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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.