Jean-Claude Van Damme Birthday Highlights

Birth Name Jean Claude Van Varenberg

Place Of Birth Brussels, Belgium Age 63 years old

Birth Date October 18 1960

Jean-Claude Van Damme Facts

Child Star? no Occupation Actor, Former martial artist Education & Qualifications Centre National de Karaté Net Worth $30,000,000

Current Partner Gladys Portugues Children Kristopher Van Varenberg, Nicholas Van Varenber, Bianca Brigitte Van Damme Parents Eugène Van Varenberg, Eliana Van Varenberg Siblings Veronique Van Varenberg

About Jean Claude Van DammeMultifaceted personalities are rare to find.A martial artist, ballet dancer, kickboxer, filmmaker, director, screenplay writer, fight choreographer, and actor, the versatilities of Jean Claude Van Damme are extremely diverse. Born to a florist and an accountant at Sint-Agatha-Berchem, Brussels, he became famous as The Muscles from Brussels.Born Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg, and professionally known as Jean Claude Van Damme is a brilliant Belgian actor, martial artist, choreographer, and film director. He is known for his down-to-earth personality and kindness. He is a hardworking individual and continues to work in the film industry.This martial artist turned action star is none other than Jean Claude Van Damme. In his initial martial arts career, Van Damme won the European professional karate association’s middleweight championship. During those days, he also defeated the world’s second-best karate fighter. However, this Belgian martial artist migrated to the U.S. from his birth country to build a career as a film actor, and he admitted later that a film star is an illusion and not real.Jean Claude Van Damme Net Worth, Earnings & Spending HabitsWhat is Jean Claude Damme’s net worth?Jean Claude Van Damme’s net worth comes from his many assignments and is estimated to be $30,000,000.How much does Jean Claude Van Damme earn per year?Currently, Jean Claude Van Damme earns about $104,000 per year.Height, Age & Physical AttributesHow tall is Jean Claude Van Damme?Jean Claude Van Damme has a good height and is 5 ft 10 in (177 cm) tall.How old is Jean Claude Van Damme?Born in 1960, Jean Claude Van Damme will turn 62 in October 2022.Childhood And EducationBorn and brought up in Belgium, Jean Claude Van Damme was physically weak as a kid. Noticing this weakness, his father, Eugène Van Varenberg, enrolled him in a Shotokan karate school, at the age of 10. Thus started his affinity for martial arts and kickboxing. Earning his karate black belt at the age of 18, he started weight lifting to maintain his physique, and this got him a Mr. Belgium title for bodybuilding. He started studying ballet at 16, took lessons for five years, and tried Muay Thai and Taekwondo.Van Damme trained under Master Claude Goetzin in martial arts at Centre Nationale De Karate. Within four years of training, he captured a place in the Belgian Karate Team. He also took lessons in kickboxing and full-contact karate from Dominique Valera.Family, Romance, And RelationshipsJean Claude Van Damme was born to Eliana and Eugène Van Varenberg on October 18, 1960. He has a sister, Veronique Van Varenberg, who is older than him by 18 months. He has no brothers.Who is Jean Claude Van Damme’s partner?He first married María Rodríguez in 1980 and was divorced in 1984. He re-married four times. Jean Claude has two sons and a daughter. His sons Kristopher Van Varenberg and Nicholas Van Varenberg and daughter Bianca Brigitte Van Damme followed their father’s footsteps and found their place in the acting world. He married Gladys Portugues first in 1987 and again in 1999. She is a former bodybuilder and actress from America.Career And Professional HighlightsShotokan karate and kickboxing exponent Jean Claude Van Damme started his career in competitive karate at the age of 15. He had 44 victories in tournament and non-tournament semi-contact matches and was defeated four times as a karate and martial artist in his first five years. He left Belgium in 1982 for the U.S., hoping to enter Hollywood and secure a position in the acting world. He took up various jobs to support himself, including as an extra in the hip-hop movie ‘Breakin’’ in 1984. Being friends with Chuck Norris landed him the job of a bouncer at Woody’s Wharf, a bar owned by Chuck. He worked in an action film in 