Date of Birth
18 October 1960, Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, Brussels, BelgiumBirth Name
Jean-Claude Camille François Van VarenbergNickname
Muscles from Brussels
Height
5' 9" (1.75 m)
Mini Biography
When Jean-Claude Van Damme became an international film star, there was some debate as to his kick-boxing accomplishments. Former multiple World Kickboxing Champion Don "The Dragon" Wilson even offered Jean-Claude a "$100,000" bounty match to get into the ring and fight him. Van Damme brushed off the "challenge" as a publicity stunt. But, the truth of the matter was that Jean-Claude Van Damme was a successful semi and full-contact fighter who competed in Europe from 1976-1980.
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.
Jean-Claude's debut in 1976, at the age of 16, almost ended in failure. Competing under his birth name of Jean Claude Van Varenberg, 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 Belgium, Jean-Claude lost a decision to fellow team mate Patrick Teugels. The experience left an impact on Claude Goetz and he felt that Jean-Claude needed more training before competing again.
After six months of intense training and sparring, Master Goetz decided to unleash his prized pupil on the European Full-Contact scene. Jean-Claude won his first tournament by scoring 3 knockout victories in one evening. However, in a 1978 match for the Belgium Lightweight Title, he again lost a decision to Patrick Teugels. A few months later at Iseghem, Belgium, Van Damme comeback and knocked out Emile Leibman in the first round.
In 1979, Jean-Claude was a member of the Belgium Karate Team when it won the European Team Championships. Next, in his first and only match against a United States opponent, Van Damme faced 'Sherman 'Big Train' Bergman', a kick-boxer from the 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 cold in 56 seconds of the first round. Jean-Claude ended the year with a stoppage of Spain's Gilberto Dias by first round injury.
In 1980, Jean-Claude Van Damme established himself as one of the best 160-pound, full-contact fighters in Europe. After two tune-up victories, Van Damme knocked out Great Britian and European Middleweight Karate Champion Micheal Heming, and France's Georges Verlugels in 2 rounds.
After these victories, Van Damme caught the attention of the European martial arts community. Professional Karate Magazine publisher and editor Mike Anders, and multiple European Champion Geet Lemmens tabbed Jean-Claude Van Damme as an upcoming prospect. However, Jean-Claude's ambitions now focused in the direction of movie acting.
Before he retired from active competition, Jean-Claude wanted to knockout the only man to defeat him, Patrick Teugels (Teugels defeated Van Damme three times). In 1980, at the Forest Nationals in Brussels, Jean-Claude knocked Teugels down and scored a first round technical knockout victory. Teugels suffered a nose injury and was unable in continue.
Following the victory, Jean-Claude retired from martial arts competition, a year later he launched a comeback. In 1981, Jean-Claude knocked out Henk Besselman in one round, and in 1982, he knocked out Lenny Leikman in three rounds. Jean-Claude's full-contact fight record was 20-2 (20 knockouts), and his semi-contact record was 16-1.
After Jean-Claude's film career took off, controversy arose because none of his fights were found. Some experts blasted Van Damme as a fake, saying he only had one amateur fight which he lost. But research and the Internet have finally cleared things up. Jean-Claude Van Damme fought his entire fight career under his birth name of Van Varenberg; thus the mix-up.
In August, 2009, it was announced that Jean-Claude Van Damme would return to the ring after a 27 year retirement to fight Thailand's Somrak Khamsing in a match promoted by Japan's K-1. The comeback fight is scheduled for April 2011 in Russia.
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.
Jean-Claude's debut in 1976, at the age of 16, almost ended in failure. Competing under his birth name of Jean Claude Van Varenberg, 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 Belgium, Jean-Claude lost a decision to fellow team mate Patrick Teugels. The experience left an impact on Claude Goetz and he felt that Jean-Claude needed more training before competing again.
