Jean-Claude Van Damme

Birthday: 18 October 1960, Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, Brussels, Belgium

Birth Name: Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg

Height: 177 cm

Van Damme was born Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg in Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, Brussels, Belgium, to Eliana and Eugène Van Varenberg, an accountant. "The Muscles from Brussels" started martial arts at the age of eleven. His father introduced him to martial arts when he saw his son was physically weak. At the age of 12, Van Damme began his martial arts training at Centre National De Karate (National Center of Karate) under the guidance of Master Claude Goetz in Ixelles, Belgium. Van Damme trained for 4 years and earned a spot on the Belgium Karate Team. He won the European professional karate association's middleweight championship as a teenager, and also beat the 2nd best karate fighter in the world. His goal was to be number one but got sidetracked when he left his hometown of Brussels. In 1976 at the age of sixteen, Jean-Claude started his Martial Arts fight career.Over the next 6-years, he competed in both full-contact and semi-contact matches. He debuted under his birth name of Jean Claude Van Varenberg. In his first match, Jean-Claude was staggered by a round-house kick thrown by fellow countryman, Toon Van Oostrum in Brussels, Belgium. Van Damme was badly stunned, but came back to knockout Van Oostrum moments later. In 1977, at the WAKO Open International in Antwerp, Belgium, Jean-Claude lost a decision to fellow team mate Patrick Teugels in a semi-contact match. At the 1978 Challenge De Espoirs Karate Tournament (1st Trials),Jean-Claude placed 2nd in the semi-contact division. He defeated twenty-five opponents during the week long tournament, but lost in the finals to Angelo Spataro from the Naha Club. Later in 1978, Jean-Claude lost a 3-round match for the Belgium Lightweight Championship (semi-contact) to his fellow team-mate to Patrick Teugels.In 1979, Jean-Claude traveled to the United States of America, to Tampa, Florida. In his first and only match against a United States opponent, Van Damme faced 'Sherman 'Big Train'Bergman', a kick-boxer from Miami Beach, Florida. For the first and only time in his career, Jean-Claude was knocked to the canvas after absorbing a powerful left hook from Bergman. However, Jean-Claude climbed off the canvas and with a perfectly timed ax-kick, knocked Bergman out in 56 seconds of the first round. Jean-Claude was a member of the Belgium team which competed on December 26, 1979 at the La Coupe Fancois Persoons Karate Tournament which was sanctioned by the Federation bruxelloise de Karate. Van Damme's final match victory enabled his team to win the European Team Karate Championship. In Full-Contact karate, Jean-Claude knocked out England's Micheal Heming in 46 seconds of the first round. In 1980, Van Damme knocked out France's Georges Verlugels in 2 rounds of a match fought under kick-boxing rules. Jean-Claude wanted to defeat his rival Patrick Teugels. At the Forest Nationals in Brussels, on March 8, 1980, Jean-Claude knocked Teugels down and Teugels suffered a nose injury and was unable to continue. Jean-Claude was awarded a first round victory.Jean-Claude retired from martial arts in 1982, following a knockout over Nedjad Gharbi in Brussels,Belgium. Jean-Claude posted a 18-1 (18 knockouts) Kickboxing record, and a Semi-Contact record of 41-4. He came to Hong Kong at the age of 19 for the first time and felt insured to do action movies in Hong Kong. In 1981 Van Damme moved to Los Angeles. He took English classes while working as carpet layer, pizza delivery man, limo driver, and thanks to Chuck Norris he got a job as a bouncer at a club. Norris gave Van Damme a small role in the movie Missing in Action (1984), but it wasn't good enough to get anybody's attention. Then in 1984 he got a role as a villain named Ivan in the low-budget movie No Retreat, No Surrender (1986). Then one day, while walking on the streets, Jean-Claude spotted a producer for Cannon Pictures, and showed some of his martial arts abilities which led to a role in Bloodsport (1988). But the movie, filmed in Hong Kong, was so bad when it was completed, it was shelved for almost two years. It might have never been released if Van Damme did not help them to recut the film and begged producers to release it. They finally released the film, first in Malaysia and France and then into the U.S. Shot on a meager 1.5 million dollar budget, it became a U.S box-office hit in the spring of 1988. It made about 30 million worldwide and audiences supported this film for its new sensational action star Jean-Claude Van Damme.His martial arts assets, highlighted by his ability to deliver a kick to an opponent's head during a leaping 360-degree turn, and his good looks led to starring roles in higher budgeted movies like Cyborg (1989), Lionheart (1990), Double Impact (1991) and Universal Soldier (1992). In 1994, he scored with his big breakthrough $100 million worldwide hit Timecop (1994). But in the meantime, his personal life was coming apart. A divorce, followed by a new marriage, followed by another divorce. It began to show up in his career when his projects began to tank at the box office - The Quest (1996), which he directed; Maximum Risk (1996) and Double Team (1997). The three films made less than $50 million combined. In 1999 he remarried his ex-wife Gladys Portugues and restarted his lost career to attain new goals. With help from his family he faced his problems and made movies like Replicant (2001), Derailed (2002), and In Hell (2003) which did averagely in box office terms, but he tried to give his fans the best, his acting in those movies got better, more emotional and each movie was basically in different action tones. Hide

