Jean-Claude Van Damme

Van Damme was born Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg, on 18 October 1960, in Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, Brussels, Belgium, the son of Eliana and Eugène Van Varenberg, who was an accountant and florist.{{cite web | last=Hendrix | first=Grady | title=Happy birthday, Jean-Claude Van Damme! | website=Slate Magazine | date=19 October 2007 | url=https://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/low_concept/2007/10/happy_belated_birthday_jeanclaude_van_damme.html | access-date=31 July 2024}}{{cite book|title=Current Biography Yearbook|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1YwYAAAAIAAJ|year=1999|publisher=H. W. Wilson Company|page=577|quote=}}{{cite web|url=https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800019806/bio |title=Jean-Claude van Damme- Biography|publisher=Yahoo! Movies|access-date=3 April 2012}} His father is from Brussels and bilingual, and his mother is Flemish (Dutch-speaking).{{cite web|title=Jean-Claude van Damme unveils his statue in Belgium|publisher=The Reel Place|url=http://www.thereelplace.com/news/jean-claude-van-damme-unveils-his-statue-in-belgium/|quote=Standing next to his Flemish mother and his Walloon father, the actor talked about the linguistic conflict: "It's a dispute between two cultures that are, in fact, the same. But, there's a lot of love in this war" he concluded, true to himself.}}; Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/VCMb3OxCnZo Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20130226122006/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCMb3OxCnZo Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|title=Jean-Claude van Damme - Bifff 2007 |date=21 March 2008 |publisher=VanDammeTV|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCMb3OxCnZo|quote=Mijn moeder is Vlaamse en mijn vader is van Brussels [My mother is Flemish and my father is from Brussels]}}{{cbignore}} Van Damme was brought up Roman Catholic. His paternal grandmother was Jewish.[http://www.vandamme.ru/articles/1996/11-11-1996.htm Getting a kick out of stardom] By Pearl Sheffy Gefen, The Jerusalem Post: 29 November 1996

He began martial arts at the age of ten, enrolled by his father in a Shōtōkan karate school.{{cite news |title= Why is he famous? |publisher= AskMen.com |url= http://uk.askmen.com/celebs/interview_300/311_jean-claude-van-damme.html |access-date= 15 June 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100409113625/http://uk.askmen.com/celebs/interview_300/311_jean-claude-van-damme.html |archive-date= 9 April 2010 |url-status= dead }} His styles consist of Shōtōkan Karate and Kickboxing.{{cite news | title=Belgian Bruiser Muscles into B-Movie Scene | first=John | last=Stanley | newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle | date=2 April 1989 }} He eventually earned his black belt in karate at 18, and earned the rank of 2nd-dan black belt.[http://www.jeanclaudevandamme.net/articles.htm Karate black belt] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060405094621/http://www.jeanclaudevandamme.net/articles.htm |date=5 April 2006 }}{{Cite web |last=Stallings |first=Antonio |date=18 July 2022 |title=Jean-Claude Van Damme Once Earned a Film Role by Knocking out a Martial Artist |url=https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/jean-claude-van-damme-earned-film-role-knocking-martial-artist.html/ |access-date=19 July 2024 |website=Showbiz Cheat Sheet |language=en-US}} He started lifting weights to improve his physique, which eventually led to a Mr. Belgium bodybuilding title in 1978.{{cite news|title=Playboy interview|first=Lawrence|last=Grobel|newspaper=Playboy| date=1 January 1995}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.biography.com/actors/jean-claude-van-damme|title=Jean-Claude Van Damme - Movies, Age & Facts|date=13 April 2021|website=Biography}} At the age of 16, he took up ballet, which he studied for five years. According to Van Damme, ballet "is an art, but it's also one of the most difficult sports. If you can survive a ballet workout, you can survive a workout in any other sport."{{cite news | title=Van Damme gets his kicks from acting now, not karate | first=Jae-Ha | last=Kim | newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times| date=14 April 1989}} Later he took up both Taekwondo and Muay Thai.{{cite web|url=http://www.jeanclaudevandamme.be/fandamme/biography.htm|title=FanDamme Jean Claude van Damme|access-date=6 December 2014}}

Among his acting heroes growing up were Charles Bronson, Bruce Lee, James Dean, Montgomery Clift, Steve McQueen, Jean-Paul Belmondo, and Sylvester Stallone.{{Cite web|url=https://www.undertheradarmag.com/interviews/jean-claude_van_damme_and_the_creators_of_jean-claude_van_johnson|title=Jean-Claude Van Damme and the Creators of "Jean-Claude Van Johnson"}}{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/aug/10/van-damme-expendables-2 | title=Jean-Claude van Damme: 'I tried to play the system; I was blacklisted' | newspaper=The Guardian | date=10 August 2012 | last1=Godfrey | first1=Alex }}

At the age of 12,Katherine Drobot Lawrence. [https://books.google.com/books?id=PlXN3oyymPsC&q=Jean-Claude+Van+Damme Jean-Claude Van Damme] (The Rosen Publishing Group, 2002), p. 11. Van Damme joined the Centre National de Karaté (National Center of Karate) under the guidance of Claude Goetz in Belgium. Van Damme trained for four years and he earned a spot on the Belgian Karate Team; he later trained in full-contact karate and kickboxing with Dominique Valera.[http://www.starsystemkickboxing.net/Pages/JeanClaudeVanDamme.aspx "Standardized Tournaments And Ratings System Historic Kickboxing Ring Records"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120801014538/http://www.starsystemkickboxing.net/Pages/JeanClaudeVanDamme.aspx |date=1 August 2012 }}. The Star System. 8 March 1980. Retrieved 3 April 2012. According to Van Damme, "it was tough growing up. I was kind of geeky, and physically I was not gifted".Razvi, Sam. [https://www.coachweb.com/exercises/celebrity-workouts/2116/jean-claude-van-damme-expendables-2-interview "Jean-Claude van Damme Expendables 2 interview"], Coach, published 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2021.

At the age of 15, he started his competitive karate career in Belgium. From 1976 to 1980, he compiled a record of 44 victories and four defeats in tournament and non-tournament semi-contact matches.

He was a member of the Belgium Karate Team when it won the European Karate Championship on 26 December 1979 at La Coupe François Persoons Karate Tournament in Brussels.{{cite web |url=http://www.jcvandamme.net/cnk/Anglais/CNKen/cnken.html |title=CNK – Centre National de Karaté |publisher=Jcvandamme.net |access-date=20 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423042708/http://www.jcvandamme.net/cnk/Anglais/CNKen/cnken.html |archive-date=23 April 2009}}

He placed second at the Challenge Coupe des Espoirs Karate Tournament (1st Trials). At the three-day tournament, he defeated 25 opponents before losing in the finals to teammate Angelo Spataro.

On 8 March 1980, in Brussels, Belgium, he competed against his former teammate Patrick Teugels at the Forest National Arena on the undercard of the Dan Macaruso-Dominique Valera Professional Karate Association Light-Heavyweight World Championship bout. Prior to this match, Teugels had defeated Van Damme twice by decision, including a match for the Belgium Lightweight Championship. Van Damme had a 1977 victory over Teugels. Teugels was coming off an impressive showing at the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations World Championships four months earlier, and was favored by some to win this match. According to reports, and Patrick Teugels' own interview (with photos), Teugels lost to Van Damme by TKO in the 1st round. Teugels was kicked in the nose and was unable to continue as a result. In a 2013 interview, Van Damme called this fight his most memorable match.[http://asianmoviepulse.com/2013/06/king-of-kung-fu-presents-the-jean-claude-van-damme-interview/ "King Of Kung Fu Presents: The Jean Claude Van Damme Interview"]. Asian Movie Pulse. 13 June 2013.

He began his full-contact career in 1977, when Claude Goetz promoted the first ever full-contact karate tournament in Belgium.

From 1977 to 1982, he compiled a record of 18 victories (18 knockouts) and one defeat. {{Citation needed|reason=previous link broken|date=February 2018}}

In 1979, he had an uncredited role in André Delvaux's Woman Between Wolf and Dog, a Belgian-French drama film starring Marie-Christine Barrault, and Rutger Hauer.

In 1980, he caught the attention of Professional Karate Magazine publisher and editor Mike Anderson and multiple European champion Geert Lemmens. Both men tabbed Van Damme as an upcoming prospect.Warrener, Don (15 August 2011). [http://www.fightingarts.com/reading/article.php?id=320 "Jean Claude van Damme: Behind The Public Image"]. FightingArts.com. Retrieved 3 April 2012. Van Damme retired from competition in 1982.

During his early life, he sold flowers in restaurants, and got a loan to open a gym to save some money before his move to the United States.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/bqYh3dlKTOY Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20190303230734/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqYh3dlKTOY&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqYh3dlKTOY#t=3m19s|title=Jean-Claude Van Damme Reveals Why He Left 'Predator'|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=1 March 2019}}{{cbignore}} Aptly titled California Gym, it was opened in 1979 and catered to "karate, dancing, aerobics, bodybuilding – everything". Van Damme adds that "I wrote special training programs for people, and it was a very upbeat atmosphere with music". At its peak, California Gym was making $15,000 per month; "when I decided to sell my gym my father thought I was crazy. He said, 'What the hell are you doing? You have the best gym in Brussels. You have a sports car, a beautiful apartment, you're making so much money that you can have anything you want — and now you're going to sell your business and go to America'. He was very upset".Fighter Magazine. [https://www.backkicks.com/jean-claude-van-damme-interview-1988/ "Jean-Claude van Damme Interview"], Fighter International Magazine, published December 1988. Retrieved 31 May 2023.

