THE FILMS OF Jean

The Films of
Jean-Claude
Van Damme
By Maarten Mulder
MAARTEN MULDER BOOKS
The Films of
Jean-Claude
Van Damme
By Maarten Mulder
The Films of
Jean-Claude
Van Damme
Copyright © 2013 by Maarten Mulder Books
Printed in the Netherlands
First edition
By Maarten Mulder
Text and design by Maarten Mulder
Frontmatter credits:
Front cover: Jean-Claude Van Damme as Gibson Rickenbacker in Cyborg;
Back cover: Jean-Claude Van Damme;
Page 1: Jean-Claude Van Damme as Alex in Double Impact;
Page 2 and 3: Jean-Claude Van Damme as Frank Dux in Bloodsport;
This book is not for sale and it’s not intended for commercial release. It’s been made for private use only and no profit has been made from it. The
purpose of this book is to give an insight in the life and movies made by Jean-Claude Van Damme.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including
photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher.
MAARTEN MULDER BOOKS
Contents
Foreword 10
Life of an action star 16
No Retreat, No Surrender 47
Bloodsport 55
Black Eagle 65
Cyborg 71
Kickboxer 79
Death Warrant 89
Lionheart 97
Double Impact 109
Universal Soldier 119
Nowhere to Run 129
Hard Target 137
Timecop 147
Street Fighter 157
Sudden Death 167
The Quest 173
Maximum Risk 181
Double Team 189
Knock Off 197
Legionnaire 205
Guest Appearances 318
Sources 322
Universal Soldier: The Return 213
Desert Heat 221
Replicant 225
The Order 229
Derailed 235
In Hell 239
Wake of Death 247
Second in Command 253
The Hard Corps 257
Until Death 263
The Shepherd: Border Patrol 271
JCVD 277
Universal Soldier: Regeneration 287
Assassination Games 293
Dragon Eyes 299
The Expendables 2 303
Six Bullets 311
Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning 315
Life of an action star
The young Jean-Claude spent his teenage years dedicated to his martial art training
and focused on his one dream, to become a movie star. Although the odds of him
making it were little, he was determined to follow his dream and made the move to
Hollywood to reach his goal. After years of struggles he finally got his big break
in 1988 with the movie Bloodsport, which made Van Damme an international movie
star. With a career spanning over 25 years and with more than 40 movies on his
name, he firmly established himself as one of the biggest action stars of all time.
A start is born
In 1971 Eugène Van Varenberg enrolled his eleven-years-old son into
Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg was born on October 18, 1960
the karate school called Centre National De Karaté (National Center of
in Sint-Agatha-Berchem, a city close to Brussels the capitol of Belgium, a
Karate). “My father decided to put me in Karate classes,” said Jean-Claude.
country famous for their chocolate, beer and waffles. He was born as the
second child of his loving parents Eugène Van Varenberg and Eliana Van
Impe. He has an older sister called Véronique Van Varenberg. His mother
was a homemaker and his father Eugéne had various jobs. He was in the
garment business, then became an accountant, a florist, and he owned a
book store. The young Jean-Claude helped his father in the flower shop
from time to time by doing the flower delivery, making the baskets and
arranging of the flowers.
Jean-Claude grew up in Brussels. As a child he especially liked drawing,
playing piano, listening to classical music, and reading comic books from
16
his father book store. Reading the comic books was an escape for JeanClaude into a dreaming world. “I was one like many other kids, you know,”
remembered Jean-Claude. “I was the kid next door and I was not very
strong physically. I was not very gifted.” He had an introvert and shy
character, and with his thin physics and big glasses he was sort of an
outcast and teased a lot.
Right: Jean-Claude as an infant. He was born on October 18, 1960, as
second child from Eugène and Eliana Van Varenberg in Sint-Agatha-Berchem
a city near Brussels.
Right page: Jean-Claude as a child around the age of 10.
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Jean-Claude van Damme
Claude won the fight in the first round after Patrick Teugels suffered a
broken nose and was unable to continue. Jean-Claude completed his
competitive fighting career in 1982. These last fights were under kickboxer
rules.
Between 1976 and 1982 Jean-Claude build up an impressive record of
karate and kickboxing matches with many victories. He defeated the
number two of the world, and was ready to become number one. But that
goal became on a side track. Although Jean-Claude was successful with his
karate and kickboxing in official competition, there was another dream he
wanted to pursue. Becoming a movie star.
Move to Hollywood
In 1982 Jean-Claude decided to pursue his dream to become an actor
and move to America. By then he already had some small jobs in France
movies or as a model, for which he had to go to Paris from time to time.
Before going to America, Jean-Claude tried his luck in Hong Kong. He
had a modeling job there and he also tried to get in contact with movie
producers. Among them was Raymond Chow, founder of Golden Harvest,
a movie studio specialized in martial art movies. “In Hong Kong I tried
to meet Raymond Chow, the guy who produced Bruce Lee’s and Jackie
Chan’s films. I didn’t succeed. I made some phone calls, but he was very
untouchable at that time. But I met Jackie Chan and I showed him some of
my pictures. He was very impressed and shook my hand and said, ‘Maybe
we can do something together.’” His efforts in Hong Kong didn’t lead to
anything and the 21-year-old Jean-Claude moved to Los Angeles, with his
friend Michel Qissi, and more determined to achieve his goal.
24
Top, above and right page: Together with childhood friend Michel Qissi,
His decision received skeptical reactions remembered Jean-Claude,
Jean-Claude moved to America to pursue his dream of becoming an actor.
“When you tell people around you I’m gonna live in America, I’m gonna go
Through pictures Jean-Claude tried to impress producers, agents, directors, or
to America and I’m gonna become a movie star. I said it like that. So when
any other person that could help him further with his martial art skills.
you say that like that and on a very casual way and you believe it, they
think you’re crazy.” His decision was not really supported by his friends
Belgium city Etterbeek.
and family. His parents were not happy because they felt that he was
too young, and besides that, he didn’t speak English and he didn’t had
Throughout this period Jean-Claude kept on participating in karate
a work permit. “No, it’s impossible,” remember Jean-Claude his parents
competitions. One of his last memorable fights was on March 8, 1980
saying. “You’re dreaming. You can’t go to America. You can’t even speak
against fellow country rival Patrick Teugels, at the Forest National
the language. Millions of actors want to make it and don’t. It’s impossible,
in Brussels. Teugels became vice-world champion during the World
just don’t think about it.”
Championship WAKO, which was held in Tampa in Florida, in 1979. Jean-
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Jean-Claude van Damme
Previous pages: Jean-Claude Van Damme during the premiere of The
continued making movies like Universal Soldier: Regeneration with Dolph
Expendables 2 with his colleague action stars Dolph Lundgren, Sylvester
Lundgren and Assassination Games with Scott Adkins, he was invited by
Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
colleague action star Sylvester Stallone to play a role in the sequel of the
Left page: On October 21, 2012, Jean-Claude received a statue of him self
highly successful movie The Expendables from 2010. The movie featured
from his famous Bloodsport pose. The statue is located in Anderlecht and
an all-star cast who were in their prime during the eighties and nineties like
was revealed by the star himself together with his parents.
Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, Jet Li, Mickey Rourke and newcomers
to the action genre Jason Statham, Randy Couture and Terry Crews, and a
Mechri. In the movie Van Damme plays himself. He goes back to Brussels
guest cameo from action stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis. A
after a tiring court case over child custody. In Brussels he gets involved
majority of the cast reprised their role in the sequel and with Van Damme
in a bank robbery and the police thinks Van Damme is responsible for
as the bad guy Jean Vilain.
it. The story holds a thin line between fiction and reality. The movie
contains different genres, such as action, comedy, drama and satire. It
Van Damme and other big stars from the cast traveled all over the world for
became a critical success and Van Damme got many praises for his acting
the premier of The Expendables 2. It was Van Damme’s first big theatrical
performance.
release since Universal Soldier: The Return from 1999. The Expendables
2 became an intense success and grossed over $300 million at the world
In 2011 Jean-Claude participated in a reality television series called Jean-
wide box office.
Claude Van Damme: Behind Closed Doors. The television series contained
eight episodes of 45 minutes that run from March 22 until May 10, 2011
On October 21, 2012, Van Damme was honored with a life size bronze
on the English channel ITV4. The television series gave an up close and
statue of himself in one of his famous action pose from Bloodsport.
personal look of the life of Jean-Claude. The audience is introduced to his
The statue is located in Anderlecht, a city close to Brussels in Belgium.
family, parents, wife Gladys, son Kristopher and daughter Bianca. His love
“Belgium is paying me back something, but really it’s to pay back to the
for animals and in particular dogs, for which he build a complete sanctuary
dream,” said Van Damme in his speech. “So when people come by here, it
in his home in Knokke, Belgium. The camera follows Van Damme as he
is Jean-Claude Van Damme but it’s a guy from the street who believed in
goes from set to set to finish several movies. And he’s preparing for his
something. I want the statue to represent that”
real life kickboxing comeback in the ring against 23-year-younger Olympic
champion Somluck Kamsing.
As for Van Damme’s future he continues to deliver the movies that the
audience expect from him.
