he played," Modi said in a post on X. (Reporting by Shilpa Jamkhandikar; Editing by Kate Mayberry)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

MUMBAI (Reuters) -Dharmendra Deol, who became one of India's most prominent actors and a Bollywood action hero, died in Mumbai on Monday, local media said. He was 89. Dharmendra, who is survived by two wives and six children, had been ill for the past month and died at home, media reported. There was no official statement from the actor's family, but several of his contemporaries, including actor Amitabh Bachchan, gathered at a crematorium in the Mumbai suburb of Juhu for his funeral. "A massive mega star, the embodiment of a hero in mainstream cinema," producer and director Karan Johar, who cast Dharmendra in his 2023 film "Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani" (Rocky and Rani's Love Story), wrote in an Instagram post. Known to his legion of fans by his first name, Dharmendra acted in more than 300 films in a career spanning more than six decades. Born in Punjab province in 1935, Dharmendra won a talent show organised by a film magazine, moving to Mumbai and acting in his first film in 1960.  In the years that followed, he appeared in everything from arthouse films to soft romances, action films and goofy comedies, making him the top actor of his generation. Notable films included Bollywood cult classic "Sholay" (Embers), in which he played one half of a team of small-time thugs tasked with catching a bandit. The film, which was released in 1975, has become part of Indian popular culture and Dharmendra's dialogue from the film has influenced movies ever since. In recent years, it has become a meme. Dharmendra married his first wife, Prakash Kaur, before he found fame. After starring alongside Hema Malini in several films, he married her in 1980, without divorcing Prakash. He was a lawmaker in the Indian parliament from 2004 to 2009. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Draupadi Murmu and several others also sent their condolences on the actor's death. "He was an iconic film personality, a phenomenal actor who brought charm and depth to every role he played," Modi said in a post on X. (Reporting by Shilpa Jamkhandikar; Editing by Kate Mayberry)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Dawn Chmielewski LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -"Wicked: For Good" brought in $150 million in the U.S. and Canada in its opening weekend, setting a record for a film adaptation of a Broadway musical and ranking among the best-performing movie musicals of all time, according to the studio. The second half of the big-screen adaptation of "Wicked," which reunites Cynthia Erivo's Elphaba with Ariana Grande's Glinda, posted the third-best domestic opening weekend for a musical ever, behind Disney's 2019 photorealistic, computer-generated version of "The Lion King" and its 2017 remake of "Beauty and the Beast," according to Universal Pictures and Comscore's box office tallies. "Wicked: For Good" also helped lift a moribund North American box office from a nine-week slump, where total ticket sales failed to reach $100 million, according to Comscore. "It's absolutely tremendous to see all the hard work that our filmmakers, Marc Platt and Jon Chu, and our extraordinary cast of Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey, put in for years, and to see it pay off so handsomely is just beyond satisfying," said Jim Orr, Universal's president of domestic theatrical distribution. Musicals don't always appeal to moviegoers. Examples of modestly performing film adaptations of Broadway hits like "Dear Evan Hansen" and "In the Heights" outnumber cinematic blockbusters like the movie version of the ABBA musical, "Mamma Mia!" RISKY TWO-FILM GAMBLE The risky nature of stage-to-screen adaptations made industry analyst Daniel Loria initially question Universal's decision to break the musical Wicked into two films. "Most other studios would have made this one movie," said Loria, senior vice president of content strategy for the Boxoffice Company, which provides data services for the industry. "The fact that you can squeeze out two blockbusters from the same IP, that's a fantastic feat." Industry insiders credit the enduring appeal of the long-running Broadway musical, director Jon Chu's inspired casting, and an aggressive marketing campaign for "Wicked's" success.  "There’s something about it that resonates, particularly with younger viewers," said Comscore's box office analyst Paul Dergarabedian. "'Wicked' is to the younger generation what 'The Sound of Music' was to an older generation." Critical response to the movie was uneven, with New Yorker critic Justin Chang writing that "too much of 'Wicked: For Good' plays like "Oz the World Turns." Audiences reacted enthusiastically to the film, which earned an A grade from CinemaScore, which polls moviegoers for their reaction, and a 95% fresh rating on the movie review website Rotten Tomatoes. "The energy and anticipation leading up to this weekend kept building and building in what became a just sensational result for us at Cinemark," said Sean Gamble, the theater chain's president and chief executive. "'Wicked: For Good' was 30% bigger than the first installment. It was our second biggest November opening of all time." Universal's Orr said "Wicked: For Good" played well in Salt Lake City, Utah, which signals its appeal to families.  