Jean-Claude Van Damme facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jean-Claude Van Damme |
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Van Damme in 2023
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| Born | Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg 18 October 1960 Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, Brussels-Capital, Belgium |
| Other names |
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| Division | Middleweight |
| Style | Karate, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Taekwondo |
| Fighting out of | Brussels, Belgium |
| Team | Team Goetz |
| Trainer | Claude Goetz Dominique Valera |
| Rank | 2nd Dan Black Belt in Karate |
| Years active | 1976–present (martial arts) 1979–present (acting) |
| Kickboxing record | |
| Total | 19 |
| Wins | 18 |
| By knockout | 18 |
| Losses | 1 |
| Amateur record | |
| Total | 48 |
| Wins | 44 |
| Losses | 4 |
| Other information | |
| Occupation |
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| 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) |
| Children | 3 |
Jean-Claude Van Damme (born Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg on October 18, 1960) is a famous martial artist and actor from Belgium. He is often called "The Muscles from Brussels." He is known for his action movies where he shows off his amazing martial arts skills.
When he was ten, his father signed him up for a karate school. He became very good at it, earning a 2nd-dan black belt. He also competed in karate and kickboxing. As a teenager, he won a European karate championship and a Mr. Belgium bodybuilding title.
Wanting to be a movie star, he moved to the United States in 1982. He worked hard and got his big break in the movie Bloodsport in 1988. This movie made him a popular action star. He then starred in many hit movies like Kickboxer, Universal Soldier, and Timecop.
After a quiet period, he made a comeback with the movie JCVD in 2008, where he played a version of himself. He also played the main villain in The Expendables 2 in 2012. Besides acting, Van Damme is also known for his voice work, like playing Master Croc in the Kung Fu Panda 2 movie. He also supports animal rights and works to protect nature.
Contents
Early Life and Training
Jean-Claude Van Damme was born in Brussels, Belgium. His parents were Eliana and Eugène Van Varenberg. His father was an accountant and florist.
At age ten, he began learning Shōtōkan karate. He trained hard and earned a black belt by the time he was 18. To build his strength, he started lifting weights. This led to him winning the Mr. Belgium bodybuilding title.
When he was 16, he also started studying ballet. He did this for five years. Van Damme said that ballet is very difficult and that if you can handle a ballet workout, you can handle any other sport. He later learned Taekwondo and Muay Thai.
Career in Martial Arts and Movies
Becoming a Champion
At age 12, Van Damme joined a national karate center in Belgium. He trained for four years and made it onto the Belgian Karate Team. From 1976 to 1980, he had a fight record of 44 wins and only four losses.
In 1979, he was part of the team that won the European Karate Championship. One of his most memorable fights was in 1980 against Patrick Teugels. Van Damme won by technical knockout in the first round. He retired from competing in 1982 to focus on acting.
Moving to America
In 1982, Van Damme and his friend Michel Qissi moved to the United States to become actors. Life was hard at first. They took many different jobs to make money, including being extras in the movie Breakin' (1984).
He became friends with action star Chuck Norris and worked as a bouncer at one of Norris's clubs. He also drove limousines and taught karate. He never gave up on his dream. He would call movie studios and send his photo to anyone who was hiring actors.
Big Break in Hollywood
His first big role was as the villain in the 1986 movie No Retreat, No Surrender. But his real breakthrough came with the movie Bloodsport in 1988. The movie was based on the story of a real martial artist named Frank Dux. It was a huge hit and made Van Damme a star.
After Bloodsport, he starred in many successful action movies. In Kickboxer (1989), he played a man who learns Muay Thai to avenge his brother. In Double Impact (1991), he played two roles as twin brothers.
In 1992, he starred with Dolph Lundgren in the science fiction movie Universal Soldier. It was a blockbuster hit around the world. Two years later, he starred in Timecop, which became his highest-grossing movie as a lead actor.
Later Career and Voice Acting
In the late 1990s, Van Damme's movies were not as popular. He began making movies that went straight to video instead of to theaters.
He returned to the spotlight in 2008 with the movie JCVD. In this film, he played a fictional version of himself, and critics praised his performance. In 2011, he did voice acting for the first time as Master Croc in the animated movie Kung Fu Panda 2.
In 2012, he played the villain Jean Vilain in The Expendables 2. The movie was a huge success and brought him back to a wide audience. In 2013, he appeared in a famous commercial for Volvo Trucks where he did a split between two moving trucks. The video, called "The Epic Split," went viral online.
He continues to act in movies and has even appeared in video games. In 2023, he provided his voice and likeness for the character Johnny Cage in the game Mortal Kombat 1.
Personal Life
Van Damme has been married five times to four different women. He has three children: Kristopher, Bianca Brigitte, and Nicholas. His daughter Bianca is also an actress.
In 2011, he shared that he deals with bipolar disorder. He said that he has extreme mood changes, but he takes medication to help manage it.
He has also shown support for political figures. In 2022, he visited Ukraine to show a message of peace and met with Ukrainian soldiers.
Protecting Animals and Nature
Van Damme cares deeply about animals and nature. He has supported many organizations that work to protect animals and has appeared in ads for Animals Australia. He was named an Ambassador for the Environment for the Democratic Republic of the Congo. His role is to help protect the country's forests and wildlife.
Monuments
In 2012, a life-size statue of Van Damme was put up in Anderlecht, Belgium. The statue shows him in a fighting pose from his movie Kickboxer. Van Damme said the statue represents "the dream of a Brussels kid" and is for all children who believe in their dreams.
In 2019, another monument was created in a village in Azerbaijan called Vandam. The village's name sounds like his, so they honored him with a statue. Van Damme thanked them on his Facebook page.
Championships and Accomplishments
- Mr. Belgium bodybuilding Championships (1976 Gold)
- Belgium Karate Lightweight Championships (1977 Gold)
- Belgium Karate team European Championships (1979 Gold)
- Belgium Coupe des Espoirs Karate Tournament Championships (1980 Silver)
Images for kids
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Van Damme in 2007
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Van Damme on the set of JCVD in October 2007
See also
In Spanish: Jean-Claude Van Damme para niños