After six months of intense training and sparring, Master Goetz decided to unleash his prized pupil on the European Full-Contact scene. Jean-Claude won his first tournament by scoring 3 knockout victories in one evening. However, in a 1978 match for the Belgium Lightweight Title, he again lost a decision to Patrick Teugels. A few months later at Iseghem, Belgium, Van Damme comeback and knocked out Emile Leibman in the first round.
In 1979, Jean-Claude was a member of the Belgium Karate Team when it won the European Team Championships. Next, in his first and only match against a United States opponent, Van Damme faced 'Sherman 'Big Train' Bergman', a kick-boxer from the 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 cold in 56 seconds of the first round. Jean-Claude ended the year with a stoppage of Spain's Gilberto Dias by first round injury.
In 1980, Jean-Claude Van Damme established himself as one of the best 160-pound, full-contact fighters in Europe. After two tune-up victories, Van Damme knocked out Great Britian and European Middleweight Karate Champion Micheal Heming, and France's Georges Verlugels in 2 rounds.
After these victories, Van Damme caught the attention of the European martial arts community. Professional Karate Magazine publisher and editor Mike Anders, and multiple European Champion Geet Lemmens tabbed Jean-Claude Van Damme as an upcoming prospect. However, Jean-Claude's ambitions now focused in the direction of movie acting.
Before he retired from active competition, Jean-Claude wanted to knockout the only man to defeat him, Patrick Teugels (Teugels defeated Van Damme three times). In 1980, at the Forest Nationals in Brussels, Jean-Claude knocked Teugels down and scored a first round technical knockout victory. Teugels suffered a nose injury and was unable in continue.
Following the victory, Jean-Claude retired from martial arts competition, a year later he launched a comeback. In 1981, Jean-Claude knocked out Henk Besselman in one round, and in 1982, he knocked out Lenny Leikman in three rounds. Jean-Claude's full-contact fight record was 20-2 (20 knockouts), and his semi-contact record was 16-1.
After Jean-Claude's film career took off, controversy arose because none of his fights were found. Some experts blasted Van Damme as a fake, saying he only had one amateur fight which he lost. But research and the Internet have finally cleared things up. Jean-Claude Van Damme fought his entire fight career under his birth name of Van Varenberg; thus the mix-up.
In August, 2009, it was announced that Jean-Claude Van Damme would return to the ring after a 27 year retirement to fight Thailand's Somrak Khamsing in a match promoted by Japan's K-1. The comeback fight is scheduled for April 2011 in Russia.
Mini Biography
Born on Oct 18 1960, Jean-Claude Van Damme is the son of Eugene Van Varenberg and Eliana Van Varenberg. "The Muscles from Brussels" originally known as Jean-Claude Van Varenberg, started martial arts at the age of 11. His father Eugene Van Varenberg introduced him to martial arts when he saw his son was physically weak. Jean-Claude started with Shotokan Karate and later studied Kickboxing, Taekwon-Do, and Muay Thai. 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.
He came to Hong Kong at the age of 19 for the first time and felt insured to do action movies in Hong Kong. So in 1981 Van Damme left Hong Kong and moved to Los Angeles, where he was trying for 5 years. 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), Dublu 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.
He came to Hong Kong at the age of 19 for the first time and felt insured to do action movies in Hong Kong. So in 1981 Van Damme left Hong Kong and moved to Los Angeles, where he was trying for 5 years. 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), Dublu 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.
Spouse
| Gladys Portugues | (25 June 1999 - present) |
| Darcy LaPier | (3 February 1994 - November 1997) (divorced) 1 child |
| Gladys Portugues | (3 January 1987 - 1992) (divorced) 2 children |
| Cynthia Derderian | (24 August 1985 - 1986) (divorced) |
| Maria Rodriguez | (25 August 1980 - 1984) (divorced) |
Trade Mark
Thrilling one and all with his 360-degree ultimate leaping & super flying karate kicks.
Frequently performs splits in his movies.
Trivia
His fight scenes are so intense that he won't film them in the U.S. for fear of being sued.
In 1989, he was sued for willfully gouging the eye of an extra in a sword fight while filming Cyborg (1989).
Won a court case filed against him by martial arts legend Frank Dux, who claimed he collaborated with Van Damme on his 1996 directorial debut The Quest (1996), only for Van Damme to deny him any share of the profits. His evidence was lost in an earthquake. Coincidentally, Van Damme played Dux in his debut Bloodsport (1988).
Former European Professional Karate Association middleweight champion.
On July 10, 2000, Van Damme was sentenced to an anti-drunk driving class, a $1,200 fine, 3 years probation and a 90 day revocation of his license after pleading no contest for a September 23, 1999 DUI arrest in Beverly Hills.
Once said he learned to speak English by watching the cartoon "The Flintstones" (1960).
In Jesse Ventura's book, he mentions Van Damme as having played Predator (1987) monster until he was fired and replaced by Kevin Peter Hall.
Studied classical ballet for five years
Speaks French, English, Spanish and German.
In his late teens he opened a gym called California Fitness Center.
Was student of Dominique Valera.
Was a European Middle Weight Champion in Karate in his late teens.
Likes classical music and his favorite composer is Beethoven.
Jean-Claude Van Damme lost in the WAKO Open International in 1979, and for the Belgium Title in 1980. However, he was a member of the 1979 Belgium when it won the European Team Championships. He also won at the Forest Nationals in 1980.
Can lift 166 kg on a bench.
Has his own production companies, Long Road Productions / 777 Films Corp.
Was the original choice to play the title character in Predator (1987).
Related to Screenwriter Adam Burnett through marriage.
One-time sparring partner of Chuck Norris during the early 80s.
Children: Kristopher Van Varenberg (b. 1987) and Bianca Van Varenberg (b. 1990) with Gladys Portugues; son Nicholas (b. 1995) with Darcy LaPier.
He was the inspiration for the character Johnny Cage from Mortal Kombat. One of Johnny Cage's special moves is doing the splits while punching his opponent in the groin, as seen when Van Damme's character, Frank Dux, punches his large sumo opponent in Bloodsport (1988).
As the original choice to play the role of the alien hunter itself in the movie Predator (1987), he hit a few personal snags. For starters, he was not happy with the fact that his face would not be shown on camera, and that he would be having an uncredited special effects role. He was also not fond of the original monster suit - he frequently passed out due to heat exhaustion. Because he complained so much and was very uncooperative, he was fired from the film. When Stan Winston's Predator design came in, Kevin Peter Hall was chosen to play the title role and filled it perfectly. Supposedly, Van Damme has no regrets on backing out of the Predator project.
Purchased a condominium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Knocked out Germany's Eric 'Basel' Strauss in 18 seconds in 1978 at Antwerp, Belgium, in a scheduled 3-round full-contact match.
Knocked-out Emile Leibman in the first round of a scheduled three-round full-contact match at Iseghem, Belgium in 1979.
Often states 'Charlie Chaplin (I)' as the first great action star.
Adopted Van Damme as his stage name from one of his friend's father name. He considered it punchy, short and clear than his birth name of Van Varenberg.
Brother of Veronique Van Varenberg.
Films often contain injuries to the groin area. Examples: Dublu impact (1991) Hard Target (1993) and Timecop (1994).
Fought on the March 8, 1980 under-card of the main event between France's Dominique Valera and U.S.A.'s Dan Macaruso. The fight took place in 1980 in Brussels, Belgium, and Jean-Claude stopped Patrick Teugels by first round knockout, fracturing Teugels nose.
At Mulhouse, Belgium in 1978, he knocked out Andre (Robar) Robaeys in 1 round of a scheduled 3-round full-contact match.
At Opprebais, Belgium in 1978, he stopped Jacques Piniarski in 1 round of a scheduled 3-round full-contact match.
In 1980, in Brussels, fighting under his birth name, Jean Claude Van Varenberg, he knocked out a fighter known as Verlugels in 2 rounds.
