Van Damme was born on October 18, 1960, in Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, Brussels, to Eugene Van Varenberg and Eliana Van Varenberg. His father was a florist and his mother worked as an accountant. Van Damme started martial arts training at the age of ten and won his first karate competition at the age of fifteen. He later became a professional fighter and won several martial arts competitions in Belgium.
Van Damme moved to the United States in the late 1980s to pursue a career in acting. He made his film debut in the 1986 film No Retreat, No Surrender, in which he played the villain. He then starred in Bloodsport, a martial arts film based on the true story of Frank Dux. The film was a commercial success and established Van Damme as a rising action star.
Van Damme continued to star in action films in the 1990s, including Universal Soldier, Hard Target, and Timecop, among others. He also starred in the 1992 film Double Impact, in which he played twin brothers. The film was a commercial success and established Van Damme as a bankable actor.
In addition to his acting career, Van Damme has also worked as a director and producer. He directed the 1996 film The Quest, in which he also starred. He also produced the films Inferno and The Shepherd: Border Patrol.
Van Damme has had his share of personal struggles, including drug and alcohol abuse. He also suffered from depression and bipolar disorder. However, he has been sober since 1998 and has been open about his struggles with addiction and mental illness.
In recent years, Van Damme has continued to act in films and television shows. He starred in the Amazon Prime series Jean-Claude Van Johnson, in which he played a fictionalized version of himself. He also appeared in the 2019 film We Die Young, in which he played a retired soldier who helps a young boy escape a gang in Washington D.C.
Van Damme has also become a meme sensation in recent years, thanks to his iconic splits and entertaining commercials. He has appeared in ads for Volvo Trucks, Coors Light, and most recently, for GreenSavers, a Belgian company that sells energy-efficient light bulbs.
In conclusion, Jean-Claude Van Damme has had a successful career in acting and martial arts. He has starred in numerous action films and has won several awards for his acting. He has also worked as a director and producer. Despite personal struggles, he has been sober since 1998 and has been open about his struggles with addiction and mental illness. He continues to act and has become a meme sensation in recent years.