I have lots of respect for Christopher Walken. Did you see him in King of New York (1990)? Steve McQ Show more I have lots of respect for Christopher Walken. Did you see him in King of New York (1990)? Steve McQueen, and Paul Newman are terrific. I feel their movies have quality. Rocky and Rambo were filled with drama and passion. Arnold doesn't move me. I like movies like The Godfather (1972) and The Deer Hunter (1978). These are films with real solid acting, real talent. Hide

I love challenges. If you don't have any and can do whatever you want, then it's probably time to di Show more I love challenges. If you don't have any and can do whatever you want, then it's probably time to die. Hide

God gave me a great body and it's my duty to take care of my physical temple. God gave me a great body and it's my duty to take care of my physical temple.

In an action film you act in the action. If it's a dramatic film you act in the drama. In an action film you act in the action. If it's a dramatic film you act in the drama.

I took his (Alex Van Damme) name, in fact from his father because his father sent me for the first t Show more I took his (Alex Van Damme) name, in fact from his father because his father sent me for the first time in Hong Kong to be a picture model. I'm not enough tall to be a catwalk model, plus too big for that, and we became very good friends and I took his name as an honor. Because my name, by the way, is too complicated, it's Van Veren Berg, so in America it sounds like "Van Varen Berg" (said with American accent). So Van Damme it's punchy, short, and clear. - [on adopting the name 'Van Damme'] Hide

I liked the movement, technique and philosophy and I was training to be the best. Karate's a very bo Show more I liked the movement, technique and philosophy and I was training to be the best. Karate's a very boring sport, but when you know the technique you can go further and further. You need at least six or seven years to understand the philosophy and concentration of karate to know to clean your spirit of everything and dedicate your mind and body to the sport. I also use it for concentration before acting scenes. Hide

What is a movie star? It is an illusion. It was everything I ever wanted to be, but it became a kind Show more What is a movie star? It is an illusion. It was everything I ever wanted to be, but it became a kind of shell, non? It was what made me famous and got me women. But it wasn't real. Hide

An action hero has to be always in shape mentally and physically. People, sometimes they believe Sly Show more An action hero has to be always in shape mentally and physically. People, sometimes they believe Sly, Arnold, myself, we're athletes, you cannot make mistakes. But Hollywood forgives, I guess. Hide

I am very proud of that film. I am persuaded that here, in the United States, it would have been a g Show more I am very proud of that film. I am persuaded that here, in the United States, it would have been a great success in theaters. And if you ask me why I am so proud of Replicant, it is because we succeeded in making a big film with very reduced budgets. Hide

My dreams came true in America. It's not possible in Belgium. I grew up sadly. Skinny kid. Big, thic Show more My dreams came true in America. It's not possible in Belgium. I grew up sadly. Skinny kid. Big, thick glasses. Everything I've done is a miracle. Hide

[on Timecop (1994) director Peter Hyams] He was the only one who visited me in the clinic when I was Show more [on Timecop (1994) director Peter Hyams] He was the only one who visited me in the clinic when I was there years ago. All the agents and managers who made a fortune with me never came. Hide

[circa 1992] You have to have a dream, the passion to make it, to make it, to really, really make it Show more [circa 1992] You have to have a dream, the passion to make it, to make it, to really, really make it. Hide

[His response to being asked what he thinks of his nickname 'Muscles from Brussels]: "It's better th Show more [His response to being asked what he thinks of his nickname 'Muscles from Brussels]: "It's better than being called 'The Idiot from Brussels'." Hide

I'm one of the most sensitive human beings on Earth -- and I know it. I'm one of the most sensitive human beings on Earth -- and I know it.

