Social Entertainment / People

Jean-Claude Van Damme

Acting · Born October 18, 1960 · Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, Brussels, Belgium

Van Damme was born Jean-Claude Camille François van Varenberg in Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, Brussels, Belgium, to Eliana and Eugène van Varenberg, an accountant. “The Muscles from Brussels” started martial arts at the age of eleven. His father introduced him to martial arts when he saw his son was physically weak. At the age of 12, van Damme began his martial arts training at Centre National De Karate (National Center of Karate) under the guidance of Master Claude Goetz in Ixelles, Belgium. Van Damme trained for 4 years and earned a spot on the Belgium Karate Team. He won the European professional karate association's middleweight championship as a teenager, and also beat the 2nd best karate fighter in the world. His goal was to be number one but got sidetracked when he left his hometown of Brussels.

Movies with Jean-Claude Van Damme

• Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011) — Master Croc (voice)
• Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022) — Jean Clawed (voice)
• Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016) — Master Croc (voice)
• The Expendables 2 (2012) — Jean Vilain
• Hard Target (1993) — Chance Boudreaux
• Last Action Hero (1993) — Jean-Claude Van Damme (uncredited)
• Street Fighter (1994) — Colonel Guile
• Universal Soldier (1992) — Luc Deveraux / GR44
• Bloodsport (1988) — Frank Dux
• Double Impact (1991) — Alex / Chad Wagner
• Kickboxer (1989) — Kurt Sloane
• Sudden Death (1995) — Darren Francis Thomas McCord

TV shows with Jean-Claude Van Damme

• Jean-Claude Van Johnson (2016) — Johnson
• Ramez Movie Star (2022)
• Jean-Claude Van Damme: Behind Closed Doors (2011)