In 1982, he and childhood friend Michel Qissi moved to the United States in the hope of working as actors. They did a variety of jobs to support themselves. Their first job working on a film as extras in the hip hop dance film Breakin' (1984), made by Cannon Films; they are seen dancing in the background at a dance demonstration.{{Cite news|url=http://www.worldation.com/stories/muscles-brussels-story-jean-claude-van-damme/2/|title=The muscles from Brussels - the story of Jean-Claude Van Damme {{!}} Worldation|date=9 October 2017|work=Worldation|access-date=9 April 2018|language=en-US}}

Around that time he developed a friendship with action martial art film star Chuck Norris. They started sparring together, and Van Damme started to work as a bouncer at a bar named Woody's Wharf, owned by Norris.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bjjee.com/articles/jean-claude-van-damme-chuck-norris-training-together/|title=Jean-Claude Van Damme and Chuck Norris training together|date=4 May 2017|work=Bjj Eastern Europe|access-date=9 April 2018|language=en-US}} He also supplemented his income as a limousine driver and private karate instructor.

He described his early days in the United States as being particularly difficult – excluding $2,000, he had placed all of his money from the sale of his gym into a European bank; thus, he struggled financially.Polowy, K. [https://uk.news.yahoo.com/bloodsport-jean-claude-van-damme-behind-the-scenes-160011995.html "'Bloodsport' at 35: How a desperate Jean-Claude Van Damme begged his way into the action film that made him a star"], Yahoo! News, published 24 February 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023. To ensure his own emotional wellbeing, he would go for runs every night in Santa Monica. After that, he would train at the world-renowned Gold's Gym. This routine reportedly helped him survive for many years. He actively participated in casting calls and had a specific routine. On Wednesdays, he would purchase the Drama-Logue magazine; then Thursday mornings, he would send out his picture and resume in response to advertisements. He was willing to try anything to achieve success, even going so far as to fabricate a story. He would call movie studios and claim to be an actor from Brussels with an investor from Hong Kong. He also instructed a friend to play along and act as if they wanted him to star in a movie and were willing to invest money, but required additional funding. Armed with this, he approached producers and suddenly found that all his phone calls were being answered. Of course, his intention was simply to meet the person and put his name out there, as opposed to securing illegitimate deals.

In the 1984 action film Missing in Action starring Norris, which was also released by Cannon Films, Van Damme is credited in the stunt team crew.{{cite AV media |title=Missing In Action |date=1984 |last=Zito |first=Joseph |type=VHS |language=en |publisher=MGM/UA |isbn=0-7928-0782-0}} That same year he also had a role in the comedy short film Monaco Forever.{{Citation|last=Levey|first=William A.|title=Monaco Forever|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087739/|others=Charles Pitt, Nancy Brock, Daniele Romer|access-date=9 April 2018}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/1995/02/17/van-dammes-first-film/|title=Van Damme's first film|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=27 August 2018|language=en}}

Corey Yuen's martial arts film No Retreat, No Surrender, which premiered On 2 May 1986 in Los Angeles,{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/57425-NO-RETREAT-NO-SURRENDER?cxt=filmography|title=AFI{{!}}Catalog|website=catalog.afi.com|access-date=3 January 2020}} was his first sizeable role when he was cast as the Russian villain. It starred Kurt McKinney, and was released through New World Pictures.{{Citation|title=No Retreat, No Surrender Blu-ray|url=http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/No-Retreat-No-Surrender-Blu-ray/158610/#Overview|access-date=27 August 2018}}{{Citation|title=No Retreat, No Surrender|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/no_retreat_no_surrender/|language=en|access-date=27 August 2018}} McKinney stars as Jason Stillwell, a U.S. teenager who learns karate and defends his martial arts dojo against a Soviet martial artist played by Van Damme.{{Cite news|url=https://cinapse.co/no-retreat-no-surrender-an-endearing-the-karate-kid-clone-6c4a42fc914f|title=NO RETREAT, NO SURRENDER: An Endearing THE KARATE KID Clone|date=21 February 2017|work=Cinapse|access-date=27 August 2018|archive-date=26 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221126200819/https://cinapse.co/no-retreat-no-surrender-an-endearing-the-karate-kid-clone-6c4a42fc914f|url-status=dead}} Both Vann Damme and McKinney were set to also star in No Retreat, No Surrender 2, but backed out.{{Cite news|title=Keith Strandberg interview: No Retreat No Surrender|language=en|work=Den of Geek|url=http://www.denofgeek.com/uk/movies/no-retreat-no-surrender/49131/keith-strandberg-interview-no-retreat-no-surrender|access-date=24 July 2018}}

He worked for director John McTiernan for the film Predator (1987) as an early (eventually abandoned) version of the titular alien, before being removed and replaced by Kevin Peter Hall.{{cite news|title=If It Bleeds, We Can Kill It|last=Haufrect|first=Ian T|publisher=20th Century Fox|year=2001}} As the first choice to play the titular Predator character, with the intent that he would use his martial arts skills to make the alien an agile, ninja-like hunter, but after few days shot, he left the film. It was reported that he constantly complained about the monster suit being too hot and causing him to pass out; he allegedly also voiced reservations about only appearing on camera in the suit. Additionally, it became apparent that a more physically imposing actor was needed to make the creature appear threatening against the team of soldiers. The role eventually went to Kevin Peter Hall.Haufrect, Ian T. (2001). If It Bleeds, We Can Kill It. Predator DVD: 20th Century Fox. After Predator was a success, Van Damme said that he appreciated the movie and that he had no regrets about missing that role.

Van Damme's breakout film was Bloodsport, which opened on 26 February 1988, based on the alleged true story of Frank Dux.{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/60095-BLOODSPORT?cxt=filmography|title=AFI{{!}}Catalog|website=catalog.afi.com|access-date=3 January 2020}} It was shot on a $1.5-million budget for Cannon.{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-05-01-me-3111-story.html|title=NINJA: Hero or Master Fake? : Others Kick Holes in Fabled Past of Woodland Hills Martial Arts Teacher|last=Johnson|first=John|date=1 May 1988|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=27 August 2018|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Bloodsport#tab=summary|title=Bloodsport (1988) - Financial Information|work=The Numbers|access-date=27 August 2018}} The film is about U.S. Army Captain Frank Dux (played by Van Damme), trained from his youth in the ways of ninjutsu by Senzo Tanaka, who takes the place of Tanaka's deceased son Shingo in the illegal martial-arts tournament Kumite in Hong Kong.{{Cite news|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/johannacox/an-interview-with-the-man-who-inspired-and-paid-for-some-of|title=15 Things You Didn't Know About "Bloodsport"|work=BuzzFeed|access-date=27 August 2018|language=en}}{{cite AV media |date= 1 October 2002|title=Bloodsport|medium= film|language= en, fr, ja|publisher= Warner Home Video|id= 0 85393 77442 4|isbn= 0-7907-6540-3}} It became a U.S. box-office hit in the spring of 1988. Producer Mark Di Salle said he was looking for "a new martial arts star who was a ladies' man, [but Van Damme] appeals to both men and women. He's an American hero who fights for justice the American way and kicks the stuffing out of the bad guys."{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1989/08/27/punch-lineage/|title=Punch Lineage|last1=Thompson|first1=Anne|author-link1=Anne Thompson (film critic)|date=27 August 1989|website=The Chicago Tribune|access-date=15 October 2016}} In reality, Van Damme had begged for a starring role; at the point of casting, he was homeless, sleeping in cars and garages, and sometimes had to resort to stealing food to survive. Also in 1988, he played another Russian villain in Black Eagle, opposite Sho Kosugi.{{Citation|title=Black Eagle Blu-ray|url=http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Black-Eagle-Blu-ray/190192/|access-date=27 August 2018}}

After the success of Bloodsport, Cannon Films offered him the lead in Delta Force 2, American Ninja 3 or Cyborg, a cyberpunk martial arts film directed by Albert Pyun.{{Cite news|title=Punch Lineage|language=en|work=tribunedigital-chicagotribune|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1989/08/27/punch-lineage/|access-date=24 July 2018}} He chose Cyborg which premiered in 1989. The film was a low budget box office success and led to two sequels, neither of which Van Damme appeared in.

Cannon used Van Damme again in Kickboxer released that same year. It was highly successful, returning over $50 million on a $3-million budget.{{cite news | first=Martha | last=Sherrill | title= The muscles from brussels | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=11 August 1991}} The film started the Kickboxer franchise. He did not appear in any of the film's four sequels, though he did return as a different character in the reboot series.

