Brother of Veronique Van Varenberg.

Children: Kristopher (b. 1987) and Bianca (b. 1990) with Gladys Portugues; son Nicholas (b. 1995) with 'Darcy La Pier'.

Fighting as Jean-Claude Van Varenberg, he knocked out Sherman (Big Train) Bergman of Miami in one round at the World Full-Contact Championships in Orlando, Florida in 1979.

Has his own production companies, Long Road Productions / 777 Films Corp.

At Mulhouse, Belgium in 1978, he knocked out Andre (Robar) Robaeys in 1 round of a scheduled 3-round full-contact match.

Was the original choice to play the title character in Predator (1987).

As the original choice to play the role of the alien hunter itself in the movie Predator (1987), he hit a few personal snags. For starters, he was not happy with the fact that his face would not be shown on camera, and that he would be having an uncredited special effects role. He was also not fond of the original monster suit - he frequently passed out due to heat exhaustion. Because he complained so much and was very uncooperative, he was fired from the film. When Stan Winston's Predator design came in, Kevin Peter Hall was chosen to play the title role and filled it perfectly. Supposedly, Van Damme has no regrets on backing out of the Predator project.

Speaks Flemish, English, French, Spanish and German.

His fight scenes are so intense that he won't film them in the U.S. for fear of being sued.

Related to Screenwriter Adam Burnett through marriage.

Can lift 166 kg on a bench.

In 1980, in Brussels, fighting under his birth name, Jean Claude Van Varenberg, he knocked out a fighter known as Verlugels in 2 rounds.

At Opprebais, Belgium in 1978, he stopped Jacques Piniarski in 1 round of a scheduled 3-round full-contact match.

Suffered his only defeat to a Belgian fighter, Patrick Teugels, in three rounds at the World Full-Contact Championships in Orlando, Florida in 1979. Reversed his only defeat by beating Teugels in less then two minutes in their rematch.

Fought on the 1978 under-card of the main event between France's Dominique Valera and U.S.A.'s Dan Macaruso. The fight took place in 1980 in Brussels, Belgium; he scored a second round technical knockout victory.

Studied classical ballet for five years

Films often contain injuries to the groin area. Examples: Double Impact (1991) Hard Target (1993) and Timecop (1994).

In his late teens he opened a gym called California Fitness Center.

He became a European Karate Champion in 1979 and went to USA to win the World Championship. He didn't win. Few months later he had a rematch with the opponent he lost against in World Championship and he won in less than 2 minutes.

One-time sparring partner of Chuck Norris during the early 80s.

Won a court case filed against him by martial arts legend Frank Dux, who claimed he collaborated with Van Damme on his 1996 directorial debut _Quest, The (1996/I)_, only for Van Damme to deny him any share of the profits. His evidence was lost in an earthquake. Coincidentally, Van Damme played Dux in his debut Bloodsport (1988).

Was a European Middle Weight Champion in Karate in his late teens.

Adopted Van Damme as his stage name from one of his friend's father name. He considered it punchy, short and clear than his birth name of Van Verenberg.

Knocked-out Emile Leibman in the first round of a scheduled three-round full-contact match at Iseghem, Belgium in 1979.

In Jesse Ventura's book, he mentions Van Damme as having played Predator (1987) monster until he was fired and replaced by Kevin Peter Hall.

Knocked out Germany's Eric 'Basel' Strauss in 18 seconds in 1978 at Antwerp, Belgium, in a scheduled 3-round full-contact match.

Was student of Dominique Valera.

In 1989, he was sued for willfully gouging the eye of an extra in a sword fight while filming Cyborg (1989).

Once said he learned to speak English by watching the cartoon "The Flintstones" (1960).

He was the inspiration for the character Johnny Cage from Mortal Kombat. One of Johnny Cage's special moves is doing the splits while punching his opponent in the groin, as seen when Van Damme's character, Frank Dux, punches his large sumo opponent in Bloodsport (1988).

Former European Professional Karate Association middleweight champion.

Purchased a condominium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Likes classical music and his favorite composer is Beethoven.

On July 10, 2000, Van Damme was sentenced to an anti-drunk driving class, a $1,200 fine, 3 years probation and a 90 day revocation of his license after pleading no contest for a September 23, 1999 DUI arrest in Beverly Hills.

Often states 'Charlie Chaplin (I)' as the first great action star.