After the movie JCVD Van Damme received good notices and while he
45
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Cyborg
[1989]
Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme (Gibson Rickenbacker); Deborah Richter (Nady Simmons); Vincent Klyn (Fender Tremolo); Dayle Haddon (Pearl Prophet);
Alex Daniels (Marshall Strat); Blaise Loong (Furman Vux / Pirate / Bandit); Rolf Muller (Brick Bardo); Terrie Batson (Mary).
Crew: Directed by Albert Pyun; Produced by Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus; Written by Kitty Chalmers; Music by Lalo Schifrin and Kevin Bassinson;
Cinematography by Philip Alan Waters; Editing by Scott Stevenson and Rosanne Zingale.
T
he movie Cyborg became Van Damme’s second leading role after
have been in default of my contract. I was not yet powerful enough to do
the success of Bloodsport. In between Bloodsport and Cyborg
anything about it yet, so I had to do Cyborg.”
Van Damme also filmed Black Eagle, but in this movie his role
was limited to a few scenes. Cyborg was another adventurous action
film in which Van Damme could display his martial arts talents. For some
fans and critics Cyborg was a disappointment compared to the successful
Bloodsport, but since Van Damme had a three picture deal with Cannon
Films the choices for movies were limited. “Well you see I was in a very
Original U.S. theatrical release poster
bad situation after Bloodsport did so well,” he explained to Inside Karate
the films of
Jean-Claude van Damme
magazine. “Cannon wanted to do another film with me, and wanted to
move very fast. They had me under contract. I was given a choice of three
vehicles, Delta Force II, playing a Russian guy with Chuck Norris. This
would have taken me back to where I was before Bloodsport, even though
I would have loved to work with Chuck. Then there was American Ninja
IV, come on now! That left Cyborg. If I didn’t do one of the three, I would
Right: Van Damme’s second movie as a leading action star. In Cyborg he
plays Gibson Rickenbacker, a slinger who has to protect Pearl Prophet on her
mission to find a cure for the plague.
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Jean-Claude van Damme
71
The movie takes place in the 21st century in a deserted world where the
Above left and above: After Bloodsport, Cyborg was the second
civilization is ruined. Plague is killing lives of people. A group of scientists
action movie for Cannon Films in which he could show his martial art talents.
from Atlanta, Georgia, have found a cure to save what’s left of humanity.
Right page: A famous action pose of Van Damme in between filming the
To complete their work they need information stored on a computer
movie Cyborg.
system in New York City. Pearl Prophet (Dayle Haddon), who is half
cyborg/half human volunteers for the dangerous courier mission. On her
licensed owners of He-Man and Spider Man, because of their financial
way to New York she is attacked by a group of Pirates, led by the vicious
troubles. With Cyborg they wanted to recoup the money that they had
Fender Tremolo (Vincent Klyn) who want to have the cure so the world
spent on both the projects.
can remain in misery.
In this science fiction film Jean-Claude Van Damme plays Gibson
72
Pearl Prophet and her bodyguard Marshall Strat (Alex Daniels) are
Rickenbacker, a mercenary, which in Cyborg they call a ‘slinger’. He has
attacked. Marshall get caught by the pirates and before he gets killed he
to protect Pearl Prophet, a cyborg who is on a couriers mission to find
instructs Pearl Prophet to find a slinger named Gibson Rickenbacker (Jean-
a cure for the plague that is terrorizing human lives. On their way they
Claude Van Damme) who can bring her to New York. Then Gibson appears
are followed by Pirates who want to prevent them from finding a cure.
and rescues Pearl from the pirates, but soon he is knocked down and
The original choice of director Albert Pyun to play Gibson Rickenbacker,
Pearl is kidnapped. Gibson tracks down the pirates to save Pearl, so she
the part of Jean-Claude, was Chuck Norris. But Van Damme was the first
can continue her mission to complete the cure for plague and eventually
choice of the producer of the movie Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus
rebuild a civilization.
and ended up receiving the part.
The director of Cyborg was Albert Pyun, who by then had directed two
The villain of the movie Fender Tremolo was played by Vincent Klyn,
other Cannon Films like Down Twisted from 1987 and Alien from L.A. from
who was a skateboard and surfing champion, and also a model. He got
1988. The movie Cyborg came to life after Cannon Films had canceled
noticed by the director Alburt Pyun when he saw him surfing one day.
the filming of two other movies, which were a sequel to the 1987 He-
Pyun thought Klyn had an outstanding physique and intense look to play
Man film Master of the Universe and a live action version of Spider Man.
the villain in Cyborg, which became also his movie debut.