In 1990, he starred in Death Warrant, the first script credit for David S. Goyer. Also that year he starred in Lionheart.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-09-23-fi-42149-story.html|title=Van Damme Gains 'Franchise' Status|last=Bates|first=James|date=23 September 1994|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=23 August 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412071240/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-09-23-fi-42149-story.html|archive-date=12 April 2019}} Lionheart was directed by Sheldon Lettich who had co-written Bloodsport, and said the film was "the first movie to demonstrate that Van Damme was more than just a flash-in-the-pan "Karate Guy" who would never rise above simplistic low-budget karate movies."[http://birthmoviesdeath.com/2015/02/05/badass-interview-talking-jean-claude-van-damme-with-lionheart-director-shel Evan Sathoff, "Badass Interview: Talking Jean-Claude Van Damme With LIONHEART Director, Sheldon Lettich", 5 Feb 2015] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620100826/http://birthmoviesdeath.com/2015/02/05/badass-interview-talking-jean-claude-van-damme-with-lionheart-director-shel |date=20 June 2015 }} accessed 20 June 2015 It also featured rear nudity from Van Damme which Lettich says "became a very memorable moment for the ladies in the audience, and for the gay guys as well. Showing off his butt (clothed or unclothed) almost became a signature trademark of his after that."

In 1991, Double Impact was released. Directed by Lettich, it features Van Damme in the dual role of Alex and Chad Wagner, estranged twin brothers fighting to avenge the deaths of their parents. Upon its opening it received mixed reviews. The Los Angeles Times said the film "delivers the goods", while Variety didn't like the plotline and predicted a flop. The film grossed $23,683,813 in its first 28 days.{{Cite web |title=AFI{{!}}Catalog |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/58868 |access-date=4 March 2023 |website=catalog.afi.com}} It made a total of $30,102,717 in the US.{{Cite web |title=Double Impact |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0101764/credits/ |access-date=4 March 2023 |website=Box Office Mojo}} Retrospective critics perceive it to be a fun action film, with good comical moments, and a good performance by Van Damme who plays two distinct characters.{{Cite web |last=Eoin |date=15 July 2014 |title=Double Impact (1991) Review |url=https://theactionelite.com/double-impact-1991-review/ |access-date=4 March 2023 |website=The Action Elite |language=en-CA}}{{Cite web |last=Travis |first=Ed |date=9 June 2019 |title=DOUBLE IMPACT: 2 Van Dammes For The Price Of 1 = Best Deal In Cinema History? |url=https://cinapse.co/double-impact-2-van-dammes-for-the-price-of-1-best-deal-in-cinema-history-29548cf47269 |access-date=4 March 2023 |website=Medium |language=en }}{{Dead link|date=October 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{Cite web |title=Reliving the Summer of 1991 Diary - Week Twelve |url=https://www.brianorndorf.com/2011/08/reliving-the-summer-of-1991-diary-week-twelve.html |access-date=4 March 2023 |website=BRIANORNDORF.COM}}{{Cite web |title=Double Impact (1991) – Cinema Crazed |date=22 August 2016 |url=https://www.cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/08/22/double-impact-1991/ |access-date=4 March 2023 |language=en-US}}

In 1992, he starred in one of the biggest blockbusters of the year in the sci-fi action picture, Universal Soldier, directed by Roland Emmerich for Carolco. Van Damme (as Luc Deveraux) and Dolph Lundgren (as Sergeant Andrew Scott) play U.S. soldiers during the Vietnam War who end up shooting each other dead after Devereaux discovers that Scott has gone insane and resorted to mutilating civilians.{{cite journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9c8DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA19|title=Black Belt|journal=Black Belt. Buyer's Guide|date=October 1992|publisher=Active Interest Media, Inc.|page=19|issn=0277-3066|access-date=21 May 2011}} They are later reanimated in a secret Army project along with a large group of other previously dead soldiers and sent on a mission. At the 1992 Cannes Film Festival, Van Damme and Lundgren were involved in a verbal altercation that almost turned physical when both men pushed each other only to be separated, but it was believed to have only been a publicity stunt.{{cite news|url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F19920710%2FREVIEWS%2F207100302%2F1023|title=Universal Soldier|date=10 July 1992|access-date=21 May 2011|newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times|archive-date=27 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927041018/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F19920710%2FREVIEWS%2F207100302%2F1023|url-status=dead}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4uCzo6NkpdsC&pg=PA365|title=I hated, hated, hated this movie|last=Ebert|first=Roger|date=1 April 2000|publisher=Andrews McMeel Publishing|isbn=978-0-7407-0672-1|page=365|access-date=1 August 2011}} Universal Soldier opened in theatres on 10 July 1992, a moderate success domestically with $36,299,898 in US ticket sales, but a major blockbuster worldwide, making over $65 million overseas, which earned the film a total of $102 million worldwide, on a $23 million budget.{{cite news|url=https://www.courant.com/1994/09/16/van-damme-very-determined/|title=Van Damme very determined|date=16 September 1994|work=Hartford Courant|access-date=21 May 2011|archive-date=2 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402135437/http://articles.courant.com/1994-09-16/features/9409210865_1_action-director-john-woo-movie-scripts|url-status=live}}

He was considered to play Simon Phoenix in Demolition Man{{Cite news|title=The Jean-Claude Van Damme/Steven Seagal Movie That Never Will Be...'Demolition Man'|language=en|publisher=MTV News|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2429786/the-jean-claude-van-dammesteven-seagal-movie-that-never-will-bedemolition-man/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223035137/http://www.mtv.com/news/2429786/the-jean-claude-van-dammesteven-seagal-movie-that-never-will-bedemolition-man/|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 December 2015|access-date=24 July 2018}} and was briefly considered for the role of Michael Cheritto in Heat.{{cite web|url=https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0113277/trivia?ref_=m_tt_trv_trv|title = Heat (1995) - IMDb|website = IMDb}} File:Van Damme Cannes.jpg in 1993{{cite web|title=Opening Ceremony In Cannes, France On May 13, 1993|url=http://www.gettyimages.fr/detail/photo-d'actualit%C3%A9/opening-ceremony-in-cannes-france-on-may-13-1993-photo-dactualit%C3%A9/115115390#opening-ceremony-in-cannes-france-on-may-13-1993-jean-claude-van-picture-id115115390|website=Getty Images|date=3 June 2011 |publisher=Getty Inc.|access-date=30 August 2016}}]]

In 1993, he made a cameo in Last Action Hero, and starred in Nowhere To Run. The film was the first in a three-picture deal between Van Damme and Columbia Pictures and his fee was $3.5 million. Columbia said the film is "true to his audience and goes beyond his audience."{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/article/1993/01/22/career-makeover-jean-claude-van-damme|title=Career makeover: Jean-Claude Van Damme|first=Jess|last=Cagle|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=22 January 1993}}

In 1994, he starred in Hard Target for Universal Pictures, the first American film from director John Woo. Also released that year, he starred in Timecop, playing a time-traveling cop.{{cite AV media|title=Van Damme Collection: Bloodsport // Timecop (Warner Bros. Double Feature)|date=19 May 2009|language=en, fr, ja|publisher=Warner Home Video|id=8 83929 06918 7|isbn=1-4198-8152-3|medium=film}} Directed by Peter Hyams, the film was a huge success, grossing over $100 million worldwide, and remains his highest-grossing film in a lead role to date. Also that year, he starred in Street Fighter, written and directed by Steven E. de Souza for Universal and based on the video game. It was poorly received critically. Though a commercial success, making approximately three times its production cost.

Van Damme and Hyams re-teamed for Universal's Sudden Death, released in 1995. Van Damme portrays a French Canadian-born firefighter with the Pittsburgh Fire Bureau who suffered a personal crisis after he was unable to save a young girl from a house fire. Now removed from active duty, he has become demoted to being fire marshal for the Pittsburgh Civic Arena, where a gang of terrorists are holding U.S. Vice President and several other VIPs hostage in a luxury suite during a game. The movie was a modest success.{{Cite web|url=https://filmstories.co.uk/features/sudden-death-the-film-where-van-damme-fought-a-penguin-to-death/|title=Sudden Death: the film where Van Damme fought a penguin to death|first=Matt|last=Edwards|date=21 October 2020|website=Film Stories}}

In 1996, he starred and directed The Quest. The film, though it under-performed domestically, did better internationally at the box-office and was a commercial success.{{cite web | url=https://www.nathanrabin.com/happy-place/2022/5/23/jean-claude-van-damme-and-roger-moore-are-a-terrific-twosome-in-van-dammes-1996-directorial-debut-the-quest | title=Jean-Claude van Damme and Roger Moore are a Terrific Twosome in van Damme's 1996 Directorial Debut the Quest | date=23 May 2022 }}{{cite web | url=http://www.boxofficeprophets.com/column/index.cfm?columnID=20004 | title=The Number One Movie in America: Maximum Risk }}{{cite web | url=https://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/ent/jean-claude-van-damme-friends.html | title=Jean-Claude van Damme Ashamed of '90s Hit Sitcom Role | date=30 October 2023 }} That year, he appeared in the TV show Friends in the two-part episode "The One After the Superbowl". He also starred in Maximum Risk, the first American film directed by Ringo Lam, and their first collaboration. The film was mildly successful at the box office.{{cite web | url=https://wegotthiscovered.com/movies/a-lukewarm-action-movie-with-a-very-familiar-twist-gets-reheated-on-streaming/ | title=A lukewarm action movie with a very familiar twist gets reheated on streaming | date=16 September 2022 }}

He followed up with Double Team (1997), a sci fi action film with basketball superstar Dennis Rodman. It was Hong Kong director Tsui Hark's American debut.

