Birth Date
October 18, 1960
Age
60 years old
Nationality
Belgium
Sun Sign
Libra
Natural hair color
Light Brown
Eye color
Hazel
Height
5 ft 9 in | 175 cm
Net Worth
$40 Million
Weight
82 kg | 180 lbs
Chest
43 in | 109 cm
Shoe size
10.5 US | 44 EU
Waist
34 in | 86 cm
Early acting career First movie Breakthrough
Jean Claude Van Damme was born in Sint-Agatha-Berchem, Brussels, Belgium, on October 18, 1960, is a Belgian actor and martial artist.
Young Jean Claude Van Damme started his karate training, at the age of 10, at the Shotokan Karate School, under Master Claude Goetz in Ixelles, Belgium.
He earned his black belt in karate at the age of 18.
He started his Martial Arts fight career in 1976, at the age of sixteen.
He won the European Team Championships as a member of the 1979 Belgium Team.
Has kickboxing record of 18-1-0, with 18 wins by knockout.
He trained Shōtōkan Karate, Kickboxing, Taekwondo and Muay Thai.
He made his big screen debut in drama war film Woman Between Wolf and Dog (1979) in uncredited role as Man in Garden, opposite Rutger Hauer.
Van Damme's breakthrough performance came as Frank Dux in martial arts film Bloodsport (1988).
New Movies
Minions: The Rise of Gru (2021) animated comedy in voice role as Jean Clawed
We Die Young (2019) action crime drama in role as Daniel
Best Movies
He portrayed Luc Deveraux / GR44 in Universal Soldier film series:
Universal Soldier (1992)
Universal Soldier: The Return (1999)
Universal Soldier: Regeneration (2009)
Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning (2012)
He played Master Durand in martial arts films: Kickboxer: Vengeance (2016) and Kickboxer: Retaliation (2018).
Hard Target (1993) action thriller in role as Chance Boudreaux
Sudden Death (1995) action thriller in role as Darren Francis Thomas McCord
Lionheart (1990) action in role as Lyon Gaultier
JCVD (2008) crime drama in role as himself
Kickboxer (1989) martial arts in role as Kurt Sloane
Timecop (1994) science fiction action in role as Max Walker
Maximum Risk (1996) action thriller with Natasha Henstridge
Legionnaire (1998) drama war in role Alain Lefevre
Double Impact (1991) thriller action in role as Chad & Alex Wagner
Cyborg (1989) martial-arts cyberpunk in role as Gibson Rickenbacker
The Expendables 2 (2012) thriller action opposite Sylvester Stallone
Welcome to the Jungle (2013) comedy action in role as Storm Rothchild
Street Fighter (1994) thriller action with Kylie Minogue
Black Water (2018) action thriller opposite Dolph Lundgren
TV Shows
He guest starred in NBC sitcom Friends (1996) in episode "The One After the Superbowl".
He started in British reality show Behind Closed Doors (2011).
Facts
Studied ballet for five years.
Has one older sister Veronique Van Varenberg.
He voiced Master Croc in films Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016) and Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011).
Was honored with a life-size statue of himself in Brussels.
Featured in music video for:
Body Count "Body Count's in the House" (1992)
The Smithereens "Time Won't Let Me" (1994)
MC Hammer featuring Deion Sanders "Straight to My Feet" (1994)
Chage and Aska "Something There"(1995)
Megadeth "Crush 'Em" (1999)
Bob Sinclar "Kiss My Eyes" (2003)
Iryna Bilyk and Olga Gorbacheva "Ya Lyublyu Ego" (2008)
Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike vs. Ummet Ozcan "The Hum" (2015)
He is an animal rights activist.
He is a Roman Catholic.
Lives in Hong Kong and Knokke - Heist, Belgium.
Relationships
He was married to:
Darcy LaPier (1994-1997), they have a son, Nicholas
Gladys Portugues (1987-2015), they have two children: Kristopher and Bianca Brigitte
Cynthia Derdian (1985-1986)
Maria Rodriguez (1980-1984)
He dated Alena Kaverina (2009-2016), Savanna Samson (1998) and Kylie Minogue (1994).