In addition to topping the North American box office, "Wicked: For Good" brought in an additional $76 million in 78 countries outside of the U.S. and Canada for a total estimated opening weekend tally of $226 million. (Reporting by Dawn Chmielewski in Los Angeles; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Nick Zieminski)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Dawn Chmielewski LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -"Wicked: For Good" brought in $150 million in the U.S. and Canada in its opening weekend, setting a record for a film adaptation of a Broadway musical and ranking among the best-performing movie musicals of all time, according to the studio. The second half of the big-screen adaptation of "Wicked," which reunites Cynthia Erivo's Elphaba with Ariana Grande's Glinda, posted the third-best domestic opening weekend for a musical ever, behind Disney's 2019 photorealistic, computer-generated version of "The Lion King" and its 2017 remake of "Beauty and the Beast," according to Universal Pictures and Comscore's box office tallies. "Wicked: For Good" also helped lift a moribund North American box office from a nine-week slump, where total ticket sales failed to reach $100 million, according to Comscore. "It's absolutely tremendous to see all the hard work that our filmmakers, Marc Platt and Jon Chu, and our extraordinary cast of Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey, put in for years, and to see it pay off so handsomely is just beyond satisfying," said Jim Orr, Universal's president of domestic theatrical distribution. Musicals don't always appeal to moviegoers. Examples of modestly performing film adaptations of Broadway hits like "Dear Evan Hansen" and "In the Heights" outnumber cinematic blockbusters like the movie version of the ABBA musical, "Mamma Mia!" RISKY TWO-FILM GAMBLE The risky nature of stage-to-screen adaptations made industry analyst Daniel Loria initially question Universal's decision to break the musical Wicked into two films. "Most other studios would have made this one movie," said Loria, senior vice president of content strategy for the Boxoffice Company, which provides data services for the industry. "The fact that you can squeeze out two blockbusters from the same IP, that's a fantastic feat." Industry insiders credit the enduring appeal of the long-running Broadway musical, director Jon Chu's inspired casting, and an aggressive marketing campaign for "Wicked's" success.  "There’s something about it that resonates, particularly with younger viewers," said Comscore's box office analyst Paul Dergarabedian. "'Wicked' is to the younger generation what 'The Sound of Music' was to an older generation." Critical response to the movie was uneven, with New Yorker critic Justin Chang writing that "too much of 'Wicked: For Good' plays like "Oz the World Turns." Audiences reacted enthusiastically to the film, which earned an A grade from CinemaScore, which polls moviegoers for their reaction, and a 95% fresh rating on the movie review website Rotten Tomatoes. "The energy and anticipation leading up to this weekend kept building and building in what became a just sensational result for us at Cinemark," said Sean Gamble, the theater chain's president and chief executive. "'Wicked: For Good' was 30% bigger than the first installment. It was our second biggest November opening of all time." Universal's Orr said "Wicked: For Good" played well in Salt Lake City, Utah, which signals its appeal to families.  In addition to topping the North American box office, "Wicked: For Good" brought in an additional $76 million in 78 countries outside of the U.S. and Canada for a total estimated opening weekend tally of $226 million. (Reporting by Dawn Chmielewski in Los Angeles; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Nick Zieminski)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Dawn Chmielewski LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -"Wicked: For Good" brought in $150 million in the U.S. and Canada in its opening weekend, setting a record for a film adaptation of a Broadway musical and ranking among the best-performing movie musicals of all time, according to the studio. The second half of the big-screen adaptation of "Wicked," which reunites Cynthia Erivo's Elphaba with Ariana Grande's Glinda, posted the third-best domestic opening weekend for a musical ever, behind Disney's 2019 photorealistic, computer-generated version of "The Lion King" and its 2017 remake of "Beauty