Fact: Jean-Claude Van Damme showed off his dancing skills when he recreated a scene from Streetfighter during an appearance on U.S. late-night show Conan on Monday (11May15). Two stuntmen also stepped up to fight the Belgian martial arts star in the recreation.
Fact: Actor Channing Tatum has attempted to copy martial arts icon Jean-Claude Van Damme's splits stunt on the top of two moving lorries in a new Volvo advert by recreating the gymnastic feat on the set of his 21 Jump Street sequel. In a spoof video, which has been posted online, Tatum stands atop two food trolleys as two assistants push them slowly apart, but the movie hunk falls off and ends up on the ground, holding his crotch in mock pain.
Quote: "It was Sly that made me love movies again. He's just a great guy who knows exactly how to inspire and motivate you." Jean-Claude Van Damme on his mentor and The Expendables 2 co-star Sylvester Stallone.
Quote: "I was never a very educated man. I left school when I was 12 years old. I sold flowers with my dad." Jean-Claude Van Damme never aspired to become a martial arts superstar as a child growing up in Belgium.
Fact: Belgian martial arts starJean Claude Van Damme is taking the 'Muscles from Brussels' back to the big screen in a new action film called Six Bullets. The Double Impact star will lead the cast of director Ernie Barbarash's new film about a kidnap expert hired to find a celebrity's abducted daughter.
Quote: "I have extreme bipolar and I am taking medication for this." Jean-Claude Van Damme is treating his bipolar disorder.
Quote: "I know one tradition - if I touch the shoes of a Ukrainian person they have to touch me back. I made the mistake when I was giving a hug to Mr Vladimir Putin, I touched his shoes and he touched my shoes back. So I touched him again. I thought it was a game and then I understood. A Ukrainian friend told me, 'Be careful, it's bad luck'. It was kind of funny." Jean-Claude Van Damme on his meeting with the Russian Prime Minister.
Fact: Several of Jean-Claude Van Damme's family members have tattoos of a fern to mark the star's heritage. The fighter/actor's real last name is Van Varenberg, which is said to mean mountain fern.
Quote: "Showing myself nude from the behind has never been a problem for me - but from the front, that's another story. I don't want to lose all my fans." Jean-Claude Van Damme is surprisingly shy.
Quote: "If I go to the gym at least three times a week and if, once a week, I have a good dinner with friends, I can be happy. And I love the ocean. I'm not rich enough to own a yacht, but that is my dream. I would love to live on the water, my friend." Belgian action man Jean-Claude Van Damme craves a simple life.
Fact: Movie hardman Jean Claude Van Damme will appear in a spoof documentary in which he plays himself encountering real-life hostage situations. The release is set to premiere at the Toronto Film International film festival next month (Sep08).
Fact: Model Petra Nemcova is personally selecting 10 Thai school children to work alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme on the Thailand shoot for new movie FULL LOVE. The recruitment has been organised by global volunteer organisation Projects Abroad.