Both movies were supposed to be filmed by Albert Pyun simultaneously,
but Cannon Films had to cancel deals with both Mattel and Marvel, the
the films of
Cannon Films started with the new Cyborg on June 6, 1988, with a very low
Jean-Claude van Damme
Lionheart
[1990]
Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme (Léon Gaultier); Harrison Page (Joshua Eldridge); Deborah Rennard (Cynthia); Lisa Pelikan (Hélène Gaultier);
Ashley Johnson (Nicole Gaultier); Brian Thompson (Russell); Voyo Goric (Sgt. Hartog); Michel Qissi (Moustafa); Abdul Qissi (Atilla).
Crew: Directed by Sheldon Lettich; Produced by Ash R. Shah and Eric Karson; Executive Producers Sundip R. Shah, Anders P. Jensen and Sunil R. Shah;
Screenplay by Sheldon Lettich and Jean-Claude Van Damme; Music by John Scott; Cinematography by Robert C. New; Editing by Mark Conte.
V
an Damme’s movie Lionheart closely followed on his previous
martial arts movies for the rest of his career. That’s why he persuaded
film Death Warrant. For the movie Lionheart Jean-Claude
Sunil R. Shah to give me a chance on Lionheart.”
worked with Sheldon Lettich with who he became friends
during the filming of Bloodsport, the movie that was written by Sheldon.
After Bloodsport Sheldon continued to work with Sylvester Stallone on the
script of Rambo III and he helped with the editing of Van Damme’s second
movie for Cannon Films Cyborg, for which Lettich didn’t receive credits.
Original U.S. theatrical release poster
Lionheart was the first feature film that was directed by Sheldon Lettich.
the films of
Jean-Claude van Damme
“Jean-Claude Van Damme and I met when he returned to Los Angeles after
filming Bloodsport in Hong Kong,” remembered Lettich. “We became close
friends almost immediately after that. He saw the short film I directed,
Firefight, and felt suitably impressed that I could direct a feature film.
But mainly he knew that I believed in him, that I believed he could be so
much more than just a ‘Karate Star’ doing nothing more than low-budget
Right: Van Damme plays legionnaire Léon Gaultier who is in the foreign
legion army. When I founds out his brother is killed on the streets of Los
Angeles, he want to go there immediately.
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97
Left page: Léon Gaultier receives a letter from his sister-in-law about the
Lyon Gaultier (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is in the Foreign Legion located
situation of his brother. The guard is playing around with the letter, which is
in an outpost in Djibout, North Africa. When he finds out through a letter
not appreciated by Léon.
from his sister-in-law in Los Angeles that his brother has been serious
Above: Léon Gaultier fights his way out of the army camp based in Africa to
burned by a drugs deal that went wrong, Lyon wants to go to his brother
go to America and help his sister-in-law after the sudden death of his brother.
as soon as possible. The commander of the foreign legion will not let him
Next pages: Once in America Léon participates in illegal street fights to
go and orders security forces to put Lyon in captivity. Lyon manage to steal
earn fast money and help his sister-in-law. There meets fight organiser Joshua
a jeep and escape through the dessert and gets a passage on a boat that
Eldridge, played by Harrison Page, who helps Léon on his way to Los Angeles.
will bring him to New York.
Jean-Claude Van Damme and Sheldon Lettich wrote the screenplay of
He finds himself illegal in the country and without any money to travel to
Lionheart, that was originally called Wrong Bet, together, and was based
Los Angeles. To earn fast money, Lyon successfully participates in streets
on a story by Van Damme himself.
fights. He meets Joshua Eldridge (Harrison Page), who organizes street
fights. Joshua introduces Lyon to Cynthia (Deborah Rennard) a woman
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Nowhere to Run
[1993]
Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme (Sam Gillen); Rosanna Arquette (Clydie Anderson); Kieran Culkin (Mike “Mookie” Anderson); Tiffany Taubman (Bree Anderson);
Joss Ackland (Franklin Hale); Ted Levine (Mr. Dunston); Edward Blatchford (Sheriff Lonnie Poole); Anthony Starke (Billy).
Crew: Directed by Robert Harmon; Produced by Craig Baumgarten and Gary Adelson; Story by Joe Eszterhas and Richard Marquand;
Screenplay by Joe Eszterhas, Leslie Bohem and Randy Feldman; Music by Mark Isham; Cinematography by David Gribble;
Editing by Mark Helfrich and Zach Staenberg.
V
an Damme’s stardom was rising fast with each new movie. In
Nowhere to Run he goes more to the romantic genre, to please his female
the early nineties Van Damme became a working machine and
fans as well. “It’s going to be a different type of film for me,” said Van
delivered two pictures per year. In 1992 he started to work on
Damme during the shooting of the movie. “Involving family and kids, and
Nowhere to Run, a story that initially was planned to be called Pals and
a love story. It’s like an old time movie. Simple relationship and a strong
Crossing the Line. The movie was made by the famous Colombia Studios.
