- By Dr Prabhukar Mishra
Jean-Claude Francois Van Varenberg is a famous Belgian filmmaker, fight director, cinematographer, editor, and former martial artist, much like Jean-Claude van Damme on screen, Camille.
His films with a martial arts theme made the actor famous. His professional aliases include JCVD and The Muscles from Brussels. He was a martial arts practitioner from 1976 to 1982. Additionally, he has been involved with the film industry for more than 40 years.
October 18, 1960 was the birthdate of Jean Claude Van Damme. He spent his formative years in the Belgian town of Sint-Agatha-Berchem, which is located in the Brussels region. Eliana Van Varenberg and Eugene Van Varenberg are his parents. An estimated $30 million will be Jean-Claude Van Damme’s net worth in the year 2024. Jean has amassed this sum as a result of his efforts to multiple projects.
Jean Claude Van Damme Wiki
| Real name/Full name | Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg |
| Nickname/Famous name: | Jean Claude Van Damme |
| Place of birth: | Sint-Agatha-Berchem, Belgium |
| Date of birth/birthday: | October 18, 1960 |
| Age/How many years: | 63 years old |
| Parents name: | Father – Eugene Van Varenberg Mother – Eliana Van Varenberg |
| Siblings: | Veronique Van Varenberg |
| School: | National Karate Center |
| Colleague: | N/A |
| Religion: | Roman Catholic |
| Nationality: | Belgium |
| Zodiac sign: | Pound |
| Gender: | Male |
| Sexual orientation: | Right |
| Civil status: | Married |
Career
For four years, beginning at the age of twelve, Van Damme trained at the Centre National de Karaté (National Center of Karate), where he eventually earned a seat on the Belgian Karate Team. He started training for karate tournaments in Belgium when he was fifteen years old. Between 1976 and 1980, he competed in semi-contact matches for both official and non-official purposes, winning 44 and losing 4. On the other hand, he helped the Belgian karate team win the 1979 European Championship in December. Continuing, he entered the ring in 1977 for full-contact bouts, where he went 18-1 before calling it quits in 1982.
After founding a series of private gyms in his native country, Jean-Claude emigrated to the United States in 1982 with a friend from back home to chase a career in Hollywood. He was 22 years old. He appeared in the 1984 films “Breakin'” and “Monaco Forever” in small roles.
To become an action star, he had to wait until 1988’s “Bloodsport.” Made in Hong Kong with a mere $1.5 million, “Bloodsport” managed to rack up $50 million in the United States alone.
Following this, he had success as a leading man in films such as Cannon Films’ “Kickboxer” (1989). Following his film’s popularity, Van Damme became one of the action actors associated with The Cannon Group, which also features Chuck Norris, Charles Bronson, Sho Kosugi, and Michael Dudikoff. His other notable film roles include the twins Chad and Alex Wagner in “Double Impact” (1991), “Death Warrant” (1990), and “Lionheart” (1990). Directed by Roland Emmerich, his 1992 picture “Universal Soldier” was a huge hit that year. The film’s low budget of $23 million was outpaced by its overall global earnings of $102 million.
According to reports, Jean-Claude received $3.5 million from Columbia Pictures for his three-film pact. As an actor, he made his film debut in 1993’s “Nowhere to Run” co-starring Rosanna Arquette. Films such as “Hard Target” (1993), “Street Fighter” (1994), “Timecop” (1994), and “Sudden Death” (1995) starred him after that. “Maximum Risk” (1996) and “Double Team” (1997) marked his return to Columbia. Hollywood filmmaker Tsui Hark of Hong Kong helmed the film “Double Team,” in which Van Damme and NBA great Dennis Rodman co-starred. Both this picture and Van Damme’s 1998 effort “Knock Off” were commercial flops. He has also worked on the 2008 Belgian murder thriller “JCVD.” Van Damme portrays a self-portrait that is both realistic and fictitious in it.
As an actor, Van Damme has done a lot of work in movies and other media throughout the years. In “The One After the Superbowl,” a two-part episode of “Friends,” he made an appearance as a guest star. He co-starred alongside Roger Moore in the 1996 film “The Quest” and also directed it. Filmmaker, editor, producer, writer, and star of 2014’s “Full Love.” Over the course of his four decades in the industry, Jean-Claude Van Damme has been in over fifty films, including the critically acclaimed “The Expendables” franchise. Despite his stellar reputation, he has only garnered a few of accolades, including as the 2004 Bollywood Movie Award for International Action Super Star and the 2014 Golden Lotus Award at the Macau International Film Festival.
Jean Claude Van Damme Personal Life
| Name of spouse: | Gladys Portuguese |
| Name of children/kids: | Bianca Bree, Kristopher Van Varenberg, Nicholas Van Varenberg |
Gladys Portugues was Jean’s spouse later in life. They have two children, Kristopher and Bianca Brigitte. Kris was born in 1987, and Bianca in 1990.
After Jean’s 1992 divorce from Darcy LaPier due to his adultery, Jean went on to marry Darcy. Nicholas is the name of the couple’s son. He had an extramarital affair with Kylie Minogue in 1995.
Prior to his 2012 public disclosure, Darcy was unaware of the affair. Gladys, who was his third wife, remarried him in 1999.
Jean Claude Van Damme Height and Weight
| Height/How tall: | 5′ 9″ |
| Weight: | 84 Kg |
| Eye color: | Green |
| Hair color: | Light brown |
Jean Claude Van Damme Net Worth
The estimated wealth of Jean Claude Van Damme in the year 2024 is $30 million. His wealth has grown in part because of his acting career and martial arts training.
Jean has amassed this sum as a result of his efforts to multiple projects.