In 1998, he and Hark reunited on Knock Off, a box-office flop.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/movies/09lim.html | title=Hard Body Plays an Old Softie (Himself) | work=The New York Times | date=6 November 2008 | last1=Lim | first1=Dennis }} Also that year, Van Damme acted in the war film Legionnaire. Despite a $35 million budget, it was not released theatrically in the US, only overseas.{{cite news|title= A Direct Hit? New Van Damme Film Bypasses Theaters, Takes Battle Straight to Video|newspaper= Chicago Tribune|date=11 February 1999|url= http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1999-02-11/features/9902110414_1_legionnaire-mobster-video-stores|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120913142722/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1999-02-11/features/9902110414_1_legionnaire-mobster-video-stores|url-status= dead|archive-date= 13 September 2012|access-date=22 December 2010|first=Donald|last=Liebenson}}

In 1999, he starred in Universal Soldier: The Return, (1999), where he returns as Luc Deveraux. The movie did poorly at the box office debuting at #4, which proved to be his last theatrical release until JCVD in 2008.{{cite news | date= 23 August 1999 | first = Richard |last=Natale | title= As 'Sixth Sense' Sizzles, Newcomers Feel a Chill | work= The Los Angeles Times | url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-aug-23-ca-2814-story.html | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121103071015/http://articles.latimes.com/1999/aug/23/entertainment/ca-2814 | archive-date = 3 November 2012 | access-date= 12 December 2018}} That year he also starred in Inferno (1999).

file:Jean-Claude Van Damme June 2, 2007.jpg

Released in 2001, Replicant is the second collaboration between Van Damme and director Ringo Lam, and the fifth time that Van Damme has starred in a dual role. It co-stars Michael Rooker. Also that year he starred in The Order, directed by Sheldon Lettich, and written by Van Damme.{{Citation|title=The Order Blu-ray|url=http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Order-Blu-ray/37827/|access-date=2 August 2018}}

In 2002, he starred in Derailed. In Hell is a 2003 American prison action film directed by Ringo Lam. It is the third collaboration between Van Damme and Lam. Van Damme plays an American working overseas in Magnitogorsk, Russia. That same year, he employed his dancing training in the music video for Bob Sinclar's "Kiss My Eyes".

His 2004 film was Wake of Death, an action film directed by Philippe Martinez. Ringo Lam was the original director, but he left the project after a few weeks of filming in Canada. It co-stars Simon Yam, Valerie Tian, Tony Schiena, etc.

In 2005, he played himself in the French film Narco. In 2006, he starred in Second in Command directed by Simon Fellows, and The Hard Corps directed by Sheldon Lettich.

In 2007, he played a small role in The Exam, a Turkish comedy-drama film directed by Ömer Faruk Sorak. Also that year he starred in Until Death.{{cite AV media|title=Until Death|date=24 April 2007|last=Fellows|first=Simon|language=en|publisher=Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Inc.|id=0 43396 17699 7|isbn=1-4248-4357-X}}

File:Jean claude Van Damme sur le tournage de JCVD en octobre 2007.jpg in October 2007]]

Van Damme returned to the mainstream with the limited theatrical release of the 2008 film JCVD, which received positive reviews. Time Magazine named his performance in the film the second best of the year (after Heath Ledger's The Joker in The Dark Knight),{{cite news|last=Corliss|first=Richard|title=The Top 10 Everything of 2008: Top 10 Movie Performances|newspaper=Time|url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/2008/top10/article/0,30583,1855948_1864351_1864363,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211072609/http://www.time.com/time/specials/2008/top10/article/0,30583,1855948_1864351_1864363,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 December 2008|access-date=1 October 2009|date=3 November 2008}} having previously stated that Van Damme "deserves not a black belt, but an Oscar."{{cite news|last=Corliss|first=Richard|author2=Grossman, Lev |author3=Ponewozik, James |author4= Zoglin, Richard |date=13 November 2008|title=Short List|newspaper=Time|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1858885,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121194258/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1858885,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 November 2008|access-date=1 October 2009}} Also in 2008, he starred in Isaac Florentine's The Shepherd: Border Patrol.

He then reprised his role as Luc Deveraux alongside Dolph Lundgren in the 2009 film Universal Soldier: Regeneration, directed by John Hyams. The film was released theatrically in the Middle East and Southeast Asia and directly to video in the United States and other parts of the world. Since its release, the film has received mostly positive reviews, with praise towards the performances and surprisingly high production values.{{cite web|url=http://www.brianorndorf.com/2010/01/film-review-universal-soldier-regeneration.html|title=This is Briandom – Universal Soldier: Regeneration|publisher=Brian Orndorf|access-date=2 May 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dreadcentral.com/reviews/universal-soldier-regeneration-2009|title=Universal Soldier: Regeneration Review|date=31 December 2009|publisher=Dread Central|access-date=22 May 2011|archive-date=8 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131008114414/http://www.dreadcentral.com/reviews/universal-soldier-regeneration-2009|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/universal_soldier_3/comments.php?reviewid=1865455|title=Universal Soldier: Regeneration Review|author=Villaca, Pablo|website=Rotten Tomatoes|language=pt|access-date=22 May 2011}}

In 2010, he directed himself in the barely released Full Love. That same year, he turned down the role of Gunner Jensen in the first instalment of The Expendables and the role went to Dolph Lundgren.{{cite web|last=Godfrey|first=Alex|date=10 August 2012|title=Jean-Claude Van Damme: 'I tried to play the system; I was blacklisted'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/aug/10/van-damme-expendables-2|access-date=24 July 2018|website=The Guardian|language=en}}

In 2011, he voiced Master Croc in the computer animation film Kung Fu Panda 2. In the film, he voices a character who helps the heroes of the previous film. That same year, he co-starred with Scott Adkins in Assassination Games. Also in 2011, he played a role in the French comedy Beur sur la ville. Also that year, he starred in his own reality TV show Behind Closed Doors. The show showcases his family life, his personal troubles, and an upcoming fight. Since 2009, he has been planning to make a comeback to fight former boxing Olympic gold-medalist Somluck Kamsing.{{Cite web |last=Baage |first=Natalia |date=8 September 2009 |title=Jean-Claude Van Damme to fight Somluck Kamsing in K-1 |url=http://www.fiveknuckles.com/mma-news/Jean-Claude-Van-Damme-to-fight-Somluck-Kamsing-in-K-1.html |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100203180052/http://www.fiveknuckles.com/mma-news/Jean-Claude-Van-Damme-to-fight-Somluck-Kamsing-in-K-1.html/ |archive-date=3 February 2010 |publisher=Five Knuckles}}[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybNYV0Y55qU "Jean-Claude Van Damme Talks about Kamsing Fight in May or June 2012"]. YouTube. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2012[http://www.km.ru/v-rossii/2011/11/11/shou-biznes/zhan-klod-van-damm-reshil-provesti-boi-v-groznom "Жан-Клод Ван Дамм решил провести бой в Грозном"]. KM.RU Новости. 11 November 2011 The fight was a focal point in his ITV reality show Behind Closed Doors. The fight has been repeatedly postponed, with many critics doubting it will occur, especially due to the difficulty of booking the venue.{{cite web | title=Jean-Claude Van Damme vs Somrak Kamsing in 2012? Are you serious bro? | website=All The Best Fights.com | date=18 October 2012 | url=https://www.allthebestfights.com/somluck-vs-jean-claude-van-damme-vs-somrak-kamsing-fight-december-2012-news-jaca/ | access-date=24 August 2024}}

In 2012, he acted in the Russian comedy film named Rzhevsky Versus Napoleon, and U.F.O.{{cite web | title=Jean-Claude Van Damme to shoot UFO film in Derby | website=BBC News | date=15 August 2011 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-14530408 | access-date=24 August 2024}} He starred in Dragon Eyes, Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning, and Six Bullets.White, James (22 June 2011). [http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=31296 "Jean-Claude Van Damme Finds Six Bullets."] Empire (film magazine). Retrieved 3 April 2014.

Also that year, he starred as the main villain in The Expendables 2. The film series follows a mercenary group as they undertake a mission which evolves into a quest for revenge against a rival mercenary (Van Damme). The film was a success, grossing over $310 million worldwide, and was his big return to the action genre.{{cite web | url=https://www.mtv.com/news/gpfv7m/jean-claude-van-damme-expendables-2-interview | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113124737/https://www.mtv.com/news/gpfv7m/jean-claude-van-damme-expendables-2-interview | url-status=dead | archive-date=13 November 2023 | title=Q&A: Jean-Claude van Damme Kicks It with Us, Talks Villainy, Sequels & Remakes | website=MTV }} Empire{{'}}s Nick de Semlyen praised Van Damme's "grandstanding, plutonium-crazed baddie" and Lundgren's "action-troll" as high points in the film.{{cite news|first=Nick |last=de Semlyen |title=The Expendables 2 |url=https://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=137367 |work=Empire |publisher=Bauer Media Group |date=13 August 2012 |access-date=16 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114082255/http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=137367 |archive-date=14 November 2012 |url-status=live }} Also that year, he was seen as part of Kam Sing's ring crew when Kam Sing fought against Jomhod Kiatadisak.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7U_hM8ve8A "Somrack Kamsing and Jean-Claude Van Damme - Friendship and hon"]. YouTube. Retrieved 29 November 2013. He also appeared in commercials for Coors Light beer, showing him on a snow-covered mountain wearing a sleeveless denim jacket,Nudd, Tim (17 June 2011). [http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/ad-day-coors-light-132657 "Ad of the Day: Coors Light Jean Claude Van Damme compares the beer to his frozen crotch"]. Adweek. and for the washing powder Dash. On 21 October 2012, he was honored with a life-size statue of himself in his hometown of Brussels. He told reporters during the unveiling, "Belgium is paying me back something, but really it's to pay back to the dream. So when people come by here, it is not Jean-Claude van Damme but it's a guy from the street who believed in something. I want the statue to represent that".[https://web.archive.org/web/20121028201429/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/hollywood/article/87661.html "Jean-Claude Van Damme statue unveiled"]. India Glitz. 26 October 2012

In 2013, he acted in the comedy Welcome to the Jungle. Also that year, he played the main villain in Enemies Closer, an American action thriller film directed by Peter Hyams.[http://www.craveonline.com/film/articles/607077-exclusive-poster-enemies-closer "Exclusive Poster: Enemies Closer"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913120834/http://www.craveonline.com/film/articles/607077-exclusive-poster-enemies-closer |date=13 September 2014 }}. CraveOnline. 20 November 2013. On 13 November 2013, Volvo Trucks released an advertisement on YouTube that shows Van Damme doing the splits while perched with each of his feet on the outer rearview mirrors of one semi-trailer truck and one box truck moving backwards, which he describes in the commercial as "the most epic of splits". The video quickly went viral around the web, receiving more than 11 million views in three days,{{cite web|url=http://descrier.co.uk/oddities/2013/11/watch-jean-claude-van-damme-splits-two-volvo-trucks/|title=Watch Jean-Claude Van Damme do the splits between two Volvo trucks|date=16 November 2013|work=The Descrier|access-date=27 November 2013}} 35 million in the first week.{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/stargazing_blog/2013/11/channing_tatum_recreates_jean_claude_van_damme_s_epic_split.html|title=Channing Tatum recreates Jean-Claude Van Damme's epic split|author=Arpe, Malene|date=20 November 2013|work=The Star|access-date=27 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131123123208/http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/stargazing_blog/2013/11/channing_tatum_recreates_jean_claude_van_damme_s_epic_split.html|archive-date=23 November 2013|url-status=dead}} The Descrier. 16 November 2013 It was dubbed as The Epic Split.{{cite web | last=Nudd | first=Tim | title=Why Van Damme's 'Epic Split' Was the Perfect Storm for One NYC Creative Director | website=Adweek | date=25 August 2017 | url=https://www.adweek.com/creativity/why-van-dammes-epic-split-was-the-perfect-storm-for-one-nyc-creative-director/ | access-date=24 August 2024}}

Swelter is a 2014 American action film where he plays one of the leads. It stars Lennie James, and co-stars Grant Bowler, Josh Henderson, and Alfred Molina. James plays a sheriff in a small town who has a dark past that he can not remember, only to have to confront it when his ex-partners show up looking for stolen money they believe he has.

In 2015, he starred in the action thriller film Pound of Flesh, directed by Ernie Barbarash. Also that year, he had a supporting role in a Chinese superhero parody film.

In 2016, he returned to his voice role of Master Croc in the Kung Fu Panda franchise for the third installment. Also that year, he acted in Kickboxer: Vengeance directed by John Stockwell. It is a reboot of the original where he was the lead. That year he also played the lead in the TV series Jean-Claude Van Johnson.

In 2017, he starred in Kill 'Em All, an action film directed by Peter Malota.

In 2018, he returned to his role in Kickboxer: Retaliation, a sequel to the reboot.{{cite web |title=Kickboxer: Retaliation (2018) |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kickboxer_retaliation |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=8 November 2018}} That same year, he acted in Black Water. It co-stars Dolph Lundgren in the fifth collaboration between both actorsBaldwin, Daniel. [http://www.cinemarunner.com/2017/05/02/trailer-lundgren-jcvd-deep-black-water/ "JCVD & Lundgren Are Deep In 'Black Water'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170503085041/http://www.cinemarunner.com/2017/05/02/trailer-lundgren-jcvd-deep-black-water/ |date=3 May 2017 }}, www.cinemarunner.com, published 2 May 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017. as well as the first time they appear together as on-screen allies.{{cite web | last=Kit | first=Borys | title=Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dolph Lundgren Team for Action Thriller 'Black Water' | website=The Hollywood Reporter | date=4 January 2017 | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/jean-claude-van-damme-dolph-lundgren-team-action-thriller-black-water-960784/ | access-date=2 September 2024}} In 22 August of that same year, he starred in Julien Leclercq's The Bouncer.

In 2019, he starred in We Die Young.{{cite web | last=Schaefer | first=Sandy | title=We Die Young Trailer: Jean-Claude Van Damme Battles Drug Lords | website=ScreenRant | date=21 January 2019 | url=https://screenrant.com/we-die-young-trailer-jean-claude-van-damme/ | access-date=24 August 2024}} In 2021, he starred in The Last Mercenary.{{cite web | last=Ordoña | first=Michael | title=Review: Jean-Claude Van Damme still kicking in the amusing 'The Last Mercenary' | website=Los Angeles Times | date=30 July 2021 | url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2021-07-30/review-jean-claude-van-damme-last-mercenary | access-date=2 September 2024}} In 2022, he voiced the character Jean-Clawed in the computer animation film Minions: The Rise of Gru.{{cite web | last=Bennett | first=Tara | title='Minions: The Rise of Gru' is the 'Expendables' of animation, featuring Jean-Claude Van Damme, Lucy Lawless, and more | website=SYFY Official Site | date=30 June 2022 | url=https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/minions-rise-gru-cast-jean-claude-van-damme-lucy-lawless-dolph-lundgren | access-date=2 September 2024}}

In 2023, he featured his likeness and voice as Johnny Cage in the fighting game Mortal Kombat 1 (2023).{{Cite web |title=Frequently Asked Questions |url=https://www.mortalkombat.com/en-us/faq |website=MortalKombat.com}} In 2024, he debuted in Hitman: World of Assassination as the game's latest "elusive target". The game features Van Damme in the role of Max Valliant, a former ICA agent who avoided a previous assassination attempt several years prior.{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Ian |date=5 December 2024 |title=Hitman's next elusive target is Jean-Claude Van Damme |url=https://www.polygon.com/news/491531/hitman-jean-claude-van-damme-elusive-target-dlc |access-date=6 December 2024 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}

File:Van Damme Monument in Azerbaijan.jpg

In 2012, a statue of Van Damme was unveiled in Anderlecht, Belgium. The artwork, which depicts a younger incarnation of the Muscles from Brussels in one of his fighting poses from the movie Kickboxer, was commissioned to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Westland Shopping complex. The unveiling took place on Boulevard Sylvain Dupuis and was attended by Van Damme, his parents, Wallonia-Brussels culture minister {{ill|Fadila Laanan|nl}} and nearly 2,000 fans. Van Damme said the statue "represented the dream of a Brussels kid" and was "for all the children who want something bad", adding that "if you believe in something strongly enough, it can come true".{{cite web|url=http://www.xpats.com/van-damme-statue-unveiled|title=Van Damme statue unveiled|website=The Bulletin|date=22 October 2012}}

In 2019, a Van Damme monument was mounted in the Vandam village of Qabala, Azerbaijan, due to the similarity of the village name and Van Damme's name. The actor subsequently published a post on his Facebook account, thanking those responsible.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10162675982180046&id=21497365045 |title=Jean-Claude Van Damme is 😊 feeling appreciated in Azerbaijan. |publisher=Facebook |date=20 November 2019 |accessdate=15 February 2022}}

{{Criticism section|date=April 2025}}

In 1997, Frank Dux, the martial artist whom Van Damme portrayed in Bloodsport, filed a lawsuit against him for $50,000 for co-writing and consultation work Dux did on the 1996 film The Quest. According to the lawsuit, Dux also accused him of lying to the public about his martial arts fight record, stating that when Dux tutored Van Damme while the latter was laying carpet for a living, Van Damme exhibited a lack of martial arts skills. Van Damme's lawyer, Martin Singer, responded, "There are records to document his martial arts acclaim. Why, just look at his movies; he didn't get those roles on his acting ability! He's the one who does those splits on chairs. He doesn't have a stuntman to do that."{{cite news|author=Dickensheets, Scott|title=People in the News|url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/1997/sep/25/people-in-the-news-for-september-25-1997/|access-date=18 May 2012|newspaper=Las Vegas Sun|date=25 September 1997}}

Tensions arose between Van Damme and bodyguard/stuntman Chuck Zito when Zito began dating Van Damme's estranged wife Darcy LaPier. Zito was reportedly unhappy about LaPier's claim in a divorce action that Van Damme had abused her.[https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/477822596/ Downey gets maximum insanity after judge's tough sentence] New York Daily News (16 February 1998) {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230101223249/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/477822596/ |date=1 January 2023 }} On 6 February 1998, the New York Daily News reported that Van Damme had been punched by Zito the previous night at the Scores strip club in Manhattan, New York.[https://westchestermagazine.com/life-style/history/jean-claude-van-damme-chuck-zito/ Did a Sons of Anarchy Star Beat up Jean-Claude Van Damme in Yonkers?] Tom Schreck, Westchester Magazine (23 March 2017) {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102165615/https://westchestermagazine.com/life-style/history/jean-claude-van-damme-chuck-zito/ |date=2 January 2023 }} Zito, who had previously bodyguarded Van Damme and did stunts on the film Nowhere to Run, recalled the incident in his 2002 autobiography Street Justice, claiming that he suffered a broken hand as a result of striking Van Damme several times after Van Damme made disparaging remarks about him to a club bouncer, who then relayed the comments to Zito.{{sfn|Zito|2002a|pp=270–273}} Van Damme denied in an appearance on Inside Edition days after the incident that he had been struck by Zito and challenged Zito to a fight.