1984, called ‘Missing in Action’, by Cannon Films. He also did a short comedy film ‘Monaco Forever’ that same year.His first notable role was in the movie called ‘No Retreat, No Surrender’. This was a martial arts film, and the film director Corey Yuen cast him in the role of a villain. This movie premiered in Los Angels in 1986.His real breakout movie was ‘Bloodsport’, which he did when he was 26 years old and was based on the life of US Army Captain Frank Dux. It premiered in 1988. After its success, Cannon Films gave Van Damme ‘Delta Force 2’ and ‘Cyborg’.Best Known For…Jean Claude Van Damme is well known as a Belgian actor, director, and retired martial artist. He is famous for his acrobatic action movies. His acting career saw an upward swing with the blockbuster film ‘Universal soldier’ in 1992, though he was never a real-life military man. His fame sky-rocketed with the release of his next three most successful films, ‘Hard Target’, ‘Time Cop’, ‘Streetfighter’, and ‘Lionheart’.Charity WorkJean Claude is an animal activist and supports causes related to animals, conservation, and nature. He supports organizations and projects like Orca Network and Operation Smile.What awards has Jean Claude Van Damme won?Jean Claude won Gold Medal in the Mr. Belgium Bodybuilding Championship of 1976. In 1977 he won the Belgium Karate Lightweight Championships. In 1979 he was part of the Belgium Karate team for the European Championships. He secured a Silver medal in the 1980 Belgium Coupe des Espoirs Karate Tournament Championships.He has been felicitated with Bollywood Movie Award as an International Action Superstar in 2004 and the Golden Lotus Award for Outstanding Achievement in Action Movies in 2014.He was nominated for the MTV Movie Award for Most Desirable Male for three consecutive years from 1992 to 1994. Other major award nominations include the Video Premier Award in 2001, Silver Leopard in 2008, and TFCA award in 2009 in the category of best performance, male.Jean Claude Van Damme’s Hobbies And InterestsJean Claude Van Damme loves animals and enjoys walking with his dogs on the beach.Other Interesting Jean Claude Van Damme’s Facts And TriviaJean Claude Van Damme’s career trademarks include 360-degree ultimate leaping, super flying karate kicks, splits, lightning-fast moves, and a Belgian accent.Jean Claude Van Damme’s remuneration for his role in the film, ‘Universal Soldier’, was $1,500,000, and for the ‘Street Fighter’ film, he got $8,000,000.Jean Claude Van Damme also co-produced the film ‘Universal Soldier: The Return’, directed by Mic Rodgers, which was released on August 20, 1999, in the U.S.Jean Claude had to work in several films from 1982 till he got his actual break, at the age of 26, with the lead role in the film ‘Blood Sport’ in 1988.The actor Jean Claude earlier owned Long Road Productions and 777 Films Corp.Carlos Ray, known as Chuck Norris, the American martial artist, and actor, was Jean Claude’s sparring partner.Jean Claude adopted his stage name as Van Damme from one of his friend’s fathers, which he considered more clear, punchy, and short than his birth name Van Varenberg.The book, ‘My Brother Jean Claude’ was written by his elder sister Veronique.Jean Claude has a third Dan black belt in Shotokan karate and has been inducted into the class of 2020 Martial Arts History Museum’s Hall of Fame.Actor Sylvester Stallone ignited a controversy by narrating an incident of Jean Claude challenging Steven Seagal after a party in Sylvester’s home in 1997 during an interview given to FHM, a British magazine.In 1978 at Challenge De Espoirs Karate Tournament, Jean-Claude beat twenty-five contestants but was defeated by Angelo Spataro from the Naha Club in the finals.His debut in film was in ‘Monaco Forever’ in 1984, while his first appearance in a TV Show was in 1996 in ‘Friends’. His first Music Video was ‘Body Count’s in the House’ by Body Count in 1992.A statue depicting a younger version of Jean Claude was unveiled while commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Westland Shopping Complex, Anderlecht, Belgium, in 2012. It was a fighting pose from the movie ‘Kickboxer’. Jean Claude attended this unveiling along with his parents.He got the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screen Couple in 1998.Main image credit:  Denis Makarenko / Shutterstock.com

