Jean-Claude Van Damme is one of the greatest action stars of all time, but he didn’t start out that way. Born in Brussels, Belgium, JCVD moved to the U.S. when he was 21 years old. Before he got his big break, he worked as carpet layer, a pizza delivery man, a limo driver, and even a bouncer at a club (thanks to his pal Chuck Norris).After seven years in the states, he starred in his first Hollywood hit, Bloodsport. His martial arts abilities (which he had been honing since the age of 11) and his dashing good looks got him noticed and he went on to star in bevy of action-packed thrillers.Click through to check out some of JCVD’s most memorable moments throughout the years.
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Pool BENAINOUS/DUCLOS / Contributor / Getty
Van Damme In Cannes, France, on May 12, 2000.
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Ron Galella, Ltd. / Contributor / Getty
Van Damme attends The Ritz-Carlton, Mauna Lani Celebrity Sports Invitational on May 16, 1991, at The Ritz-Carlton Mauna Lani in Kohala Coast, HI.
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Ferdaus Shamim / Contributor / Getty
Van Damme promotes Damage Seven Jeans at Harrods London in London, Great Britain.
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Ron Galella, Ltd. / Contributor / Getty
Van Damme attends the 1992 NATO/ShoWest Convention on Feb. 18, 1992, at Bally’s Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV.
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Ron Galella, Ltd. / Contributor / Getty
Van Damme on Oct. 18, 1990, dining at Spago in West Hollywood, CA.
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Archive Photos / Stringer / Getty
Van Damme in a fight pose in a scene from the film Death Warrant, 1990.
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Hulton Archive / Handout / Getty
Van Damme kicks an opponent in a scene from the film Kickboxer, 1991.
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Frank Trapper / Contributor / Getty
Van Damme arrives at Spike TV’s 6th annual Guy’s Choice Awards held at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City.
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Ron Galella, Ltd. / Contributor / Getty
Van Damme attends the 10th annual Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards on April 19, 1997, at Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, CA.
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Jon Kopaloff / Contributor / Getty
Van Damme arrives at the 2012 MTV Movie Awards at Gibson Amphitheater on June 3, 2012, in Universal City, CA.
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Ron Galella, Ltd. / Contributor / Getty
Van Damme attends The Las Hadas Sweet Sixteen Celebrity Sports Invitational on May 11, 1990, at the Las Hadas Golf Resort and Marina in Manzanillo, Mexico.
Jean-Claude Van Damme is one of the greatest action stars of all time, but he didn’t start out that way. Born in Brussels, Belgium, JCVD moved to the U.S. when he was 21 years old. Before he got his big break, he worked as carpet layer, a pizza delivery man, a limo driver, and even a bouncer at a club (thanks to his pal Chuck Norris).
After seven years in the states, he starred in his first Hollywood hit, Bloodsport. His martial arts abilities (which he had been honing since the age of 11) and his dashing good looks got him noticed and he went on to star in bevy of action-packed thrillers.
Click through to check out some of JCVD’s most memorable moments throughout the years.
Van Damme In Cannes, France, on May 12, 2000.
Van Damme attends The Ritz-Carlton, Mauna Lani Celebrity Sports Invitational on May 16, 1991, at The Ritz-Carlton Mauna Lani in Kohala Coast, HI.
Van Damme promotes Damage Seven Jeans at Harrods London in London, Great Britain.
Van Damme attends the 1992 NATO/ShoWest Convention on Feb. 18, 1992, at Bally’s Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV.
Van Damme on Oct. 18, 1990, dining at Spago in West Hollywood, CA.
Van Damme in a fight pose in a scene from the film Death Warrant, 1990.
Van Damme kicks an opponent in a scene from the film Kickboxer, 1991.
Van Damme arrives at Spike TV’s 6th annual Guy’s Choice Awards held at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City.
Van Damme attends the 10th annual Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards on April 19, 1997, at Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, CA.
Van Damme arrives at the 2012 MTV Movie Awards at Gibson Amphitheater on June 3, 2012, in Universal City, CA.
Van Damme attends The Las Hadas Sweet Sixteen Celebrity Sports Invitational on May 11, 1990, at the Las Hadas Golf Resort and Marina in Manzanillo, Mexico.
