Jean-Claude Van Damme: From Brussels Streets to Hollywood Legend and Back Again
A new RTL-TVI portrait, “JCVD: a legend made in Belgium,” airing December 19th at 7:50 p.m., delves into the complex life of international action star Jean-Claude Van Damme, born Jean-Claude Camille Van Varenberg in Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, Belgium. The documentary explores the actor’s journey from humble beginnings to global fame, a dramatic rise followed by a well-documented fall from grace, and his eventual path to reclaiming his legacy.
Van Damme’s story is one of relentless ambition. Leaving Brussels for Los Angeles in the early 1980s, he arrived with little more than a dream and a formidable physical skillset. Hollywood at the time was awash with martial arts hopefuls vying to succeed Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris, but Van Damme possessed a unique advantage. Beyond his karate training, he had spent five years honing his skills in classical dance, a discipline that gifted him with the flexibility to perform the iconic front splits – a signature move that would set him apart. This athletic and artistic combination proved crucial, even landing him a memorable role in a Volvo commercial featuring Enya’s “Only Time.”
The actor recounts how a spontaneous demonstration in a restaurant parking lot convinced producer Menahem Golan to cast him in “Bloodsport” in 1988, launching his career. A friend, boxer Abdel Qissi, reportedly bolstered his chances by leading Golan to believe Van Damme was slated to appear alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in “Predator,” though the role ultimately didn’t materialize. From there, Van Damme’s ascent was rapid. By 1994’s “Timecop,” he had transitioned from low-budget independent films to major studio productions, collaborating with acclaimed directors like Roland Emmerich and John Woo. Blockbusters like “Kickboxer,” “Full Contact,” “Double Impact,” “Universal Soldier,” and “Manhunt” solidified his status as an action icon.
However, this period of success was not to last. A turning point came with the disastrous filming of “Street Fighter,” where reports of a difficult and demanding attitude damaged his reputation. This, coupled with a refusal to sign a lucrative contract with Universal and a public incident involving Jennifer Aniston during the filming of “Friends,” led to a professional “blacklist.”
The following years saw a dramatic personal decline. According to reports, Van Damme struggled with cocaine addiction and divorced Gladys, the mother of his two eldest children. This period marked a complete transformation, as he became known simply as JCVD, a figure frequently appearing on television known for his often-unconventional and rambling statements – including the now-infamous quote, “they are not aware, to the attention of knowing that they exist, poor people.” It would take a decade of hardship and self-reflection for the actor to begin to rebuild his career and reclaim his public image, ultimately learning to embrace the derision he once faced.
At 65, Van Damme may no longer reign as a king in Hollywood, but as the documentary suggests, he remains a beloved figure, a “little prince in our hearts.” “JCVD: a legend made in Belgium” promises a revealing look at the man behind the muscle, offering a nuanced portrait of a complex and enduring star.
