Jean-Claude Van Damme
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.[1][2] Van Damme's films have grossed over $1 billion worldwide, making him one of the most successful action stars of all time.[3]
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.[4][5][6] 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.[7][8][9] At the age of 16, he took up ballet, which he studied for five years.[10] He started lifting weights to improve his physique, which eventually led to a Mr. Belgium bodybuilding title in 1978.[11] In 1979, he opened a gym called "California Gym" in Brussels.[12] Among his acting heroes growing up were Charles Bronson, Bruce Lee, James Dean, Montgomery Clift, Steve McQueen, Jean-Paul Belmondo, and Sylvester Stallone.[13][14]
With the desire of becoming an actor, he moved to the United States in 1982, where he did a variety of jobs and 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 1990’s and early 2000’s, 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. He also starred in the action comedy-drama streaming television series Jean-Claude Van Johnson (2016–2017).
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.[23] Van Damme has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.[24]
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Woman Between Wolf and Dog | Movie Goer / Man in Garden | Uncredited extra | [25] |
| 1984 | Breakin | Spectator in First Dance Sequence | Uncredited extra | |
| 1984 | Missing in Action | Soldier | Uncredited extra; also stunt | |
| 1984 | Monaco Forever | Gay Karate Man | ||
| 1986 | No Retreat, No Surrender | Ivan "The Russian" Kraschinsky | ||
| 1987 | Predator | None | Uncredited body double only | |
| 1988 | Bloodsport | Frank Dux | Also uncredited editor | |
| 1988 | Black Eagle | Andrei | ||
| 1989 | Cyborg | Gibson Rickenbacker | Also uncredited editor | |
| 1989 | Kickboxer | Kurt Sloane | Also story, fight director and 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 story/writer, 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 (Luc Savard) / 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 | Sinav | 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 | Direct-to-video | |
| 2010 | Frenchy | Frenchy | Also writer, director, producer and editor | |
| 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 | |
| 2018 | Black Water | Agent Scott Wheeler | Limited release; also executive producer | |
| 2018 | The Bouncer | Lukas | Limited release | |
| 2019 | We Die Young | Daniel | Limited release | |
| 2021 | The Last Mercenary | Agent Richard Brumère / The Mist | Streaming releases | |
| 2021 | Haters | Unknown | ||
| 2022 | Minions: The Rise of Gru | Jean Clawed | Voice role | |
| 2024 | Darkness of Man | Russell Hatch |
Music video
| 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
| Year | Title | Voice role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Street Fighter: The Movie | Colonel William F. Guile | Live action full-motion video |
Jean-Claude Van Damme Media
Van Damme at the Cannes Film Festival in 1993
Van Damme on the set of JCVD in October 2007
Van Damme Monument in Qabala, Azerbaijan
References
- ↑ "What Happened to Jean-Claude Van Damme?". 5 February 2023.
- ↑ "The Action Fix: Celebrating an Action Icon's Birthday van Dammage!". 19 October 2022.
- ↑ "Jean-Claude van Damme Was a Bouncer at Chuck Norris' Bar, Here's How Much He Was Paid". 8 July 2023.
- ↑ https://screenrant.com/jean-claude-van-damme-fighting-martial-arts-style/#:~:text=Jean%2DClaude%20Van%20Damme%20has,the%20time%20he%20was%2018.
- ↑ Karate black belt Archived 5 April 2006 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/jean-claude-van-damme-earned-film-role-knocking-martial-artist.html/
- ↑ "How Jean-Claude van Damme Became a Real Martial Artist and Black Belt". 13 March 2023.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "CNK – Centre National de Karaté". Jcvandamme.net. Archived from the original on 23 April 2009. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
- ↑ Kim, Jae-Ha (14 April 1989). Van Damme gets his kicks from acting now, not karate.
- ↑ Grobel, Lawrence (1 January 1995). Playboy interview.
- ↑ https://www.heraldweekly.com/jean-claude-van-damme-flex-your-knowledge-about-the-muscles-from-brussels/6?xcmg=1&_d=m
- ↑ https://www.undertheradarmag.com/interviews/jean-claude_van_damme_and_the_creators_of_jean-claude_van_johnson
- ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/aug/10/van-damme-expendables-2
- ↑ https://www.coachweb.com/exercises/celebrity-workouts/2116/jean-claude-van-damme-expendables-2-interview
- ↑ https://www.thethings.com/jean-claude-van-damme-affair-with-kylie-minogue/
- ↑ https://movieweb.com/jcvd-vs-seagal-better-career/
- ↑ https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jean-claude-van-damme-get_b_141745/amp
- ↑ 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/
- ↑ https://readfilm.co/2018/02/16/obscure-movie-villains-torch-replicant/amp/
- ↑ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/jean-claude-van-damme-interview-darkness-of-man-1235253293/amp/
- ↑ https://www.mtv.com/news/gpfv7m/jean-claude-van-damme-expendables-2-interview
- ↑ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/jean-claude-van-damme-interview-darkness-of-man-1235253293/amp/
- ↑ 'I tried to play the system'
- ↑ 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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