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Jean Claude Van Damme

Jean Claude Van Damme
Jean-Claude Van Damme
Born: Oct 18, 1960 in Brussels, Belgium
Occupation: Actor, Writer, Director,
Active: '90s-2000s
Major Genres: Action
Career Highlights: Universal Soldier, Lionheart, Hard Target
First Major Screen Credit: Bloodsport (1986)
31 Videos for Jean Claude Van Damme
JCVD (2008) Universal Soldier: The Return (1999) Nowhere to Run (1993)
The Shepherd: Border Patrol (2007) Desert Heat (1998) Universal Soldier (1992)
Until Death (2007) Knock Off (1998) Double Impact (1991)
Second in Command (2006) Double Team (1997) Death Warrant (1990)
The Hard Corps (2006) Maximum Risk (1996) Lionheart (1990)
Wake of Death (2004) The Quest (1996) Cyborg (1989)
In Hell (2003) Sudden Death (1995) Kickboxer (1989)
Derailed (2002) Street Fighter (1994) Black Eagle (1988)
Replicant (2001) Timecop (1994) Bloodsport (1986)
The Order (2001) Hard Target (1993) No Retreat, No Surrender (1986)
Legionnaire (1999)
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Biography:

Belgian-born film star Jean-Claude Van Damme can be called an actor, although it would be more accurate to describe him as a bodybuilder and kickboxer. It evidently wasn't in the genes; Van Damme's father was an accountant and flower salesman. Taking up the study of Shotokan karate at the age of ten, Van Damme went on to win the middleweight championship of the European Professional Karate Association, where he thrilled one and all with his 360-degree leap-kick.

Cashing in on his fame, the 18-year-old Van Damme launched the California Gym in Brussels. When he moved to L.A., he had 7,000 dollars to his name and spoke only French and Flemish. At first, he took many odd jobs, the least prepossessing of which was as a carpet layer. Van Damme's first film was a bit part in Chuck Norris' Missing in Action (1984).

Groomed for stardom by Cannon Films' Menahem Golan, Van Damme became a big box-office commodity via such epics as No Retreat, No Surrender (1986); Bloodsport (1988); Cyborg (1989); Kickboxer (1989), which he co-wrote; Lionheart (1990); and Universal Soldier (1992).

Fully cognizant of his own histrionic limitations, Van Damme didn't branch out into comedy or sensitive roles as has Arnold Schwarzenegger; when starring in the popular futuristic-action film Timecop (1994), Van Damme wisely left the acting to villain Ron Silver. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide.