- Van Damme's career appears to have taken a huge slump that he's now considering an offer to appear on France's equivalent of reality TV show BIG BROTHER. (June 2, 2003)
- Known as The muscles from Brussels.
- His fight scenes are so intense that he won't film them in the U.S. for fear of being sued.
- Van Damme moved to the USA in 1981, didn't speak English, didn't know anyone,and only had 2,000 dollars to his name, which he lived on for almost 5 yrs.
- In 1989, he was sued for willfully gouging the eye of an extra in a swordfight while filming CYBORG.
- He won a court case filed against him by martial arts legend Frank Dux, who claimed he collaborated with Van Damme on his 1996 directorial debut THE QUEST, only for Van Damme to deny him any share of the profits. His evidence was lost in an earthquake. Coincidentally, Van Damme played Dux in his debut BLOODSPORT (1988).
- He was once said he learned to speak English by watching the cartoon THE FLINTSTONES.
- He studied classical ballet for five years
- Is giving his fans the chance to look just like him - by launching his own clothes line.
- Wants the world to know he is back for good.
- According to an interview with director John McTiernan, the hole in the jungle appearance of the Predator in PREDATOR (1987) was played by Van Damme in a blue screen (actually red) suit. Van Damme quit after two days, unhappy with being cast as an uncredited special effect. The alien was scrapped, redesigned and was eventually played by 7'2 Kevin Peter Hall.
- HARD TARGET (1993) originally was to end with a boat chase, but was changed to a horseback chase due to his insistence.
- In TIMECOP (1994), while riding in the sled which will transport him into the future, Jean-Claude Van Damme takes out a stick of chewing gum called Black Black, a brand of Japanese gum. During 1994, Van Damme appeared in television commercials for Black Black chewing gum in Japan.
- Jean-Claude's father's mother was Jewish.
- He can play the piano.
- His favorite music is Classical...and Beethoven is his favorite composer.
- Was nominated for Most Desirable Male at MTV Movie Awards in 1992 for DOUBLE IMPACT, in 1993 for NOWHERE TO RUN and in 1994 for HARD TARGET.
- Dropped out of school at age 16
- Karate with Dominique Valera
- Likes to eat rabbit stew and horse meat
- Trade mark: Thrilling one and all with his 360-degree ultimate leaping & super flying karate kicks
- On July 10, 2000, Van Damme was sentenced to a 90 day anti-drunk-driving class, $1,2000 fine, 3 years probation and a 90 day revocation of his license after pleading no contest in Beverly Hills for a September 23, 1999 DUI arrest.
- In Jesse Ventura's book, he mentions Van Damme as having played the Predator monster until he was fired and replaced by Kevin Peter Hall.
- Speaks English, French, Spanish and German.
- In his late teens he opened a Gym called California Fitness Center.
- Speaks Flemish.
- He became a European Karate Champion in 1979 and went to USA to win the World Championship. He didn't win. Few months later he had a rematch with the opponent he lost against in World Championship and he won in less than 2 minutes.
- Can lift 166 kg on a bench.
- Have own production company Long Road Productions (also known as 777 Films Corp).
- Was the original choice to play the title character in PREDATOR.
- Is now considered a comical character in France because of his garbled syntax and grammatical errors when he speaks French.
- Was paid $5,000,000 for SUDDEN DEATH (1995)
- Was paid $6,200,000 for STREET FIGHTER (1994)
- Was paid for $3,000,000 for TIMECOP (1994)
- Was paid $3,000,000 for HARD TARGET (1993)
- Was paid $1,000,000 for UNIVERSAL SOLDIER (1992)
- Was paid $70,000 for DEATH WARRANT (1990)
- Was paid $70,000 for LIONHEART (1990)
- Was paid $70,000 for KICKBOXER (1989/I)
- Was paid $70,000 for CYBORG (1989)
- Was paid $70,000 for BLACK EAGLE (1988)
- Was paid $70,000 for BLOODSPORT (1988)
- Appeared in the music video and sang in the choir on the song Voices That Care.
- Won a court case filed against him by martial arts legend Frank Dux, who claimed he collaborated with Van Damme on his 1996 directorial debut The Quest, only for Van Damme to deny him any share of the profits. His evidence was lost in an earthquake. Coincidentally, Van Damme played Dux in his debut BLOODSPORT (1988).
- Took the name Frank Cujo for a short time.
- Was Chuck Norris' personal trainer.
- On November 10, 1997 his wife, LaPier, filed papers against him for spousal abuse and cocaine addiction. Van Damme had started divorce proceedings in June.
Quotes- "I love karate, it's like a bible to me. But deep inside I'm so I mean, I'm so sensitive."
- "I am the Fred Astaire of karate."
Awards- Razzie Awards: Worst Screen Couple, DOUBLE TEAM (1998) - shared with Dennis Rodman
- European Professional Karate Association's middleweight championship
|
