1988
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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 and actor.
IMDb profile of the Belgian actor, writer and producer known for his martial arts movies. Learn about his biography, filmography, awards, trivia and more.
- January 1, 1
- 1.75 m
- Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, Brussels, Belgium
- Who Is Jean-Claude Van Damme?
- Early Years and Career
- Big-Screen Stardom
- Personal Life
- GeneratedCaptionsTabForHeroSec
Jean-Claude Van Damme is a champion martial artist and bodybuilder as a teenager, he used his physical abilities to become the star of such American action flicks as Bloodsport (1988) andDouble Impact (1991). Van Damme endured personal and professional difficulties beginning in the 1990s, but has since regained some of his star power.
Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg was born on October 18, 1960, in Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, Brussels, Belgium. A skinny child, he began studying Shotokan karate at age 11, and also eagerly took to weightlifting and ballet. As a teenager, Van Damme won the middleweight championship of the European Professional Karate Association and was named...
Originally calling himself "Frank Cujo," Van Damme received bit parts in feature films and worked as a cab driver, waiter, aerobics instructor and nightclub bouncer as he tried to make a name for himself in Tinseltown. He was featured in the 1986 martial-arts flick No Retreat, No Surrender, but his big break came after he displayed his ability to p...
Van Damme became addicted to cocaine and sleeping pills while at the height of his stardom in the 1990s and was arrested for DUI in 1999. He was also diagnosed with bipolar disorder during this period, though his condition improved after he began taking medication and got his personal life in order. Van Damme has been married five times and has thr...
Learn about the life and career of the Belgian martial arts star who rose to fame with movies like Bloodsport and Double Impact. Find out about his personal struggles, his comeback roles and his bronze statue in Brussels.
- Bloodsport (1988) “If I can grab it before you close your hand, I get the girl.” After both limited screen time and dialogue in the glorious 80s treat that is No Retreat, No Surrender, in which he’d played the lead villain, Bloodsport marked Van Damme’s breakthrough as both leading man and straight-to-video star.
- Universal Soldier (1992) “The food is good.” When Universal Soldier was released I almost wept with joy. Thanks to Van Damme’s productivity in the previous few years, I was a full-blown fan by the time it appeared on the big screen and that, coupled with my love of Dolph Lundgren after a solid run from Rocky IV to Showdown In Little Tokyo, meant I was one excited geek, and Universal Soldier did not disappoint.
- Timecop (1994) “I’m still kicking, I must be on Broadway.” Any self-respecting action star should, at some point in their career, have a blockbuster sci-fi feature under their belt.
- Hard Target (1993) “Now take your big stick and your boyfriend and find a bus to catch.” The universal appeal of Jean Claude Van Damme has meant that he’s been chosen by quite a few directors making their first English language feature film, especially from the far east.
Learn about the life and career of the Belgian martial arts star and actor, from his karate championships to his Hollywood movies. Find out his birth name, nicknames, height, filmography and trivia on IMDb.
- October 18, 1960
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Nov 2, 2022 · The action legend sits down with director James Cullen Bressack to discuss his "brutal" upcoming project 'Darkness of Man', his stretch routine, dogs, and why Kickboxer still holds its own.
Visit the official website of the Belgian actor, martial artist and filmmaker Jean Claude Van Damme. Find his latest news, videos, photos, music and more.
