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Jean Claude Van Damme Profile |
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Birth Date: October 18, 1960
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Birth Place: Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, Brussels, Belgium
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Birth Name: Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg
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Height: 5'10"
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Biography |
Jean-Claude Van Damme (born Jean-Claude Camille François Van
Varenberg in Sint-Agatha-Berchem, in the Brussels-Capital
Region, on October 18, 1960), is a Belgian-born martial
artist and actor who is best known for his large catalogue
of action movies. His Belgian background combined with his
physique gave rise to his nickname "The Muscles from
Brussels". Van Damme has also been called the "King of the
Belgians" due to his international superstardom.
Van Damme began martial arts at the age of 10, enrolled by
his father in a shotokan karate school. He eventually earned
his black belt in karate, later winning the European
Professional Karate Association's middleweight championship
(although he has claimed that he was "twice world
champion"). He also started lifting weights to improve his
physique, which eventually led to a Mr. Belgium bodybuilding
title. At the age of 16 he took up ballet, which he studied
for five years. He says of ballet that it "is an art, but
it's also one of the most difficult sports. If you can
survive a ballet workout, you can survive a workout in any
other sport."
At the age of 18, Van Damme opened up the California Gym in
Brussels, which one article claimed brought in $15,000 a
month. Van Damme was first seen on screen in the French-made
Rue Barbare, released in 1984, followed in the same year
with Monaco Forever, where he was credited as 'Karate Man'.
This gave Van Damme the impetus to give up his profitable
fitness business in favor of acting. He left for America in
the early 1980s (having first tried Hong Kong), initially
sleeping in a rented car and doing odd jobs until he broke
into film.
Van Damme has studied Taekwondo and Muay Thai, along with
Shotokan Karate |
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Other Information |
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 "wilfully" gouging the eye of an
extra in a swordfight 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 _Quest, The (1996/I)_ , 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 a 90 day
anti-drunk-driving class, $1,2000 fine, 3 years probation
and a 90 day revocation of his license after pleading no
contest in Beverly Hills for a September 23, 1999 DUI
arrest.
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 Flemish, English, French, 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.
He became a European Karate Champion in 1979 and went to USA
to win the World Championship. He didn't win. Few months
later he had a rematch with the opponent he lost against in
World Championship and he won in less than 2 minutes.
Can lift 166 kg on a bench.
Have own production company Long Road Productions (also
known as 777 Films Corp).
Was the original choice to play the title character in
Predator (1987).
Related to Screenwriter Adam Burnett through marriage.
Former sparring partner of Chuck Norris in the early 80s.
Children: Kristopher (b. 1987) and Bianca (b. 1990) with
Gladys Portugues; son Nicholas (b. 1995) with 'Darcy La
Pier' .
He was the inspiration for the character "Johnny Cage" from
Mortal Kombat. One of "Johnny Cage's" special moves was
where he did the splits and punched his oppenent in the
groin, as seen when Van Damme's character, Frank Dux,
punches his large sumo opponent in Bloodsport (1988).
Under mounds of make-up, he was going to play the title
alien villain in "Predator," having even been on set for the
shoot, but was replaced by Kevin Peter Hall (who,
incidentally, was a foot and a half taller than Van Damme)
when director John McTiernan and producer Joel Silver
decided to go in a different direction.
As the original choice to play the role of the alien hunter
itself in the movie 'Predator', 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 fx 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.
Recently purchased an apartment in Vancouver, British
Columbia, Canada.
Knocked out Strauss in 18 seconds in 1978.
In 1979 knocked-out Leibman in one round.
Often states Charlie Chaplin as the first great "action
star".
Adopted 'Van Damme' to his name from one of his friend's
father name considering it's punchy, short, and clear than
his original name 'Van Veren Berg'.
Brother of Veronique Van Varenberg.
Films often contain injuries to the groin area. "Double
Impact" (1991) "Hard Target" (1993) "Timecop" (1994).
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." |
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