"I am the Fred Astaire of karate". "I am the Fred Astaire of karate".

[on who should play the villain in The Expendables 3 (2014)] I think Steven Seagal has such a good p Show more [on who should play the villain in The Expendables 3 (2014)] I think Steven Seagal has such a good presence. And he should lose some weigh, which isn't that difficult. I think he has lots of charisma. Even though he speaks bad about me sometimes, I think it's all bullshit. He's a nice guy. I think he has his own type of temper, vision, character. But he would be great in Expendables as a bad guy. Hide

Ten, 15 years ago, Sly, Arnold, those guys, were well-built; of course, they had to act and find goo Show more Ten, 15 years ago, Sly, Arnold, those guys, were well-built; of course, they had to act and find good scripts, but today action heroes don't have to be Mr. Muscles. What really helps a guy to become an action hero today is the directing of the movie. All those fast cuts. Hide

I've become 40, my audience is partly the same age. I've become 40, my audience is partly the same age.

(2008) I see dogs on the street, and I adopt them. I took seven dogs from Thailand, and a few of the Show more (2008) I see dogs on the street, and I adopt them. I took seven dogs from Thailand, and a few of them are paralyzed. One has three paws instead of four. One is limping, so we bought him a wheelchair. I spent my own money to fly them back by private jet. In commercial, they can have heart attacks because of stress - it's dark and icy cold. I love animals. I have nine dogs and a kitty. My biggest orgasm - not in a sexual way - is to walk with my dogs on the beach. In Belgium we have these wide sidewalks. You feel like you're on the Planet Moon, and I can make them feel like movie stars. Hide

I love playing the villain, but a villain with class. I love playing the villain, but a villain with class.

[on rejecting Sylvester Stallone's offer of a part in The Expendables (2010)] Stallone gave me a par Show more [on rejecting Sylvester Stallone's offer of a part in The Expendables (2010)] Stallone gave me a part in his next movie, but I ask him about the subject, about the story. He said, 'You're gonna make lots of money.' I don't want to hear that, I want to hear what was my character. He was unable to tell what it's going to be. [Stallone said:] 'You know, uh, well, the fighting will be good.' [So I said:] 'Syl, what is my character?' So I didn't do the movie. Hide

Hard Target (1993) was a bad script, but we had some great action scenes, and John Woo made me look Show more Hard Target (1993) was a bad script, but we had some great action scenes, and John Woo made me look like a samurai with greasy hair. Hide

[on Kickboxer 2: The Road Back (1991)] I refused a sequel. I wasn't offered enough money. Instead, w Show more [on Kickboxer 2: The Road Back (1991)] I refused a sequel. I wasn't offered enough money. Instead, we did a new film, Double Impact (1991), rather than just make Kickboxer 2. Hide

Timecop (1994) could have been a very profitable franchise, but those idiots chose instead to sell t Show more Timecop (1994) could have been a very profitable franchise, but those idiots chose instead to sell the rights to television. That could have also been the case with _Bloodsport_, but they settled instead on second-rate kick-boxers for the sequels. - [on his famous films sequels] Hide

Jean-Claude Van Damme's FILMOGRAPHY

All as Actor (102) as Director (1) as Creator (4)

The Shepherd

Desert Heat (Inferno) [Sub: Eng]

Kickboxer (1989)

Universal Soldier

Kill'em All

No Retreat No Surrender

Kung Fu Panda 2

The UnXplained - Season 4

Friends - Season 10

The UnXplained - Season 6

Robot Chicken - Season 2

Universal Soldier 2 - The Return

Legionnaire

Sudden Death

Replicant

The UnXplained - Season 1

The Bouncer (Lukas) [Sub: Eng]

Robot Chicken - Season 6

Las Vegas - Season 5 (2003)

Electric Boogaloo: The Wild Untold Story of Cannon Films

Pound Of Flesh

In Hell

Derailed

Sense8 - Season 2

We Die Young

Timecop

Jean-Claude Van Damme'S roles

Frank Dux

Lukas

Jack Quinn

Alex

Master Croc

Luc Deveraux