See also: Van Rams

Jean-Claude Van Rams , of its true name Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg , is a Acteur of Cinéma, producing Réalisateur and Belgian born on October 18th 1960 with Berchem-Holy-Agathe with Brussels.

Biography

A sporting youth

Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg was born the October 18th 1960 with Berchem-Co.-Agathe, one of the 19 communes of Brussels, in Belgium. His/her parents Eliana and Eugene Van Varenberg were florists. It has a big sister, Veronique. The young Jean-Claude grows with Brussels, there it is interested in the Classical music, the Peinture and tests himself with the Curling. Under parental pressure, it turns to the Karaté and follows the lesson of Claude Goetz as of the eleven years age. It leaves the school at sixteen years to devote itself to karate and the Culturisme. At the seventeen years age, it carries out advanced training courses with Dominique Valera, and becomes black belt, at eighteen years. Its five years of ballet dancing are worth an invitation to him to join the Opera of Paris, which it declines. Follow themselves from there 6 months of slide trombone with as professor Jean Bernard Mitheaux, although having the will to continue in the music, its professor dissuades some within sight of his limited enough artistic capacities. In 1978, it goes to Hong-Kong where it meets Jackie Chan during a few minutes, then in 1979, Jean-Claude Van Varenberg goes for the first time to the the United States to take part in the championship of the world of karate in Wako in Florida, where it is made beat by his Belgian compatriot Patrick Teugels which becomes vice-champion of the world. Its fans allot this defeat to his lack of serious with the drive due to its amazement to discovered of the United States. It meets Patrick Teugels again a few months later in a friendly match which it then gains by KB. Thereafter, it accomplishes several voyages to the United States and discovers there Gold' S Gym, a room of musculation whose fame is not any more to make. It is inspired some to open a center of fitness in Brussels: the California Gym . But Jean-Claude Van Varenberg is not satisfied a his situation. He even has faith in him and believes in the American Rêve: he wants to become Acteur and leaves to try his chance in the United States.

The American dream

It is in 1982, with two thousand dollars out of pocket and without knowing to speak English, that Jean-Claude Van Varenberg leaves to Los Angeles to the conquest Hollywood. Unknown, it must set out again of zero. He is confronted with the difficulty in boring in Hollywood and the reality of the American dream, but he does not lose the moral one for as much. During several years, it will connect odd jobs such as deliveryman of pizza pie or layer of fitted carpet, but also personal trainer and driver of limousine. This last work enables him to make meetings and to learn topography from Hollywood and Los Angeles. During this period, it meets Chuck Norris and Lou Ferrigno, and takes down some roles with the cinema of which a small role in Monaco Forever “The Gay Karate expert”, or Ivan the to stop in Karate Tiger . It is on this occasion that Jean-Claude Van Varenberg changes his name into “Van Damme”. It will be then engaged to lend its silhouette to the Predator in film of the same name, but will leave the team of film in the days which follow and the role of the predator will be taken again by Kevin Peter Hall. It will not be credited with the generic with film. A few months later, it obtains the appointment which will launch its career while going to the front of the famous producer Menahem Golan to the exit of a restaurant and by making him a demonstration of Martial arts on the parking. Menahem Golan proposes to him to play in Bloodsport (All the blows are allowed) which will be an international success and will give rise to a Saga.

Others

  • There exists a strong passion (holding especially of derision) for the surrealist aphorisms of JCVD; one notes even attempts at interpretation, with the image of the Initiation to the ontology of Jean-Claude Van Damme of Vandermeulen.

  • As opposed to what one can sometimes read, JCVD forever gained the least title in Karate. Its official biography gives a report on a championship of Belgium of light contact in 1978 (less violent alternative of the Full-Contact and Kick-Boxing), of a championship of Europe of light contact in 1978, and its participation in the championships of world WAKO in Florida in 1979 when it was made eliminate by another Belgian, Patrick Teugels, this last finishing 2nd competition (and not JCVD).
  • In 1986 it marries bodybuildeuse Gladys Portugues, and they have two children Kristopher (1987), Bianca (1990)
  • In 1993 Gladys Portugues and JCVD divorce.
  • on April 31st 1994 it marries Darcy Lapier in Thailand
  • Naissance of Nicolas on October 10th 1995.
  • on November 10th 1997 Lapier Darcy and JCVD divorce, JCVD will have to pay a monthly alimony of one hundred twelve thousand dollars (112 000 $).
  • on June 25th 1999 Gladys Portugues and JCVD marry again.
  • In July 2001, JCVD launches its line of clothing, damage7 which will be sold only with Harrods with London.
  • Its first figuration in Breakin' and small role in Monaco Forever
  • a lawsuit opposed it to Frank Dux whose he plays the part in Bloodsport .
  • Its nickname in Hollywood east “ The muscles from Brussels ” - what constitutes in English a word game with " The mussels from Brussels" (famous the " moulds-frites").
  • It is also called “ Fred Astaire of karate ”.
  • It said to have learned English by looking at Pierrafeu ( The Flintstones )
  • JCVD fights against him even in Double Impact , Replicant and Maximum Risque
  • Its first large seal is of a million dollars (1 000.000$) for Universal Soldier against seventy thousand before.
  • It will become one of the film actors of martial arts best paid in the world with a seal of 6,2 million dollars (6 200.000$) for the film Street Fighter .
  • the character Johnny Cage of the Video game Mortal Kombat is inspired by the character of Frank Dux in Bloodsport interpreted by JCVD. Johnny Cage is equipped (including the shoes) like JCVD in the final combat with film, one of the special blows of Johnny Cage comes from the combat between Frank Dux and the sumo in film. Midway which has not been able to obtain the rights for the play, made of Johnny Cage a movie-star for the history of the character, and adapted the concept of Kumite in kombat.
  • Claude Goetz, which taught karate to him, with worked with JCVD on the Great Tournament .
  • JCVD appears in the clip KIS My Eyes of Bob Sinclar.
  • JCVD seems Guest star in the series Friends, in episode 13 of Season 2, the US title of the episode is The One After The Superbowl - Share 2 (first diffusion the USA on January 28th 1996), the title FR is That which finds its monkey - Part 2 (first diffusion in France on December 17th 1996.
  • JCVD dreams to be an actor since the 3 years age.
  • the whole of its films brought back more than one billion dollar (1 000.000.000$).
  • documentary the In the skin of Jean-Claude Van Rams of Carole Thomé and Frederic Benudis, summarizes his career. He was diffused in France on Canal+ and M6.
  • JCVD plays its own part in an episode of Las Vegas.
  • JCVD plays its own part in an episode of Friends.
  • JCVD appears in the film Last Action Hero, playing its own role.
  • JCVD appears in the film Narco, playing its own role.

Catalog of films

External bonds

  • the site of Jean-Claude Van Rams
  • French-speaking Official site of Jean-Claude Van Damme

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