In October 2011, Van Damme, along with other celebrities including Hilary Swank, Vanessa-Mae and Seal attracted criticism from human rights groups for attending an event in Russian federal subject Chechnya's capital Grozny on the 35th birthday of Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov on 5 October.[https://archive.today/20120905112214/http://www.ndtvmovies.com/movie_story.aspx?Section=Movies&ID=ENTEN20110185884&subcatg=MOVIESINDIA&keyword=hollywood&nid=140460 Hilary Swank, Van Damme criticised over Kadyrov party], Press Trust of India, dated 12 October 2011. Human rights groups, who had urged the celebrities to cancel their appearances because of abuses carried out under Kadyrov, criticised the celebrities for attending the event.{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/oct/13/hilary-swank-regrets-chechen-party| title=Hilary Swank 'regrets' partying with Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov| first= Miriam|last= Elder|newspaper=The Guardian| date=13 October 2011| access-date=14 October 2011| location=London}} Human Rights Watch released a statement which said, "Ramzan Kadyrov is linked to a litany of horrific human rights abuses. It's inappropriate for stars to get paid to party with him [...] And getting paid to be part of such a lavish show in Chechnya trivializes the suffering of countless victims of human rights abuses there."{{cite news|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/seal-chechnya-human-rights-247508|title=Seal's Chechen Leader Birthday Bash Performance Questioned By Human Rights Group|work=The Hollywood Reporter | first=Kim|last=Masters|date=12 October 2011}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/oct/13/hilary-swank-regrets-chechen-party|title=Hilary Swank 'regrets' partying with Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov|newspaper=The Guardian| location=London|first=Miriam|last=Elder|date=13 October 2011}}

In April 2025, Van Damme was accused by the Romanian Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism of participating in the human trafficking of 5 Romanian women which allegedly took place in Cannes.{{cite web |author1=Kimberlee Speakman |title=Jean-Claude Van Damme Accused of Having Sexual Relations with Trafficked Romanian Women |url=https://people.com/jean-claude-van-damme-accused-of-having-sexual-relations-with-trafficked-women-11707599 |website=People.com |language=en}}{{cite web |last1=Squires |first1=Bethy |title=Jean-Claude Van Damme Accused of Sleeping With Trafficked Women |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/jean-claude-van-damme-sex-trafficking.html |website=Vulture |language=en-us |date=3 April 2025}}

Van Damme is widely regarded as an icon of action and martial arts cinema.{{Cite web |last=Turner |first=Blaine |date=5 February 2023 |title=What Happened to Jean-Claude Van Damme? |url=https://movieweb.com/jcvd-what-happened-to-his-career/ |access-date=31 October 2024 |website=MovieWeb}}{{cite web | title=The Action Fix: Celebrating an Action Icon's Birthday Van Dammage! | website=Action-Flix.com | date=19 October 2022 | url=https://action-flix.com/2022/10/19/the-action-fix-celebrating-an-action-icons-birthday-van-dammage/ | access-date=2 September 2024}} At the height of his career, he was one of the biggest action movie stars in the world, and one of the most successful martial arts actors of the 1980s and 1990s, alongside Steven Seagal.{{cite web |url=https://www.thethings.com/jean-claude-van-damme-affair-with-kylie-minogue/ |title=Why Jean-Claude Van Damme Took Years To Admit To His Affair With This Music Superstar |website=TheThings.com |last=Thomas |first=Matthew |date=5 February 2023 |access-date=10 February 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://movieweb.com/jcvd-vs-seagal-better-career/ |title=Jean-Claude Van Damme or Steven Seagal: Who had the Better Career? |work=MovieWeb |last=Scucci |first=Rob |date=28 November 2022 |access-date=10 February 2025}} His popularity is credited with opening the Hollywood doors to names like Don Wilson, Olivier Gruner, Dale Cook and Loren Avedon. Described as the most 'remade' action star, his films have spawned endless sequels, such as Bloodsport II: The Next Kumite (1996), Bloodsport III (1997), Bloodsport 4: The Dark Kumite (1999), Cyborg 2 (1993), Cyborg 3: The Recycler (1994), Kickboxer 2–6, Universal Soldier II: Brothers in Arms (1998), Universal Soldier III: Unfinished Business (1998), Hard Target 2 (2016), Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (2009), Street Fighter: Assassin's Fist (2014), Timecop 2: The Berlin Decision (2003), the Timecop (1997), and Welcome to Sudden Death (2020). Van Damme's influence has been compared to the Bruceploitation explosion of the 1970s.{{Cite web |last=Bona |first=Jeff |date=12 August 2015 |title=Van Damme is the most 'remade' action star in the world! |url=https://cityonfire.com/jean-claude-van-damme-is-the-most-remade-action-star-in-the-world-kickboxer-bloodsport-trendsetter-reboot-hong-kong-muscles-from-brussels/ |access-date=2 September 2024 |website=cityonfire.com}}

Van Damme achieved sex symbol status through publicity venues in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Unlike his major rivals in action film, such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Steven Seagal, and Bruce Willis, Van Damme was nominated by the National Enquirer as number one on their "Top Ten Sexiest Men in the World" list, being the only action film star listed.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ttxW9ZoE7mwC&dq=Van+Damme+produced+himself+as+an+erotically+charged+persona+and+achieved+sex+symbol+status+through+publicity+venues+in+the+late+1980s+and+early+1990s&pg=PA39 | title=Detecting Men: Masculinity and the Hollywood Detective Film | isbn=978-0-7914-8138-7 | last1=Gates | first1=Philippa | date=February 2012 | publisher=State University of New York Press }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jean-claude-van-damme-get_b_141745|title=Jean-Claude Van Damme Gets "Raw" in JCVD|date=7 December 2008|website=HuffPost}}{{Cite web|url=https://brightside.me/articles/former-sex-symbol-jean-claude-van-damme-has-posted-a-topless-pic-of-him-at-62-that-is-nothing-but-hot-815507/|title=Former Sex Symbol Jean-Claude Van Damme Has Posted a Topless Pic of Him at 62 That Is Nothing but Hot|date=28 September 2023|website=Bright Side — Inspiration. Creativity. Wonder.}}

