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Jean-Claude Van Damme

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Jean-Claude Van Damme
Van Damme in Cannes
BornJean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg
(1960-10-18) 18 October 1960 (age 64)
Sint-Agatha-Berchem, Brussels-Capital, Belgium
Other names
  • "JCVD"
  • "The Muscles from Brussels"
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)[1]
Weight180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)[2]
DivisionMiddleweight
StyleKarate, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Taekwondo
Fighting out ofBrussels, Belgium
TeamTeam Goetz
TrainerClaude Goetz
Dominique Valera
Rank  2nd Dan Black Belt in Karate
Years active1976–1982 (martial arts)
1979–present (acting)
Kickboxing record
Total19
Wins18
By knockout18
Losses1
Amateur record
Total48
Wins44
Losses4
Other information
Occupation
  • Martial artist
  • actor
  • writer
  • producer
  • conservationist
Spouse
María Rodríguez
​
​
(m. 1980; div. 1984)​
Cynthia Derderian
​
​
(m. 1985; div. 1986)​
Gladys Portugues
​
​
(m. 1987; div. 1992)​
​
​
(m. 1999)​
Darcy LaPier
​
​
(m. 1994; div. 1997)​
Children3
Websitejcvdworld.com

Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg (French: [ʒɑ̃ klod kamij fʁɑ̃swa vɑ̃ vaʁɑ̃bɛʁɡ]; Dutch: [vɑn ˈvarə(n)ˈbɛrx]; born 18 October 1960), known professionally as Jean-Claude Van Damme (French: [vɑ̃ dam]; Dutch: [vɑn ˈdɑmə]), is a Belgian martial artist, actor, and filmmaker. Nicknamed "The Muscles from Brussels", he is widely regarded as an icon of action and martial arts cinema.[3][4] Van Damme's films have grossed over $1 billion worldwide, making him one of the most successful action stars of all time.[5]

Early life

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Born and raised in Brussels, his father enrolled him in a Shotokan karate school at the age of ten, which led Van Damme to earn his black belt in karate at the age of eighteen, and the rank of 2nd-dan black belt.[6][7][8] He competed in several karate and kickboxing competitions, and was a member of the Belgium Karate Team when it won the European Karate Championship on 26 December 1979.[9][10][11] At the age of 16, he took up ballet, which he studied for five years.[12] He started lifting weights to improve his physique, which eventually led to a Mr. Belgium bodybuilding title in 1978.[13] In 1979, he opened a gym called "California Gym" in Brussels.[14]

Acting career

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With the desire of becoming an actor, he moved to the United States in 1982, where he worked on several films, until he got his break as the lead in the martial arts film Bloodsport (1988). The film introduced his trademark splits and spinning 360˚ heel kick to an American audience.[15] Van Damme became a popular action film star and followed up with commercially successful films such as Cyborg (1989), Kickboxer (1989), Lionheart (1990), Death Warrant (1990), Double Impact (1991), Universal Soldier (1992), Nowhere to Run (1993), Hard Target (1993), Timecop (1994), Street Fighter (1994), Sudden Death (1995), The Quest (1996), which marked his directorial debut, and Maximum Risk (1996). At the height of his career, he was one of the biggest action movie stars in the world, and one of the most successful martial arts actors of the 1980s and 1990s, alongside Steven Seagal.[16][17] Van Damme was also considered a sex symbol.[18][19]

During the late 1990s and early 2000s, his popularity declined. He mostly appeared in limited theatrical releases or direct-to-video films. During this time, he starred in Replicant (2001), for which he was nominated for a Video Premiere Award for Best Actor. The film is considered the best outing from within Van Damme's direct-to-video career.[20] He returned to prominence with the critically acclaimed crime drama JCVD (2008). After JCVD, he began mixing things up, starring in comedies, and voicing kids animations, all the while keeping the action going.[21] His big return to the action genre was in The Expendables 2 (2012), in which he starred as the villain, opposite Sylvester Stallone.[22] From thereon Van Damme continued starring in action films and doing extensive voice work.

Public image and influence

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Van Damme is widely regarded as an icon of action and martial arts cinema.[23][24] At the height of his career, he was one of the biggest action movie stars in the world, and one of the most successful martial arts actors of the 1980s and 1990s, alongside Steven Seagal.[25][26] Van Damme's influence has been compared to the Bruceploitation explosion of the 1970s.[27]

Van Damme achieved sex symbol status through publicity venues in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Unlike his major rivals in action film, such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Steven Seagal, and Bruce Willis, Van Damme was nominated by the National Enquirer as number one on their "Top Ten Sexiest Men in the World" list, being the only action film star listed.[28][29][30]

Many martial artists, athletes, and filmmakers have cited Van Damme as an influence, such as Alain Moussi,[31] Scott Adkins,[32] Dave Callaham,[33] Adam Brody,[34] Jay Cutler,[35] Lyoto Machida,[36] Michael Page,[37] Anderson Silva,[38] Georges St-Pierre,[39] Cain Velasquez,[40][41] Nick Diaz,[42] Nate Diaz,[43] Conor McGregor,[44] Jiří Procházka,[45] Mirko Cro Cop,[46] James P. Bennett,[47][48] Rico Verhoeven,[49] Tom Duquesnoy,[50] John Albert,[51] Charles Rosa,[52] Murad Ramazanov,[53] Halil Amir,[54] Andrei Stoica,[55] Giorgio Petrosyan,[56] Alfie Davis,[57] Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu,[58] and Angela Chang.[59]

Personal life

[change | change source]

Among his acting heroes growing up were Charles Bronson, Bruce Lee, James Dean, Montgomery Clift, Steve McQueen, Jean-Paul Belmondo, and Sylvester Stallone.[60][61]

Van Damme stands at a height of 5 ft 9 in. His weight is 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb).[1]

He was married to Maria Rodriguez from 1980 until they divorced in 1984. Then he was married to Cynthia Derderian from 1985 until they divorced in 1986. Then he was married to Darcy LaPier from 1994 until they divorced in 1997. Then he was married to Gladys Portugues from 1987 until they divorced in 1992; they remarried in 1999. He has three children. In 2022, he was living in Hong Kong.[21] Van Damme has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.[62]

Film

[change | change source]
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1979 Woman Between Wolf and Dog Movie Goer / Man in Garden Uncredited extra [63]
1984 Breakin Spectator in First Dance Sequence Uncredited extra
1984 Missing in Action Soldier Uncredited extra; also stunt
1984 Monaco Forever Gay Karate Man Short film; cameo
1986 No Retreat, No Surrender Ivan "The Russian" Kraschinsky
1988 Bloodsport Frank Dux Also uncredited editor
1987 Predator None Uncredited body double only
1988 Black Eagle Andrei
1989 Cyborg Gibson Rickenbacker Also uncredited editor
1989 Kickboxer Kurt Sloane Also story, fight director and fight choreographer
1990 Lionheart Lyon "Lionheart" Gaultier Also writer/story and fight choreographer
1990 Death Warrant Detective Louis Burke
1991 Double Impact Alex Wagner / Chad Wagner Dual role; also writer/story, producer and fight choreographer
1992 Universal Soldier Private Luc Deveraux / GR44
1993 Nowhere to Run Sam Gillen
1993 Last Action Hero Himself Cameo
1993 Hard Target Chance Boudreaux
1994 Timecop Agent Max Walker / Agent Max Walker Dual role
1994 Street Fighter Colonel William F. Guile
1995 Sudden Death Chief Darren Francis Thomas McCord
1995 The Quest Christopher Dubois Also director and story
1996 Maximum Risk Detective Alain Moreau / Mikhail Suverov Dual role
1997 Double Team Agent Jack Paul Quinn
1998 Knock Off Marcus Ray
1999 Legionnaire Alain Lefèvre Direct-to-video; also story and producer
1999 Universal Soldier: The Return Private Luc Deveraux Also producer
1999 Inferno Eddie Lomax Limited release; also producer
2001 Replicant Edward "The Torch" Garrotte / The Replicant Direct-to-video; dual role
2001 The Order Rudy Cafmeyer / Charles Le Vaillant Direct-to-video; dual role; also writer
2002 Derailed Agent Jacques Kristoff Direct-to-video
2003 In Hell Kyle LeBlanc Direct-to-video
2004 Narco Jean's Ghost by Lenny
2004 Wake of Death Ben Archer Direct-to-video
2005 Second in Command Commander Samuel "Sam" Keenan Direct-to-video
2006 The Hard Corps Philippe Sauvage Direct-to-video; also uncredited fight choreographer
2006 The Exam Charles
2006 Until Death Detective Anthony Stowe Direct-to-video
2007 The Shepherd: Border Patrol Detective Jack Robideaux Direct-to-video
2008 JCVD Himself Limited release; also executive producer
2009 Universal Soldier: Regeneration Private Luc Deveraux Limited release
2011 Kung Fu Panda 2 Master Croc Voice role
2011 Assassination Games Vincent Brazil Limited release; also executive producer
2011 Beur sur la ville Colonel Merot Cameo
2011 Rzhevsky versus Napoleon Himself Cameo
2011 Dragon Eyes Jean-Louis Tiano Limited release
2012 The Expendables 2 Jean Vilain
2012 Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning Private Luc Deveraux Limited release
2012 Six Bullets Samson Gaul Direct-to-video; also executive producer
2012 U.F.O. George Limited release
2013 Welcome to the Jungle Storm Rothschild Limited release
2013 Enemies Closer Xander Limited release
2013 Swelter Stillman Direct-to-video
2015 Pound of Flesh Agent Deacon Lyle Limited release; also executive producer
2015 Jian Bing Man Himself Cameo
2016 Kung Fu Panda 3 Master Croc Voice role
2016 Kickboxer: Vengeance Master Durand Limited release
2017 Kill 'Em All Philip Direct-to-video
2018 Kickboxer: Retaliation Master Durand Limited release; also executive producer
2018 Black Water Agent Scott Wheeler Limited release; also executive producer
2018 The Bouncer Lukas Limited release
2019 We Die Young Daniel Limited release; also executive producer
2021 The Last Mercenary Agent Richard Brumère / The Mist
2021 Haters Le fan de Thomas
2022 Minions: The Rise of Gru Jean Clawed Voice role
2024 Darkness of Man Agent Russell Hatch Streaming releases; also story and executive producer
2024 Kill 'Em All 2 Philip Streaming releases; also executive producer
2025 The Gardener Leo
TBA Frenchy Frenchy Also writer, director, producer and editor; completed