Jean-Claude Van Damme Birthday Highlights

Birth Name Jean Claude Van Varenberg

Place Of Birth Brussels, Belgium Age 63 years old

Birth Date October 18 1960

Jean-Claude Van Damme Facts

Child Star? no Occupation Actor, Former martial artist Education & Qualifications Centre National de Karaté Net Worth $30,000,000

Current Partner Gladys Portugues Children Kristopher Van Varenberg, Nicholas Van Varenber, Bianca Brigitte Van Damme Parents Eugène Van Varenberg, Eliana Van Varenberg Siblings Veronique Van Varenberg

Multifaceted personalities are rare to find.A martial artist, ballet dancer, kickboxer, filmmaker, director, screenplay writer, fight choreographer, and actor, the versatilities of Jean Claude Van Damme are extremely diverse. Born to a florist and an accountant at Sint-Agatha-Berchem, Brussels, he became famous as The Muscles from Brussels.Born Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg, and professionally known as Jean Claude Van Damme is a brilliant Belgian actor, martial artist, choreographer, and film director. He is known for his down-to-earth personality and kindness. He is a hardworking individual and continues to work in the film industry.This martial artist turned action star is none other than Jean Claude Van Damme. In his initial martial arts career, Van Damme won the European professional karate association’s middleweight championship. During those days, he also defeated the world’s second-best karate fighter. However, this Belgian martial artist migrated to the U.S. from his birth country to build a career as a film actor, and he admitted later that a film star is an illusion and not real.

Jean-Claude Van Damme Birthday Highlights

Birth Name Jean Claude Van Varenberg

Place Of Birth Brussels, Belgium Age 63 years old

Birth Date October 18 1960

Jean-Claude Van Damme Birthday Highlights

Birth Name Jean Claude Van Varenberg

Place Of Birth Brussels, Belgium Age 63 years old

Birth Date October 18 1960

Birth Name Jean Claude Van Varenberg

Place Of Birth Brussels, Belgium Age 63 years old

Birth Date October 18 1960

Birth Name Jean Claude Van Varenberg

Place Of Birth Brussels, Belgium Age 63 years old

Birth Date October 18 1960

Jean-Claude Van Damme Facts

Child Star? no Occupation Actor, Former martial artist Education & Qualifications Centre National de Karaté Net Worth $30,000,000

Current Partner Gladys Portugues Children Kristopher Van Varenberg, Nicholas Van Varenber, Bianca Brigitte Van Damme Parents Eugène Van Varenberg, Eliana Van Varenberg Siblings Veronique Van Varenberg

Jean-Claude Van Damme Facts

Child Star? no Occupation Actor, Former martial artist Education & Qualifications Centre National de Karaté Net Worth $30,000,000

Current Partner Gladys Portugues Children Kristopher Van Varenberg, Nicholas Van Varenber, Bianca Brigitte Van Damme Parents Eugène Van Varenberg, Eliana Van Varenberg Siblings Veronique Van Varenberg

Child Star? no Occupation Actor, Former martial artist Education & Qualifications Centre National de Karaté Net Worth $30,000,000

Current Partner Gladys Portugues Children Kristopher Van Varenberg, Nicholas Van Varenber, Bianca Brigitte Van Damme Parents Eugène Van Varenberg, Eliana Van Varenberg Siblings Veronique Van Varenberg

Child Star? no Occupation Actor, Former martial artist Education & Qualifications Centre National de Karaté Net Worth $30,000,000

Current Partner Gladys Portugues Children Kristopher Van Varenberg, Nicholas Van Varenber, Bianca Brigitte Van Damme Parents Eugène Van Varenberg, Eliana Van Varenberg Siblings Veronique Van Varenberg