and the Beast," according to Universal Pictures and Comscore's box office tallies. "Wicked: For Good" also helped lift a moribund North American box office from a nine-week slump, where total ticket sales failed to reach $100 million, according to Comscore. "It's absolutely tremendous to see all the hard work that our filmmakers, Marc Platt and Jon Chu, and our extraordinary cast of Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey, put in for years, and to see it pay off so handsomely is just beyond satisfying," said Jim Orr, Universal's president of domestic theatrical distribution. Musicals don't always appeal to moviegoers. Examples of modestly performing film adaptations of Broadway hits like "Dear Evan Hansen" and "In the Heights" outnumber cinematic blockbusters like the movie version of the ABBA musical, "Mamma Mia!" RISKY TWO-FILM GAMBLE The risky nature of stage-to-screen adaptations made industry analyst Daniel Loria initially question Universal's decision to break the musical Wicked into two films. "Most other studios would have made this one movie," said Loria, senior vice president of content strategy for the Boxoffice Company, which provides data services for the industry. "The fact that you can squeeze out two blockbusters from the same IP, that's a fantastic feat." Industry insiders credit the enduring appeal of the long-running Broadway musical, director Jon Chu's inspired casting, and an aggressive marketing campaign for "Wicked's" success.  "There’s something about it that resonates, particularly with younger viewers," said Comscore's box office analyst Paul Dergarabedian. "'Wicked' is to the younger generation what 'The Sound of Music' was to an older generation." Critical response to the movie was uneven, with New Yorker critic Justin Chang writing that "too much of 'Wicked: For Good' plays like "Oz the World Turns." Audiences reacted enthusiastically to the film, which earned an A grade from CinemaScore, which polls moviegoers for their reaction, and a 95% fresh rating on the movie review website Rotten Tomatoes. Universal's Orr said "Wicked: For Good" played well in Salt Lake City, Utah, which signals its appeal to families.  In addition to topping the North American box office, "Wicked: For Good" brought in an additional $76 million in 78 countries outside of the U.S. and Canada for a total estimated opening weekend tally of $226 million. (Reporting by Dawn Chmielewski in Los Angeles; Editing by Bill Berkrot)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Dawn Chmielewski LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -"Wicked: For Good" brought in $150 million in the U.S. and Canada in its opening weekend, setting a record for a film adaptation of a Broadway musical and ranking among the best-performing musicals of all time, according to the studio. The second half of the big-screen adaptation of "Wicked," which reunites Cynthia Erivo's Elphaba with Ariana Grande's Glinda, posted the third-best domestic opening weekend for a musical ever, behind Disney's 2019 photorealistic computer-generated version of "The Lion King" and its 2017 remake of "Beauty and the Beast," according to Universal Pictures and Comscore's box office tallies. "Wicked: For Good" also helped lift a moribund North American box office from a nine-week slump, where total ticket sales failed to reach $100 million, according to Comscore. "It's absolutely tremendous to see all the hard work that our filmmakers, Marc Platt and Jon Chu, and our extraordinary cast of Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey, put in for years, and to see it pay off so handsomely is just beyond satisfying," said Jim Orr, Universal's president of domestic theatrical distribution. Musicals don't always appeal to movie-goers. Examples of modestly performing film adaptations of Broadway hits like "Dear Evan Hansen" and "In the Heights" outnumber cinematic blockbusters like the movie version of the ABBA musical, "Mamma Mia!" RISKY TWO-FILM GAMBLE The risky nature of stage-to-screen adaptations made industry analyst Daniel Loria initially question Universal Pictures' decision to break the musical Wicked into two films. "Most other studios would have made this one movie," said Loria, senior vice president of content strategy for the Boxoffice Company, which provides data services for the industry. "The fact that you can squeeze out two blockbusters from the same IP, that's a fantastic feat." Industry insiders credit the enduring appeal of the long-running Broadway musical, director Jon Chu's inspired casting, and an aggressive marketing campaign for "Wicked's" success.  "There’s something about it that resonates, particularly with younger viewers," said Comscore's box office analyst Paul Dergarabedian. "'Wicked' is to the younger generation what 'The Sound of Music' was to an older generation." (Reporting by Dawn Chmielewski in Los Angeles; Editing by Bill Berkrot)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)