Many martial artists, athletes, and filmmakers have cited Van Damme as an influence, such as Alain Moussi,{{Cite web |last=Crawford |first=Percy |date=14 February 2018 |title=Alain Moussi Discusses Working with Mike Tyson and Jean-Claude Van Damme in Kickboxer: Retaliation |website=Fight Hype |url=http://www.fighthype.com/news/article32165.html }} Scott Adkins,{{cite web | url=https://screencrush.com/scott-adkins-interview-universal-soldier-day-of-reckoning/ | title=Scott Adkins Interview: 'Universal Soldier,' Fighting van Damme, and 'Zero Dark Thirty' | date=24 September 2012 }} Will Smith,{{cite web | url=https://www.jayshetty.me/blog/jay-shetty-arnold-schwarzenegger-on-how-to-make-your-visions-a-reality#:~:text=Jay%20references%20a%20story%20where,to%20aim%20for%20global%20stardom | title=Jay Shetty & Arnold Schwarzenegger ON How to Make Your Visions a Reality}} Dave Callaham,{{cite web | url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/tv-parody-mines-action-hero-van-dammes-hidden-030204706.html?guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvLnVrLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAG_bQ-Va-gUWMl5kE9o3igublVInfi_7zkAE4yQOkv9zMQjRZu4So84yuIUh9JHdXE4OlNmhhfVsZsOnLzPyct3wElDDMmOtfJPZAQ6fTLhpB581KNDLXSjaKi2G1qgWX82fSdbwoyBMp-J_aYFfh2-kIjl7l0I55tiWaVvSM6L5 | title=TV parody mines action hero van Damme's hidden depths | date=15 December 2017 }} Adam Brody,{{cite news | url=https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/film-tv/news/adam-i-idolised-van-damme-on-set/28740727.html | title=Adam: I idolised van Damme on set | newspaper=Belfasttelegraph.co.uk | date=20 April 2012 }} Jay Cutler,{{cite news |last1=Biswas |first1=Tiyasa |date=25 April 2023 |title="My First Heroes": Not Arnold Schwarzenegger, but 12-Year-Old Jay Cutler Fell in Love With These Hollywood Superstars' Physique |url=https://www.essentiallysports.com/us-sports-news-bodybuilding-news-my-first-heroes-not-arnold-schwarzenegger-but-year-old-jay-cutler-fell-in-love-with-these-hollywood-superstars-physique |work=EssentiallySports |access-date=20 March 2024}} Lyoto Machida,{{cite web |url=https://en.clinch.news/5-Fighters-Who-Have-Declared-Their-Admiration-for-Jean-Claude-Van-Damme-t202501030002.html |title=5 Fighters Who Have Declared Their Admiration for Jean-Claude Van Damme |website=Clinch |last=Aguirre |first=Tomás |date=3 January 2025 |access-date=10 February 2025}} Michael Page,{{cite web |url=https://kungfukingdom.com/interview-with-michael-venom-page/ |title=Interview with Michael 'Venom' Page |website=Kung-fu Kingdom |last=Bulger |first=Jake |date=27 April 2017 |access-date=10 February 2025}} Anderson Silva, Georges St-Pierre,{{Cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/georges-st-pierre-honored-fight-140028095.html|title=Georges St-Pierre Was Honored to Fight His Hero Jean-Claude van Damme in 'Kickboxer: Vengeance'}} Cain Velasquez,{{cite web |url=https://www.ufc.com/news/velasquez-and-gsp-take-silver-screen-kickboxer-vengeance |title=Velasquez and GSP take to the Silver Screen for Kickboxer: Vengeance |publisher=UFC |last=Gerbasi |first=Thomas |date=2 September 2016 |access-date=10 February 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://uproxx.com/sports/cain-velasquez-kickboxer-vengeance-ufc-return-brock-lesnar-drug-test/ |title=Cain Velasquez Wonders If Brock Lesnar Was On PEDs For Their Fight |work=Uproxx |last=Nawara |first=Jason |date=26 August 2016 |access-date=10 February 2025}} Nick Diaz,{{cite web | title=Nick Diaz Unearths 29 Years Old Jean Claude Van Damme Video | website=EssentiallySports | date=28 January 2023 | url=https://www.essentiallysports.com/ufc-mma-news-nick-diaz-unearths-29-years-old-jean-claude-van-damme-video/ | access-date=13 August 2024}} Nate Diaz,{{cite web |url=https://www.esquire.com/sports/q-and-a/a45472/nate-diaz-interview-ufc-conor-mcgregor/ |title=Nate Diaz Has Gone From MMA Cult Hero to UFC Antihero |work=Esquire |date=3 June 2016 |access-date=10 February 2025}} Conor McGregor, Jiří Procházka,{{cite web |url=https://www.mmamania.com/2025/1/26/24352411/jiri-prochazka-did-a-five-day-fever-binge-of-martial-arts-movies-for-ufc-311-inspiration |title=Kumite! Jiri Prochazka reveals five-day fever binge of martial arts movies for UFC 311 inspiration |website=MMA Mania – SB Nation |last=Harkness |first=Ryan |date=26 January 2025 |access-date=10 February 2025}} Mirko Cro Cop,{{cite web |title=Zbog Van Dammeove špage Mirko je potrgao prepone |url=http://www.glas-slavonije.hr/284947/6/Zbog-Van-Dammeove-spage-Mirko-je-potrgao-prepone |website=glas-slavonije.hr |access-date=6 January 2021 |archive-date=31 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031222935/http://www.glas-slavonije.hr/284947/6/Zbog-Van-Dammeove-spage-Mirko-je-potrgao-prepone |url-status=live}} Rico Verhoeven,{{cite web | url=https://www.ricoverhoeven.com/portfolio/the-actor/#:~:text=My%20Acting%20Ambitions,the%20big%20screen%20really%20inspired | title=The Actor – Rico Verhoeven Official Website }} Tom Duquesnoy,{{cite web | url=https://sport.gentside.com/tom-duquesnoy/que-signifie-la-celebration-mythique-de-tom-duquesnoy-quand-il-gagne_art55242.html | title=Que signifie la célébration mythique de Tom Duquesnoy quand il gagne ? | date=19 April 2017 }} John Albert,{{cite web | url=https://www.mixedmartialarts.com/news/john-albert-bisping-funniest-person-ive-ever-met | title=John Albert: Bisping funniest person I've ever met | date=29 April 2013 }} Charles Rosa,{{cite web | url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2017/09/ufc-charles-rosa-inspired-bloodsport-movie-jean-claude-van-damme | title=Inspired by 'Bloodsport,' UFC's Charles Rosa now lives his dream of fighting all over the world | date=15 September 2017 }} Murad Ramazanov,{{cite web | url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/mma/news-murad-ramazanov-says-bloodsport-fascinated-growing | title=Murad Ramazanov says 'Bloodsport' fascinated him growing up | date=30 November 2022 }} Halil Amir,{{cite web | url=https://www.onefc.com/features/turkish-mma-star-halil-amirs-journey-from-rough-and-tumble-youth-to-one-championship/ | title=Turkish MMA Star Halil Amir's Journey from Rough-And-Tumble Youth to ONE Championship | date=16 April 2023 }} Andrei Stoica,{{cite web | url=https://www.onefc.com/athletes/andrei-stoica/#:~:text=Stoica%20was%20also%20heavily%20influenced,in%20the%20sport%20one%20day | title=Andrei "Mr. KO" Stoica | date=28 February 2019 }} Giorgio Petrosyan,{{cite web | url=https://www.onefc.com/athletes/giorgio-petrosyan/ | title=Giorgio "The Doctor" Petrosyan | date=29 March 2018 }} Alfie Davis,{{cite web | url=https://truthorigins.co.uk/blogs/truth-origins-blog/q-and-a-with-mma-fighter-alfie-davis | title=A Q&A with MMA Fighter Alfie Davis | date=30 October 2019 }} Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu,{{cite web | last=Furness | first=Jay| title=Get to know 'Road to ONE: Mongolia' winner Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu: 'I chose MMA as my destiny' | website=MMA Underground | date=16 December 2022 | url=https://www.mixedmartialarts.com/news/get-to-know-road-to-one-mongolia-winner-enkh-orgil-baatarkhuu-chose-mma-as-my-destiny | access-date=31 October 2024}} and Angela Chang.{{cite web | url=https://heatrick.com/2021/05/04/angela-chang-the-science-of-building-champions-podcast/ | title=Angela Chang: Female Fighters, Thai Culture, & Self-Honesty – SoBC Podcast EP 11 - | date=4 May 2021 }} In August 2016, Georges St-Pierre described fighting Van Damme in the film Kickboxer: Vengeance as "a dream come true".{{Cite web |last=Nawara |first=Jason |date=26 August 2016 |title=Georges St-Pierre Was Honored To Fight His Hero Jean-Claude Van Damme In 'Kickboxer: Vengeance' |url=https://uproxx.com/sports/georges-st-pierre-ufc-return-kickboxer-vengeance-jean-claude-van-damme-rory-macdonald/ |access-date=31 October 2024 |publisher=UPROXX}}

American professional wrestler Robert Alexander Szatkowski was given his ring name "Rob Van Dam" in 1992 by Ron Slinker, a promoter in Florida, possibly because of his martial arts experience and his resemblance to Van Damme.{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestlingnewsdesk.com/WND/the_news/wrestling/rob_van_dam_speaks_out_200804141120.htm|title=Rob Van Dam Speaks Out|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080419073527/http://www.wrestlingnewsdesk.com/WND/the_news/wrestling/rob_van_dam_speaks_out_200804141120.htm|publisher=Wrestling News Desk|author=Matthew Cooper|archive-date=19 April 2008|date=14 April 2008|access-date=11 August 2008}}

The original video game Mortal Kombat (1992) was conceived as a fighting game based on Van Damme.{{cite book|title=Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition|year=2008|publisher=Guinness World Records|location=London|isbn=978-1-904994-21-3|url=https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec00guin_0}} Creators Ed Boon and John Tobias had originally wanted to star Van Damme himself in the game. That fell through as he had allegedly a prior deal for another game under the auspices of the Sega Genesis platform. Boon and Tobias eventually decided to create a character named Johnny Cage, who is modelled after Van Damme, primarily from Van Damme's appearance and outfit in the martial arts film Bloodsport.{{cite web|title=Mortal Kombat Episode #313|url=http://www.g4tv.com/gamemakers/episodes/3446/Mortal-Kombat.html|work=gamemakers|publisher=G4TV|access-date=4 May 2012|archive-date=6 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110806163531/http://www.g4tv.com/gamemakers/episodes/3446/Mortal-Kombat.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web | last=Miska | first=Brad | title=A New Battle For Mankind Begins in 'Mortal Kombat' Tourney, Redo in the Works | website=Bloody Disgusting! | date=26 January 2010 | url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/18833/ | access-date=31 October 2024}} In the German version of the Donkey Kong 64 website, DK's greatest hero is Jean-Claude Van Kong.{{citation needed|date=October 2023}}

In 2020, Van Damme was inducted into the Martial Arts History Museum Hall of Fame.{{cite web | url=https://martialartsmuseum.com/about/hall-of-fame/ | title=Hall of Fame }}

From 1993 to 1996, the stress of the constant filming and promotion of his films, as Van Damme claims, led him to develop a cocaine habit, on which he spent up to $10,000 a week, and consuming up to 10 grams per day by 1996. He was arrested for driving under the influence in 1999.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DKOBAgAAQBAJ&dq=5+foot+9+Van+Damme&pg=PA291 | title=The Action and Adventure Cinema | isbn=978-1-134-56494-1 | last1=Tasker | first1=Yvonne | date=19 August 2004 | publisher=Routledge }}Godfrey, Alex (10 August 2012). [https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/aug/10/van-damme-expendables-2 "Jean-Claude Van Damme: 'I tried to play the system; I was blacklisted'"]. The Guardian.Truitt, Brian (19 August 2012). [http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/story/2012-08-19/expendables-2-jean-claude-van-damme/57141092/1 "For Jean-Claude Van Damme, comeback is sweet"]. USA Today.[http://www.biography.com/people/jean-claude-van-damme-21213129 "Jean-Claude Van Damme"]. Biography.com. Retrieved 29 November 2013. Attempts at drug rehabilitation were unsuccessful, and he resorted to resolve his addiction via quitting cold turkey and exercise. In 1998, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mbYD87izKHYC&pg=PA47 | title=The everything health guide to adult bipolar disorder | first1=Jon P. | last1=Bloch | first2=Jeffrey A. | last2=Naser | isbn=978-1-59337-585-0 | publisher=Everything Books | year=2006 | page=47 | access-date=31 August 2010 }} In 2011, he discussed the condition on the British reality show Jean-Claude Van Damme: Behind Closed Doors, saying, "Sometimes you're gonna like me, and sometimes you're gonna hate me. But what can I do? I'm not perfect ... I'm an extreme bipolar, and I'm taking medication for this ... When I was young, I was suffering those swing moods. In the morning, the sky was blue [when I was] going to school, and to me, the sky was black. I was so sad."[http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/pictures/stars-whove-battled-mental-health-issues-2013136/31148 "Stars Who've Battled Mental Health Issues"]. US Weekly. Retrieved 29 November 2013.