Music video

[change | change source]
Year Title Role Performer Notes Ref.
1992 "Body Count's in the House" Himself Body Count Uncredited cameo
1994 "Time Won't Let Me" Himself The Smithereens

Video game

[change | change source]
Year Title Voice role Notes Ref.
1995 Street Fighter: The Movie Colonel William F. Guile Live action full-motion video

References

[change | change source]
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Tasker, Yvonne (19 August 2004). The Action and Adventure Cinema. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-56493-4.
  2. ↑ Tasker, Yvonne (19 August 2004). The Action and Adventure Cinema. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-56493-4.
  3. ↑ "What Happened to Jean-Claude Van Damme?". 5 February 2023.
  4. ↑ "The Action Fix: Celebrating an Action Icon's Birthday van Dammage!". 19 October 2022.
  5. ↑ "Jean-Claude van Damme Was a Bouncer at Chuck Norris' Bar, Here's How Much He Was Paid". 8 July 2023.
  6. ↑ https://screenrant.com/jean-claude-van-damme-fighting-martial-arts-style/#:~:text=Jean%2DClaude%20Van%20Damme%20has,the%20time%20he%20was%2018.
  7. ↑ Karate black belt Archived 5 April 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/jean-claude-van-damme-earned-film-role-knocking-martial-artist.html/
  9. ↑ "How Jean-Claude van Damme Became a Real Martial Artist and Black Belt". 13 March 2023.
  10. ↑ "Standardized Tournaments And Ratings System Historic Kickboxing Ring Records" Archived 1 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine. The Star System. 8 March 1980. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  11. ↑ "CNK – Centre National de Karaté". Jcvandamme.net. Archived from the original on 23 April 2009. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  12. ↑ Kim, Jae-Ha (14 April 1989). "Van Damme gets his kicks from acting now, not karate". Chicago Sun-Times.
  13. ↑ Grobel, Lawrence (1 January 1995). "Playboy interview". Playboy.
  14. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 23 February 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. ↑ https://www.coachweb.com/exercises/celebrity-workouts/2116/jean-claude-van-damme-expendables-2-interview
  16. ↑ https://www.thethings.com/jean-claude-van-damme-affair-with-kylie-minogue/
  17. ↑ https://movieweb.com/jcvd-vs-seagal-better-career/
  18. ↑ https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jean-claude-van-damme-get_b_141745/amp
  19. ↑ https://brightside.me/articles/former-sex-symbol-jean-claude-van-damme-has-posted-a-topless-pic-of-him-at-62-that-is-nothing-but-hot-815507/
  20. ↑ https://readfilm.co/2018/02/16/obscure-movie-villains-torch-replicant/amp/
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/jean-claude-van-damme-interview-darkness-of-man-1235253293/amp/
  22. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 5 April 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  23. ↑ Turner, Blaine (5 February 2023). "What Happened to Jean-Claude Van Damme?". MovieWeb. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  24. ↑ "The Action Fix: Celebrating an Action Icon's Birthday Van Dammage!". ACTION-FLIX.COM. 19 October 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  25. ↑ https://www.thethings.com/jean-claude-van-damme-affair-with-kylie-minogue/
  26. ↑ https://movieweb.com/jcvd-vs-seagal-better-career/
  27. ↑ Bona, Jeff (12 August 2015). "Van Damme is the most 'remade' action star in the world!". cityonfire.com. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  28. ↑ Gates, Philippa (February 2012). Detecting Men: Masculinity and the Hollywood Detective Film. State University of New York Press. ISBN 978-0-7914-8138-7.
  29. ↑ "Jean-Claude Van Damme Gets "Raw" in JCVD". HuffPost. 7 December 2008.
  30. ↑ "Former Sex Symbol Jean-Claude Van Damme Has Posted a Topless Pic of Him at 62 That Is Nothing but Hot". Bright Side — Inspiration. Creativity. Wonder. 28 September 2023.