Original European theatrical release poster
It was produced by Craig Baumgarten, with who Van Damme also worked
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Jean-Claude van Damme
on Universal Soldier, and Gary Adelson. It was directed by Robert Harmon,
who before Nowhere to Run had directed a few pictures, among them The
Hitcher.
The movie would be a different type of film for the action star. While the
majority of Van Damme’s fans were male’s and children, he also got a
huge female following audience that were attracted to the more romantic
sides of his movies. With Nowhere to Run Van Damme was expending
his movie genre. Where before his movies consisted solely of action, in
Right: Jean-Claude Van Damme and Rosanna Arquette star in Nowhere to
Run. In addition to the action, the movie also touched a more romantic genre.
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129
Left page: Sam on the run on the motorcycle that he repaired during his stay
Sam Gillen (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is a convict who is being transported
with Clydie.
to prison by bus. During the bus trip he managed to escape with the help
Above and right: The barn of Clydie’s neighbors has been set on fire by
of his bank robbing partner Billy (Anthony Starke). During this escape his
property developer Franklin Hale who wants to have their land. Sam helps to
partner is killed by a police guard, forcing Sam to continue alone.
rescue the animals on the farm.
Next pages: Sam Gillen builds a special relation ship with Mookie, the son
Sam seeks refuge from the law and he sets up a tent on a farm land that is
of the widow Clydie.
owned by Clydie Anderson (Rosanna Arquette), a widow, who lives there
with her two children Mookie (Kieran Culkin) and Bree (Tiffany Taubman).
hero. And people, I believe, would like to see that again.” Director Robert
Sam is soon noticed by Mookie, who wants to build a friendship with him.
Harmon thought Van Damme was perfect for the part, “35 years ago it
probably would have been played by Eric Cooper. 20 years ago it would
Corrupt property developer Franklin Hale (Joss Ackland) wants to get a
have been Steve McQueen. And now it’s Jean-Claude.”
hold on Clydie’s land so he can further develop the property, but Clydie
refuses to sell it. Their methods to try to obtain her land are getting more
The story of Nowhere to Run was similar to the western classic Shane from
though. A group of thugs are trying to attack Clydie, but Sam comes to her
1953. Producer Craig Baumgarten initially developed the idea for a script
rescue. As a sign of gratitude for saving her and her children she lets Sam
on the basis of an idea of the late director Richard Marquand. Baumgarten
sleep in her barn.
knew Hungarian script writer Joe Eszterhas, who wrote popular movies
like Stallone’s F.I.S.T. and Basic Instinct, and he put Eszterhas and
During Sam’s stay on the farm he grows closer to Glydie and her children.
Marquand together to develop the story. But after Marquand died in 1987
When Glydie and local authorities find out that he is an escaped convict,
the development was put on hold. “Joe and I really didn’t think much
he decides to flee on a motorcycle that he fixed during his stay with Clydie.
about pushing the script forward since a close friend had died so young,”
During his flee he is followed by the state police. He manage to escape,
recalled Baumgarten. “Years go by, and out of the blue, I was driving along
but his mind goes to Clydie and he worries about the violent methods that
and I knew Jean-Claude was searching for a script to do after Universal
Franklin Hale forces on her to obtain her land.
Soldier and it just hit me.” The written script by Joe Eszterhas and Richard
Marquand was turned into a screenplay by Joe Eszterhas, Leslie Bohem
He decides to go back to Clydie’s and save her from Franklin Hale who,
and Randy Feldman.
during Sam’s absence, have forced her to sign a sale agreement of the
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131
The Quest
[1996]
Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme (Christopher Dubois); Roger Moore (Lord Edgar Dobbs); Janet Gunn (Carrie Newton); James Remar (Maxie Devine);
Jack McGee (Harri Smythe); Aki Aleong (Khao); Abdel Qissi (Khan (Mongolian fighter).
Crew: Directed by Jean-Claude Van Damme; Produced by Moshe Diamant; Executive Producer Peter MacDonald; Story by Frank Dux and
Jean-Claude Van Damme; Music by Randy Edelman; Cinematography by David Gribble; Editing by John F. Link and William J. Meshover.
B
y 1995 Van Damme could finally start with his dream project
The Quest. It’s a movie that Van Damme has been discussing for
several years in the media. “I’m directing a huge, classy 1930’s
karate movie two years from now which I want to take to Cannes,” Van
Damme said in an interview in 1991. “I’ll be acting, writing, and directing.
Directing makes less money, but I don’t care. I want to do something
special. I want my movies to be good” Eventually it took longer than two
years before the movie was released, because of scheduling problems.
