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The Jean-Claude Van Damme Story
Once upon a time in Belgium...
1960
Jean-Claude Camille Francois Van Varenburg is born to Eliana and Eugene, who own a flower shop.
1970
But flowers are not for Van Varenburg. At the age of 10, his dad decides it is time for the awkward child to learn karate. He is good at kicking.
1976
Van Varenburg goes on to win major European karate tournaments. At 16, he decides to take up ballet as well as other martial arts.
1979
Van Varenburg also starts body-building. Inspired by a gym in California, he opens the very succesful California Gym in Belgium.
1981
But running a gym won't make him a star. He moves to the US to become an actor. Van Varenburg gets some small roles and meets CHUCK NORRIS. He becomes Norris' personal trainer.
1985
To make his name easier to pronounce, Van Varenburg changes his name to Jean-Claude Van Damme. He later scores a breakout role with BLOODSPORT.
1992
After starring in lots of 'choptacular' fighting films, Van Damme hits the big time with UNIVERSAL SOLDIER, followed by HARD TARGET, director JOHN WOO's first big US film.
1994
But John and Van Damme don't talk much after that. Despite being the world's highest-paid martial arts actor, after TIMECOP, the box-office hits stop coming, and straight-to-DVD beckons. Until...
2008
...JCVD, a film in which he stars as himself, revives his credibility. And now in 2010, comes UNVERSAL SOLDIER: A NEW BEGINNING. Welcome back, Van Damme. It has been a while.