  31. ↑ Crawford, Percy (14 February 2018). "Alain Moussi Discusses Working with Mike Tyson and Jean-Claude Van Damme in Kickboxer: Retaliation". Fight Hype.
  32. ↑ "Scott Adkins Interview: 'Universal Soldier,' Fighting van Damme, and 'Zero Dark Thirty'". 24 September 2012.
  33. ↑ "TV parody mines action hero van Damme's hidden depths". 15 December 2017.
  34. ↑ "Adam: I idolised van Damme on set". Belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 20 April 2012.
  35. ↑ Biswas, Tiyasa (25 April 2023). ""My First Heroes": Not Arnold Schwarzenegger, but 12-Year-Old Jay Cutler Fell in Love With These Hollywood Superstars' Physique". EssentiallySports. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  36. ↑ https://en.clinch.news/amp/5-Fighters-Who-Have-Declared-Their-Admiration-for-Jean-Claude-Van-Damme-t202501030002.html
  37. ↑ https://kungfukingdom.com/interview-with-michael-venom-page/amp/
  38. ↑ https://en.clinch.news/amp/5-Fighters-Who-Have-Declared-Their-Admiration-for-Jean-Claude-Van-Damme-t202501030002.html
  39. ↑ "Georges St-Pierre Was Honored to Fight His Hero Jean-Claude van Damme in 'Kickboxer: Vengeance'".
  40. ↑ https://www.ufc.com/news/velasquez-and-gsp-take-silver-screen-kickboxer-vengeance
  41. ↑ https://uproxx.com/sports/cain-velasquez-kickboxer-vengeance-ufc-return-brock-lesnar-drug-test/
  42. ↑ "Nick Diaz Unearths 29 Years Old Jean Claude Van Damme Video". EssentiallySports. 28 January 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  43. ↑ https://www.esquire.com/sports/q-and-a/a45472/nate-diaz-interview-ufc-conor-mcgregor/
  44. ↑ https://en.clinch.news/amp/5-Fighters-Who-Have-Declared-Their-Admiration-for-Jean-Claude-Van-Damme-t202501030002.html
  45. ↑ https://www.mmamania.com/2025/1/26/24352411/jiri-prochazka-did-a-five-day-fever-binge-of-martial-arts-movies-for-ufc-311-inspiration
  46. ↑ "Zbog Van Dammeove špage Mirko je potrgao prepone". glas-slavonije.hr. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  47. ↑ "Interview with James P. Bennett". The Action Elite. 27 April 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  48. ↑ Nowicki, Albert (18 May 2022). "'Triple Deviation' – powstanie sequel kultowego filmu akcji z Jamesem P. Bennettem". Prime Movies. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  49. ↑ "The Actor – Rico Verhoeven Official Website".
  50. ↑ "Que signifie la célébration mythique de Tom Duquesnoy quand il gagne ?". 19 April 2017.
  51. ↑ "John Albert: Bisping funniest person I've ever met". 29 April 2013.
  52. ↑ "Inspired by 'Bloodsport,' UFC's Charles Rosa now lives his dream of fighting all over the world". 15 September 2017.
  53. ↑ "Murad Ramazanov says 'Bloodsport' fascinated him growing up". 30 November 2022.
  54. ↑ "Turkish MMA Star Halil Amir's Journey from Rough-And-Tumble Youth to ONE Championship". 16 April 2023.
  55. ↑ "Andrei "Mr. KO" Stoica". 28 February 2019.
  56. ↑ "Giorgio "The Doctor" Petrosyan". 29 March 2018.
  57. ↑ "A Q&A with MMA Fighter Alfie Davis". 30 October 2019.
  58. ↑ Furness, Jay (16 December 2022). "Get to know 'Road to ONE: Mongolia' winner Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu: 'I chose MMA as my destiny'". MMA Underground. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  59. ↑ "Angela Chang: Female Fighters, Thai Culture, & Self-Honesty – SoBC Podcast EP 11 -". 4 May 2021.
  60. ↑ https://www.undertheradarmag.com/interviews/jean-claude_van_damme_and_the_creators_of_jean-claude_van_johnson
  61. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/aug/10/van-damme-expendables-2
  62. ↑ 'I tried to play the system'
  63. ↑ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Jean-Claude van Damme's library (19 November 2015). "Van Damme (JCVD) - First ever screen appearance in 1979" – via YouTube.

Other websites

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