Original U.S. theatrical release poster
173
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Not only did Van Damme star in The Quest, it also became his directorial
debut. Knowing that directing a movie will take two years of your life and
gives you less money, it was a dream project that Van Damme wanted to
make. In addition he also co-wrote the story with Frank Dux which was
Right: The Quest was Jean-Claude Van Damme’s ambitious dream project.
He did not only star in The Quest but was also the writer and director. Van
Damme’s plays Christopher Dubois who is a pickpocket on the streets of New
York in 1925, where he takes care of the orphans. When the police is chasing
him, he is forced to leave this city.
the films of
Jean-Claude van Damme
later adapted in a screenplay by Steven Klein and Paul Mones.
where he sold Dubois as a slave. To Dubois he told the lie that there is
going a ship to New York in two weeks.
The movie takes place in New York in 1925. Christopher Dubois (JeanClaude Van Damme) is a pickpocket who’s living on the street. He is looking
On the island Dubois learns to fight Muay Thai and after six months he
out for a large group of orphaned children on the street. After Dubois and
becomes a skilled fighter. By surprise Dobbs and his partner Harri Smythe
the children stole a large sum of money from a group of gangsters, they
(Jack McGee) find Dubois fighting in a Muay Thai match. Dobbs buys
are soon found by the gangsters. Dubois manage to fight the gangsters
Dubois freedom, with the idea that Dubois can participate in a fighting
with his martial art skills, but this attracts the attention from the police
tournament called the Ghang-gheng, held in the Lost City of Tibet. During
who go after Dubois. After promising the children that he will come back,
this tournament all fighters of different discipline from all over the world
Dubois escapes on a boat.
participate. The winner of the tournament wins a golden statue, called
the Golden Dragon.
While being on the boat he is discovered by the crew of the ship that turns
out to be smuggles and pirates. They force Dubois to do physical labor.
In addition to Van Damme, also Roger Moore, well known for his role
Then the crew decided that they no longer need Dubois anymore and
as James Bond, stars in The Quest. He plays the part of the Englishman
they’re planning to kill him. But then the boat is attacked by mercenary
Lord Edgar Dobbs. Roger Moore received many praises from critics after
Englishman, Lord Edgar Dobbs (Roger Moore).
the movie was released, labeling that The Quest is his best picture since
retiring from playing James Bond.
During the battle Dubois manage to escape from his hand cuffs and he
participates in the battle on the side of Dobbs. After saving Dobbs life, he
In The Quest Van Damme was also rejoined with Abdel Oissi, the brother
agrees to bring Dubois home to New York. He leaves Dubois on an island,
of his childhood friend Michel Qissi. Van Damme worked before with
Abdel Oissi in the movie Lionheart in which he played Atilla, Van Damme’s
last opponent in that film. Also in The Quest Van Damme and Abdel Qissi
face each other in the end of the movie. Qissi played the Mongolian
fighter Khan that, just like Dubois, reached the final of the Ghang-gheng
tournament.
The producer for The Quest was Moshe Diamant and it was already the
fifth picture Van Damme and Diamant worked on together, after Double
Impact, Hard Target, Timecop and Sudden Death. Diamant and Van Damme
174
first met each other when Van Damme stepped in his office ten years
before The Quest was released during the film festival of Milan. By then
Diamant already was a producer and he told Van Damme that he didn’t
have star quality. “I liked him as a person. Jean-Claude is an immigrant
Left and right page: During his flee from the police, Dubois lands on a
boat which turns out to be from smugglers and pirates. They make him do
hard labour. When the pirates are about to kill him, their boat is attacked by
Englishman Lord Edgar Dobbs, played by Roger Moore.
Next pages: The not trustable Dobbs leaves Dubois on an island where he
sold as a slave. On the island Dubois learns the to fight Muay Thai.
the films of
Jean-Claude van Damme
Until Death
[2007]
Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme (Anthony Stowe); Selina Giles (Valerie Stowe); Mark Dymond (Mark Rossini);
William Ash (Serge); Stephen Lord (Jimmy Medina).
Crew: Directed by Simon Fellows; Produced by Moshe Diamant; Executive Producer William Pfeiffer; Written by Dan Harris and James Portolese;
Music by Mark Sayfritz; Cinematography by Douglas Milsome; Editing by Matthew Booth.
I
n Van Damme’s movie Until Death he played the darkest character
from his career. Although Van Damme had played before in the dark
prison movie In Hell, the character he played in Until Death was much
darker. “It’s a different type of movie for me,” said Van Damme. “We have
more drama then usual and less karate move.”
