Jean Claude Van Damme combines the athletic grace of Baryshnikov with the romantic charm of Jean Paul Belmondo. He is idolized by royal throngs
of moviegoers throughout the world. And when he demostrates a burst of deadly karate movies, the idea that this brawny, handsome performer from Belgium
was once a skinny, awkward ballet student seems unlikely.Yet the truth is, Jean Claude Van Damme is an actor with a remarkable past and an even more promishing future.
Star of a slat of martial arts action film, Jean Claude Van Damme successfuly emerged into the mainstream with Columbia Pictures' Double Impact, which blended past paced action
with lightearted romantic fare. Jean Claude Van Damme is over expanding his royal core of fans-man who admire Jean Claude Van Damme's karate expertise, woman who praise his physique
and charisma, kids who worship a living hero. Currently, Jean Claude Van Damme is in the Majave desert filming Inferno, an action drama directed by John G. Avildsen, 1977 Academy Award?
winner for Best Best Director of Rocky. Jean Cluade Van Damme stars with small town from two rival gangs in order to come to terms with his dark past. Jean Claude Van Damme is also producing
under his own Long Road Entertainment production banner. He recently completed production in Morocco on Legionnaire, a desert epic set in the 1920s in which Jean Claude Van Damme's character
joins the French Foreign Legion, Legionaire will be the first film to premiere under Jean Claude Van Damme's Long Road banner. Born and raised in Burusels, Belgium Jean Claude Van Varenberg (Adopting the name "Van Damme" from an early mentor)
was a self-admitted "SKINNY, SENSITIVE KID WHO LOVED CLASSICAL MUSIC AND PAINTING" among other childhood studies.At the urging of his father, he began early instruction in ballet and karate- foreshadowing a career that would later
capitalize on the interwined nature of both. Invited to join the Paris Opera asa dancer, the young Jean Claude Van Damme instead chose to focus on karate and body-building, quitting school to operate his very own successful fitness center, The California
Gym in Burussels. Though he quickly found fame in his native Belgium as a prized athlete and health club entrepreneur, his life would take another turn. Cast in the French-made film Rue Barber, an interest in acting awoke in him that would forever alter
his life. Says the performer: " To leave your family, your friends, your business, afornd take a chance?you've got to believe in your dream." Althrough it seemed like a "KAMIKAZE MISSION," he abadoned a lucrative business local fame in search of a film career
in Hong Kong. After little success breaking into the Hong Kong martial arts film industry, Jean Claude Van Damme felt it was time to take on Hollywood. Arriving on American soil in 1982, Jean Claude Van Damme possessed the requisite good looks and persistent
attitute ro succeed-unfortunately, he knew no languages other than Franch and Fremish. With informal English studies came a variety of jobs-taxi and limo driver, nightclub bouncer , pizza delevery boy, carpet layer and personal trainer.However, Jean Claude Van Damme
dream continued to elude him until an impromptu display of his martial arts peowess for a startled Menahem Golan, then CEO of Menahem Pictures,outside a chic Hollywood restaurant won the determinds performer his first role.Jean Claude Van Damme made his feature film debut
starring in Cannon Films' 1987 release Bloodsport. its success ushered in a wave of action thrillers : Cyborg, kickboxer, death Warrant and Lionhear. Numerous studio film followed, starting with "DOUBLE IMPACT," "UNIVERSAL SOLDIER ( 1992 )," NOWHERE TO RUN ( 1993 )," HARD TARGET ( 1993 )," STREET FIGHTER ( 1994 ),
" SUDDEN DEATH ( 1995 )," "THE QUEST ( 1996 )," "DOUBLE TEAM ( 1997 )," " MAXIMUM RISK ( 1996 )," and the blockbuster "TIMECOP ( 1994 )." The success of this young Belgian can be traced to his ability to appeal to all ages and genders and his larger-than-life image that captures the imagenation of moviegoers worldwide.
Incorporating the elegance of ballet into his karate, Jean Claude Van Damme has trancended the brute force of the martial arts genre. Yet it was karate, the actor says, which helped him focus on and archive his movie-making dreams. Active with the Make a Wish foundation, Jean Claude Van Damme
is also vocal suppoter od animal rights. He continues to cross-train daily in a variety of sports, including weight training and martial arts.