He has been married five times to four different women. Until 1992 he was married to his third wife, bodybuilder Gladys Portugues, with whom he has two children, Kristopher (b. 1987) and Bianca Brigitte (b. 1990).{{cite news|title=Cannes film festival 2010: Jean-Claude Van Damme plans to appear in reality TV show for A&E|newspaper=Daily News|location=New York|date=14 May 2010|url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-05-14/entertainment/27064416_1_gladys-portugues-cannes-film-festival-red-carpet|access-date=21 March 2011|first=Roger|last=Friedman|archive-date=27 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727061023/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-05-14/entertainment/27064416_1_gladys-portugues-cannes-film-festival-red-carpet|url-status=dead}} He had begun an affair with actress Darcy LaPier, whom he married in February 1994. From this marriage, they have a son named Nicholas (b. 10 October 1995). That same year he had an affair with his Street Fighter co-star Kylie Minogue during filming in Thailand.Sieczkowski, Cavan (14 August 2012). [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/14/jean-claude-van-damme-affair-kylie-minogue_n_1775119.html "Jean-Claude Van Damme Admits To Affair With Kylie Minogue"]. HuffPost.Chen, Joyce (13 August 2012). [http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/jean-claude-van-damme-admits-affair-kylie-minogue-shooting-street-fighter-20-years-article-1.1135606 "Jean-Claude Van Damme admits to affair with Kylie Minogue while shooting 'Street Fighter' almost 20 years ago"]. Daily News (New York). LaPier, who was pregnant with their son at the time, did not become aware of the affair until Van Damme publicly admitted it in 2012.McKay, Hollie (15 August 2012). [https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/exclusive-darcy-lapier-shocked-by-ex-husband-jean-claude-van-dammes-affair-with-kylie-minogue/ "Exclusive: Darcy LaPier shocked by ex-husband Jean-Claude Van Damme's affair with Kylie Minogue."] Fox News Channel. Fox News Network LLC. Retrieved 17 December 2015.

In October 2016, he expressed his support for presidential candidate Donald Trump during the 2016 election.{{cite web |url=https://myfox8.com/news/politics/your-local-election-hq/you-decide-2016/jean-claude-van-damme-right-now-we-need-donald-trump/ |title=Jean-Claude Van Damme: 'Right now we need Donald Trump' |publisher=WGHP |date=23 October 2016 }} Earlier that year in March, he mentioned that the Illuminati including the Rockefellers and Rothschilds might try to stop Trump from winning.{{Cite web |last=William Cohen |first=Trace |date=2 May 2016 |title=Jean-Claude Van Damme Thinks the Only Thing Stopping Donald Trump Is the Illuminati |url=https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/a/tracewilliamcowen/jean-claude-van-damme-donald-trump-illuminati |access-date=16 August 2024 |website=complex.com}}

In December 2022, he visited a clinic in Uzhhorod, Ukraine, and took the opportunity to meet Ukrainian military personnel, declaring ‘Slava Ukraini’ on a local television.{{cite web |url=https://www.lalibre.be/culture/cinema/2022/12/14/gloire-a-lukraine-jean-claude-van-damme-venu-soigner-un-probleme-de-sante-en-ukraine-prend-la-pose-avec-les-soldats-video-2T5YQTIOZRA2XP7IOD73SPDHHE/ |title="Gloire à l'Ukraine": Jean-Claude Van Damme, venu soigner "un problème de santé" en Ukraine, prend la pose avec les soldats (VIDEO) |publisher=La Libre |date=14 December 2022 }} In a video on Youtube, he justifies this as a message of peace.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvYMuKC8_tE&ab_channel=Jean-ClaudeVanDamme |title=Peace Ukraine |publisher=Jean-Claude Van Damme's Youtube channel |date=16 December 2022 }} In 2025, when the Trump administration decided to end USAID, there was a theory that he had been paid by the American agency for this message in Ukraine. However, there is no reliable source confirming this.{{cite web |url=https://factuel.afp.com/doc.afp.com.36XK3UQ |title=Attention à ce faux reportage sur des stars envoyées en Ukraine grâce à de l'argent de l'USAID |publisher=Agence France-Presse |date=12 February 2025 }} On 16 April 2025, JCVD posted a video on Diana Panchenko's Telegram channel in which he asked Putin to become an ambassador for peace based on love and sport, recalling their first meetings.{{cite web |url=https://www.euronews.com/culture/2025/04/17/jean-claude-van-damme-asks-putin-for-ambassadorial-job-and-sends-big-kiss-to-russia |title=Jean-Claude Van Damme asks Putin for ambassadorial job and sends 'big kiss' to Russia |publisher=EuroNews |date=17 April 2025 }}

Outside acting, Van Damme has publicly supported various conservationist causes and animal rights organisations, appearing in a number of PSAs for Animals Australia, and working towards his goal of rallying celebrities and fellow actors in creating sanctuaries for endangered species. In 2022, he was appointed as Democratic Republic of the Congo Ambassador On Environment, with the role of enhancing the protection of forests as well as local fauna and flora.{{cite web | title=Jean-Claude Van Damme and GAIA join forces for animal rights | website=GAIA | date=7 March 2017 | url=https://www.gaia.be/en/news/jean-claude-van-damme-and-gaia-join-forces-animal-rights | access-date=24 August 2024}}{{Cite web |last=Klingert |first=Liv |date=8 April 2022 |title=Jean-Claude Van Damme new Democratic Republic of Congo ambassador |url=https://www.brusselstimes.com/215874/jean-claude-van-damme-named-as-new-ambassador-of-the-democratic-republic-of-congo |access-date=13 August 2024 |website=The Brussels Times |language=en}}

{{BLP unreferenced section|date=January 2024}}

Mr. Belgium bodybuilding Championships (1976 Gold)

Belgium Karate Lightweight Championships (1977 Gold)

Belgium Karate team European Championships (1979 Gold)

Belgium Coupe des Espoirs Karate Tournament Championships (1980 Silver)

{{BLP sources section|date=October 2012}}

{{BLP sources section|date=January 2024}}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book | title=Martial Arts: Traditions, History, People | first1=John | last1=Corcoran | first2=Emil | last2=Farkas | publisher=Gallery Books | location=New York City | isbn=978-0-8317-5805-9 | year=1988 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/martialartstradi00fark/page/60 60, 265] | url=https://archive.org/details/martialartstradi00fark/page/60 }} (Wako)
• {{cite book | title=Martial Arts: Traditions, History, People | first1=John | last1=Corcoran | first2=Emil | last2=Farkas | publisher=Gallery Books | location=New York City | isbn=978-0-8317-5805-9 | year=1988 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/martialartstradi00fark/page/285 285–286] | url=https://archive.org/details/martialartstradi00fark/page/285 }} (PKA World Heavyweight Title)
• {{cite book | title=Martial Arts: Traditions, History, People | first1=John | last1=Corcoran | first2=Emil | last2=Farkas | publisher=Gallery Books | location=New York City | isbn=978-0-8317-5805-9 | year=1988 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/martialartstradi00fark/page/210 210, 393] | url=https://archive.org/details/martialartstradi00fark/page/210 }} (Eku)
• {{cite news | newspaper=Inside Kung-Fu Presents: Martial Artists One on One | date=March 1990 | title=Jean-Claude van Damme | pages=16–25 | first=John Steven |last=Soet }}
• {{Citation |title=Street Justice |first=Chuck |last=Zito |isbn=9780312320218 |publisher=St. Martin's Press |year=2002|ref={{sfnref|Zito|2002a}}}}

• {{cite news | newspaper=Karate Kung-Fu Illustrated | date=April 1991 | title=Gunning for Van Damme | first=Tim | last=Vandehey }}
• {{cite news | author=Xuat Tinh Som | newspaper=Tre Today News | date=31 December 2007 | title=Jean-Claude van Damme}}

{{Commons category}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• {{Official website|http://www.jcvd-online.com}}
• {{IMDb name|0000241}}

{{Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screen Combo}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:van Damme, Jean-Claude}}

Category:1960 births

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