Fighting as Jean Claude Van Varenberg, he knocked out Rolf Risberg in 1 round of a scheduled 3-round full-contact match in Ingelmunster, Belgium, in 1979.
Both of Van Dammes defeats were to Patrick Teugels, his former team mate on the Belgium team. However, prior to retiring, Van Damme defeated Teugels in under two minutes.
In 1979, fighting as Jean-Claude Van Varenberg, he climbed off the canvas to knock out Sherman 'Big Train' Bergman of Miami Beach, Florida with an Axe-kick in one round.
The character of Johnny Cage from the Mortal Kombat games was initially modeled on Jean Claude Van Damme.
Fight Record: 20-2 (20 knockouts) 1977: Won: Knocked out Toon Van Oostrum in 1 round. 1977: Won: Knocked out Maurice Devos in 1 round. 1977: Lost:Decision to Patrick Teugels 3 rounds. 1978: Won: Knocked out Eric Bruno Strauss in 1 round. 1978: Won: Knocked out Michel Juvillier in 1 round. 1978: Lost:Decisioned to Patrick Teugels in 3 rounds. 1978: Won: Knocked out Orlando Lang in 1 round. 1978: Won: Knocked out Emile Leibman in 1 round. 1978: Won: Knocked out Cyrille in 1 round. 1979: Won: Knocked out Andre Robaeys in 1 round. 1979: Won: Knocked out Jacques Piniarski in 1 round. 1979: Won: Knocked out Rolf Risberg in 1 round. 1979: Won: Knocked out Sherman Bergman in 1 round. 1979: Won: Knocked out Gil Dias in 1 round. 1980: Won: Knocked out Mustapha-Ahmad Benamou in 1 round. 1980: Won: Knocked out Bekim-Moussa Muhammad in 1 round. 1980: Won: Knocked out Micheal J. Heming in 2 rounds. 1980: Won: Knocked out Georges Verlugels in 2 rounds. 1980: Won: Knocked out Andres Kovac in 2 rounds. 1980: Won: Knocked out Patrick Teugels in 1 round.1981: Won: Knocked out Henk Besselman in 1 round. 1982: Won: Knockedout out Lenny Leikman in 3 rounds.
Lives in Hong Kong and Knokke-Heist, Belgium.
Jean-Claude Van Damme knocked out Holland's Henk Besselman in 1 round of a kick-boxing match in Brussels, Belguim in 1981. Van Damme upped his kick-boxing record to 19-2 (19 knockouts).
Personal Quotes
"I am the Fred Astaire of karate".
In an action film you act in the action. If it's a dramatic film you act in the drama.
I've become 40, my audience is partly the same age.
God gave me a great body and it's my duty to take care of my physical temple.
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
"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']
"Time Cop 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]
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.
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.
[His response to being asked what he thinks of his nickname 'Muscles from Brussels]: "It's better than being called 'The Idiot from Brussels'."
I'm one of the most sensitive human beings on Earth -- and I know it.
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.
I love challenges. If you don't have any and can do whatever you want, then it's probably time to die.
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.
I love playing the villain, but a villain with class.
(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.
[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.
[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.
Salary
| The Hard Corps (2006) (V) | $3,000,000 - $3,500,000 |
| Sudden Death (1995) | $5,000,000 |
| Street Fighter (1994) | $8,000,000 |
| Timecop (1994) | $5,000,000 |
| Hard Target (1993) | $3,500,000 |
| Universal Soldier (1992) | $1,500,000 |
| Dublu impact (1991) | $600,000 |
| Închisoarea infernului (1990) | $75,000 |
| Kickboxer (1989) | $70,000 |
| Cyborg (1989) | $50,000 |
| Black Eagle (1988) | $70,000 |
| Bloodsport (1988) | $25,000 |
| No Retreat, No Surrender (1986) | $250 |
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Jean-Claude Van Damme
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