“To prepare for that role, I will not say it’s my life, but I came in the state
like when I was 25, 23 or 24 years old and I’ve been through a roller coast
of life and I’ve had my ups and downs and I was able to regroup all those
Original U.S. DVD release cover
experiences and to put these in the film, and that why I was very attached
the films of
Jean-Claude van Damme
to the script,” explains Van Damme. “And also to be able to be that sincere
about a part about a character. What you have to do is really believe you
are that person, to forget your own identity and to become that person
and then you get into it. And what’s funny about it, it’s like when the movie
is finished then you have to go back to your Jean-Claude Van Damme type
Right: In Until Death Van Damme plays Anthony Stowe, a heroin addicted
cop. It’s Van Damme’s darkest character he ever played before for which he
received a lot of critical praise.
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Jean-Claude van Damme
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Left page: Stowe is shot in the head by a group of men under the lead of
drugs kingpin Callahan. Stowe goes in a coma but comes out as a changed man.
Right: Stowe in a shoot-out with Callahan’s men.
Right below: Van Damme as Anthony Stowe having an operation after
being shot in the head.
Next pages: Van Damme played his darkest character in Until Death.
of scheme. So I was completely in…, it was a great experience, but it was
kind of hard because you’re going into a sick mode. And you feel almost
like that cop day and night. And I’m becoming more like that because I’ve
been working the last few years with a director called Ringo Lam, who
teach me how to go into it, who made me feel how to go into it. And it
will be difficult for me now not to be sincere anymore. Now I will become
more sincere about playing something I believe. I cannot do anymore a
movie just to do a movie. I’ve got to feel something about a character like
Until Death. That’s why I back up from a few movies coming ahead of me.”
Until Death was directed by Simon Fellows, who before worked with
Van Damme on his previous film Second in Command from 2006. It was
produced by Moshe Diamant, with who Van Damme worked before since
the early beginning of his career. “I worked with Moshe Diamant years ago
with movies like Double Impact and Timecop, which were my good movies
together,” said Van Damme. “A good script brought us back together.
That’s essential today to have a good script. He brought the script and I
brought him the director. That’s what happened Until Death.” The story of
Until Death was written by Dan Harris and James Portolese.
New Orleans narcotics detective Anthony Stowe (Jean-Claude Van Damme)
is a heroin addict who doesn’t care about life and his job anymore. For his
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job he is trying to bring down his former partner Gabriel Callahan (Stephen
Rea), a drug kingpin, who is taking over the New Orleans underworld.
During an operation against Callahan a cop Maria Ronson (Rachel Grant),
the fiancée of fellow cop Van Huffel (Adam Leese), dies, which triggers an
keeping Stowe from total collapse is his pursuit to take down Callahan. But
agony between Stowe and Van Huffel. Because of the death cop and the
he drunkenly stumbles into an ambush masterminded by Callahan, and is
failed operation Chief Mac Baylor (Gary Beadle) dismisses Stowe from his
shot in the head by Callahan’s right-hand man Jimmy (Stephen Lord).
work.
Stowe undergoes emergency surgery and ends up in a coma. Months
That night Stowe meets with his estranged wife Valerie (Selina Giles),
later he wakes up and is transported to the house of Valerie. There he is
who tells him that she’s pregnant and that he is not the father. Valerie
recovering again as he slowly learns to speak and walk again. Stowe has
informs Stowe that she doesn’t want to see him again. The only thing
become a changed person. He approach Chief Baylor to get his job back,
the films of
Jean-Claude van Damme
The Expendables 2
[2012]
Cast: Sylvester Stallone (Barney Ross); Jean-Claude Van Damme (Vilain); Arnold Schwarzenegger (Trench); Bruce Willis (Church);
Jason Statham (Lee Christmas); Jet Li (Yin Yang); Dolph Lundgren (Gunnar Jensen); Chuck Norris (Booker); Terry Crews (Hale Caesar);
Randy Couture (Toll Road); Liam Hemsworth (Billy The Kid); Scott Adkins (Hector).
Crew: Directed by Simon West; Produced by Danny Lerner, Les Weldon, Avi Lerner and Kevin King Templeton; Executive Producers Danny Dimbort,
Boaz Davidson, Trevor Short, Jon Feltheimer, Jason Constantine, Eda Kowan, Basil Iwanyk and Guymon Casady;
Original U.S. theatrical release poster (Jean-Claude Van Damme version)
Story by Ken Kaufman, David Agosto and Richard Wenk; Screenplay by Richard Wenk and Sylvester Stallone;
the films of
Jean-Claude van Damme
Music by Brian Tyler; Cinematography by Shelly Johnson; Editing by Todd E. Miller.
