-
Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
-
Daniel J. Travanti to Dick Vitale
Jean-Claude Van Damme Biography (1960-)
Original name, Jean-Claude Francois Van Varenburg; born October 18, 1960 (some sources cite 1961), in Saint-Agatha Berchem (some sources cite Brussels), Belgium; immigrated to the United States, 1984; son of Eugene (an accountant and owner of a flower shop) and Eliana Van Varenburg; married Maria Rodriguez,c. 1984 (divorced, c. 1985); married Cynthia Derderian, 1986 (divorced); married Gladys Portugues (a bodybuilder, model, and actress), 1987 (divorced, c.1993); married Darcy LaPier (an actress), February 3, 1994 (divorced); remarried Gladys Portugues, June 25, 1999; children: (third marriage) Kristopher,Bianca; (fourth marriage) Nicolas. Addresses: Agent: International Creative Management, 8942 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211-1934.
- Nationality
- Belgian
- Gender
- Male
- Occupation
- Actor, producer, director, stunt performer, choreographer, writer
- Birth Details
- October 18, 1960
- Saint-Agatha Berchem, Belgium
Famous Works
-
CREDITS
-
Film Appearances
- Passerby in first dance sequence, Breakin', 1984
- Gay karate man, Monaco Forever, 1984
- (As Jean-Claude Vandam) Ivan the Russian, No Retreat, No Surrender(also known as Karate Tiger), New World, 1986
- Frank Dux, Bloodsport, Cannon, 1988
- Andre, Black Eagle, 1988
- Kurt Sloane, Kickboxer, Pathe, 1989
- Gibson Rickenbacker, Cyborg, Cannon, 1989
- Louis Burke, Death Warrant, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1990
-
The Best of the Martial Arts Films (also known as The Best of the Martial Arts Movies and Deadliest Art: The Best of the Martial ArtsFilms), 1990
- Chad Wagner and Alex Wagner, Double Impact, Columbia, 1991
- Lyon Gaultier, Lionheart (also known as A.W.O.L.,
A.W.O.L.--Absent without Leave, and Wrong Bet), Universal, 1991
- Luc Deveraux, Universal Soldier, TriStar, 1992
- Sam Gillen, Nowhere to Run, Columbia, 1993
-
Last Action Hero, Columbia, 1993
- Chance Boudreaux, Hard Target, Universal, 1993
- Max Walker, Timecop, Universal, 1994
- Colonel Guile, Street Fighter (also known as Street Fighter: The Battle for Shadaloo,
Street Fighter: The Movie, and Street Fighter: The Ultimate Battle), Columbia TriStar/Universal, 1994
- Darren McCord, Sudden Death, Universal, 1995
- Christopher Dubois, The Quest, Universal, 1996
- Alain Moreau/Mikhail Suverov, Maximum Risk (also known as Bloodstone and The Exchange), Columbia, 1996
- Jack Quinn, Double Team (also known as The Colony), Columbia/Trimark Pictures, 1997
- Marcus Ray, Knock Off, TriStar, 1998
- Alain Lefevre, Legionnaire, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1998
- Luc Deveraux, Universal Soldier: The Return (also known as Universal Soldier II and Universal Soldier IV), TriStar, 1999
- Eddie Lomax, Coyote Moon (also known as Desert Heat and Inferno), Viacom, 1999
- "Number One"/"The Torch," Replicant, Artisan Entertainment, 2001
- Rudy, The Order, TriStar, 2001
- Also appeared in Predator as the alien.
-
Film Work
- (As J. Claude Van Damme) Stunt performer, Missing in Action, 1984
- Fight scene choreographer and director, Kickboxer, Pathe, 1989
- Producer (with Ashok Amritraj) and fight choreographer, Double Impact, Columbia, 1991
- Fight choreographer, Lionheart (also known as A.W.O.L.,
A.W.O.L.--Absent without Leave, and Wrong Bet), Universal, 1991
- Director, The Quest, Universal, 1996
- Producer, Legionnaire, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1998
- Producer, Universal Soldier: The Return (also known as Universal Soldier II and Universal Soldier IV), TriStar, 1999
- Producer, Coyote Moon (also known as Desert Heat and Inferno), Viacom, 1999
-
Television Appearances
-
Specials
-
The 17th Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1991
-
The Movie Awards, CBS, 1991
-
Hollywood Hotshots, Fox, 1992
-
Episodic
- Male stripper, Santa Barbara, 1988
- Himself, "The One after the Superbowl," Friends, NBC, 1996
-
RECORDINGS
-
Videos
- Colonel Guile, Street Fighter: The Movie (video game), 1994
- Appeared in the music video Voices That Care.
-
WRITINGS
-
Screenplays
- (With Sheldon Lettich, Steve Meerson, and Peter Krikes) Double Impact (based on a story by Van Damme), Columbia, 1991
- (With Lettich and R. N. Warren) Lionheart (also known as A.W.O.L.,
A.W.O.L.--Absent without Leave, and Wrong Bet; based onoriginal screenplay by Lettich, adapted from story by Van Damme), Universal,1991
Further Reference
Adaptations
- The 1989 film Kickboxer 1996. was based on a story by Van Damme. The 1991 film Kickboxer 2: The Road Back was based on characters created by Van Damme. Van Damme also provided the story for The Quest, Universal, 1996; and Legionnaire, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1998.
OTHER SOURCES
Books
-
International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, Volume 3: Actors and Actresses, St. James Press,
Periodicals
-
Entertainment Weekly, September 4, 1998, pp. 44-47.
-
Interview, March, 1991, pp. 84-85.
-
New York, April 1, 1991, pp. 28-35.
-
Playboy, January, 1995, pp. 51-66.
-
Starlog, September, 1992; October, 1994.
-
US Weekly, August 14, 2000, p. 3.
Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic: