Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg , professionally known as Jean-Claude Van Damme, is a Belgian martial artist, actor, and director best known for his martial arts action films. The most successful of these films include Bloodsport , Kickboxer , Universal Soldier , Hard Target , Timecop , Sudden Death and JCVD . He is known as "The Muscles from Brussels" and often comes under fire from film critics for his apparent near or total lack of acting ability. After studying martial arts intensively from the age of ten, Van Damme achieved national success in Belgium as a martial artist... and bodybuilder, earning the "Mr. Belgium" bodybuilding title. He emigrated to the United States in 1982 to pursue a career in film, and achieved success with Bloodsport , based on a story written by Frank Dux. He attained subsequent box office success with Timecop , which was his highest grossing film with over $100 million, until 2008's Kung Fu Panda, which grossed over $630 million.
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| Birthdate: | October 18, 1960 |
| Birthplace: | Sint-Agatha-Berchem |
| Age: | 51 |
| Height: | 5' 10" |
| Weight: | 176.4 lbs. |
| Also known as: | Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg, JCVD, Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg |