Jean claude van damme where is from

His father introduced him to martial arts when he saw his son was physically weak. At the age of 12, Van Damme began his See full bio ». Filmography by Job Trailers and Videos. Share this page:. The Rise of Will Smith. Around The Web Provided by Taboola. Projects In Development Falconman. Details only on IMDbPro ». Box Office.

Streaming TV: Renewed and Canceled. Everything Coming to Hulu in December Create a list ». Justice Unleashed: World War 3. Elite Actors. Top 10 famosos actores de cine que han visitado Chile. See all related lists ». Do you have a demo reel? Add it to your IMDb page. He was also not comfortable in the original alien suit and passed out due to heat exhaustion. Supposedly, Van Damme has no regrets on backing out of the Predator project.

Often states Charles Chaplin 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. Films often contain injuries to the groin area. Van Damme has an impressive kickboxing record of , with 18 wins by knockout.

For most of these fights, he fought under his birth name of Jean-Claude Van Varenberg. Van Damme lost by disqualification when he accidentally kicked Aubry when he was on the canvas.

When Van Damme first arrived in Hollywood in the s, his jobs consisted of waiting tables, delivering pizza, driving a taxi, and acting as a bouncer at Woody's Wharf, a bar owned by Chuck Norris in Newport Beach. In the French-speaking world, Van Damme is well known for the picturesque aphorisms that he delivers on a wide range of topics personal well-being, the environment, etc.

In January , Van Damme featured in an Ultra Tune television advert which was part of a controversial series of ads. Two women were confronted in a car park by a gang of youths in a threatening manner, Van Damme appears to defend them and then the mood lightens and they take pictures with the star.

On 13 November , Volvo Trucks released an advertisement on YouTube that shows Van Damme doing the splits while perched with each of his feet on the outer rearview mirrors of one semi-trailer truck and one box truck moving backwards, which Van Damme describes in the commercial as "the most epic of splits". The video quickly went viral around the web, receiving more than 11 million views in three days, 35 million in the first week.

Suffered from mood swings and depressions for years, causing him to seek his refuge in martial arts and drugs. Finally, after several attempts at rehab, he visited a neurologist who diagnosed him with rapid cycling bipolar disorder.

With appropriate medication, he has managed to stay off drugs ever since, and he has even remarried his former wife Gladys Portugues.

His very brief work on the production of Predator unexpectedly helped him to become an action star. While working as a waiter, van Damme spotted producer Menahem Golan in his restaurant, and did a roundhouse kick for him without spilling a drop from the bowl of soup he had in his hands. Golan was sufficiently fascinated to invite van Damme on an official audition. During the audition, van Damme did his trademark split while balancing on two chairs, which did not impress Golan. While he dismissed him, a friend who had come along mentioned that van Damme had just done Predator with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Golan went out to check, and as luck would have it, van Damme's name had not yet been removed from the cast sheet. Golan decided to offer him the lead role in Bloodsport which became van Damme's big break.

Refused a three-picture deal that would have earned him 12 million dollar per movie, stating that he wanted 20 million, equal to Jim Carrey 's salary at the time. He understands Spanish very well because he had a Spanish nanny when he was a boy. He can't speak the language properly as he never studied it. On one occasion he had a interview in Chile and all the questions were asked in Spanish, he understood but replied in English.

He once stated that, if you can survive a ballet workout, you can survive any other kind of training. Born on exactly the same date as Happy Days star Erin Moran. In an action film you act in the action. If it's a dramatic film you act in the drama.

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. He also has a sister Veronique Van Varenberg. He began martial arts at the age of 10, enrolled by his father in a martial arts school.

His styles consist of Karate and Kickboxing. He eventually earned his black belt in karate at He 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. Health and addiction: Van Damme had troubles with cocaine that started during He entered a month-long rehabilitation program in but left it after only one week. He is also reported to have experienced bipolar disorder. A turning point in his health issues came in late , after having signed divorce papers charging him with spousal abuse, and drug addiction. After the filming of the film Knock Off, Van Damme was diagnosed with rapid cycling bipolar disorder after becoming suicidal and started treatment on the bi-polar medication sodium valproate to stabilize his mood.

Van Damme trained for four years and he earned a spot in the Belgian Karate Team. He made his debut in , at the age of Van Damme was badly stunned, but came back to knock out Van Oostrum moments later.

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 three knockout victories in one evening. However, in a match for the Belgium lightweight title, he again lost a decision to Patrick Teugels.

Once again, the loss left an impact on Claude Goetz and a few months later at Iseghem, Belgium, Van Damme came back and knocked out Emile Leibman in the first round. For the only time in his career, Van Damme was knocked to the canvas after absorbing a powerful left hook. However, Jean-Claude climbed off the canvas and with a perfectly timed ax-kick, knocked Bergman out cold in 59 seconds of the first round.

Van Damme ended with a stoppage of Gilberto Gil Diaz in one round. After these victories, Jean-Claude caught the attention of the European martial arts community. However, Jean-Claude's ambitions now focused in the direction of acting. Van Damme ended his fight career at the Forest National in Brussels.