I
n 2011 Jean-Claude Van Damme started working on one of the most
action-adventure cast that I’ve ever been involved with,” said Sylvester
special movies from his career, called The Expendables 2. A sequel to
Stallone. “We are bringing back that old time rock ‘n roll, and giving
the highly spectacular action extravaganza original from 2010, which
features the biggest action stars of the eighties and nineties. The first
film featured action stars like Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger,
Bruce Willis, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Jet Li, Randy Couture, Terry
Crews and Mickey Rourke. The sequel featured bigger parts for Arnold
Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis, and the cast was expanded with action
stars Jean-Claude Van Damme and Chuck Norris.
“For The Expendables 2, we’ve pulled together the most phenomenal
Right: Although Van Damme had played a bad guy earlier in his career
with the movies No Retreat, No Surrender and Black Eagle, in The
Expendables 2 it was the first time Van Damme played sole a bud guy since
he became a star.
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Jean-Claude van Damme
303
audiences what that they haven’t seen for a while, visceral, true-to-life
making any movies. And I was in love with them. Because my dream was
action.”
to become an actor. So when I saw Bruce and Die Hard, Rambo, Rocky and
the Conan, all those movies, my dream was to meet those guys.”
Van Damme was also asked personally by Sylvester Stallone for The
Expendables but declined for the part, because he felt unsure about depth
While Stallone directed the first movie of The Expendables, for the
of the character Stallone had in mind for him and Van Damme was busy
sequel director Simon West was hired. This gave Stallone more time to
directing a movie with the working title The Eagle Path. But for the sequel
focus more on the writing aspect of the movie and his own character
Van Damme definitely was in. “I saw those guy on the screen before
Barney Ross. Simon West previously directed movies such as Con Air, The
General’s Daughter, The Mechanic and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. “Simon
is a wonderful shooter and he brought a lot to the heart and the action
of the story,” said Stallone. “With the scope of this production, I couldn’t
have done all these jobs.”
“I wanted to direct this film because I know how much people love these
characters and now they are going to get to see more of them in even
higher adrenaline situations,” said Simon West. “I think audiences love
this group because they’re funny, they’re tough, they’re very good at what
they do, and yet they aren’t super-human. They aren’t bulletproof. They
have their flaws and each character is screwed up in their own little way.
People root for them because they’re underdogs and we can all relate to
that. I find a lot more color in how Stallone wrote these very human action
characters than in a man who is indestructible.”
The producers for The Expendables 2 were Danny Lerner, Les Weldon, Avi
Lerner and Kevin King Templeton. Almost the same team of producers as
for The Expendables. The story was written by Ken Kaufman, David Agosto
and Richard Wenk, and it was turned into a screenplay by Richard Wenk
and Sylvester Stallone.
304
The Expendables, a group of mercenaries consisting of Barney Ross
(Sylvester Stallone), Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), Yin Yang (Jet Li),
Gunner Jensen (Dolph Lundgren), Toll Road (Randy Couture), Hale Caesar
(Terry Crews), and newest members Billy the Kid (Liam Hemsworth), are
Left above and Left: A visit to the set from a special friend of Jean-Claude
Van Damme, his trainer from Belgium in his teenage years Claude Goetz.
Right page: Jean-Claude Van Damme on the set of The Expendables 2
with co-writer, star and team leader Sylvester Stallone. It was Stallone that
wanted to have Van Damme to star in the sequel of the highly successful The
Expendables.
the films of
Jean-Claude van Damme
Guest Appearances
Before Van Damme reached movie star status with his movie Bloodsport, he
appeared in some small movies as a figurant. Despite that Van Damme was visible
in these specific scenes, it didn’t help to launch his career until No Retreat, No
Surrender and especially Bloodsport. After his career was launched his fame gave
him figurant parts as guest appearances in other movies or television series, mostly
playing himself.
Missing iN aCTION (1984)
Friends (1996)
Because of his friendship with action star Chuck Norris, Van Damme
Van Damme makes a guest appearance as himself in the popular television
received a figurant part in the Chuck Norris movie Missing In Action which
series Friends. Van Damme’s appears in the episode The One After the
was filmed in the Philippines. Although Van Damme is hardly visible, he
Superbowl from the second season that run from 1995 to 1996. Van
did received the experience to be on a movie set, which gave him even
Damme plays himself who is filming a movie in New York, in which also
more the drive to become a movie star.
Joey, a character of the show, has a small part. Rachel and Monica, two
other characters of the show, spot Van Damme the movie star, and they
Monaco Forever (1984)
compete for his attention.
Van Damme received a strange part in the experimental short movie
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Monaco Forever. Van Damme plays a gay karate man that picks up a
Below: Jean-Claude Van Damme on the set of the television series Friends
hitchhiker and starts to make a passage on him. It was after Van Damme
with Courteney Cox, who plays Monica in the series, and Jennifer Aniston,
became famous that the movie received notice.
who plays Rachel.
Breakin’ (1984)
Above: Van Damme first appearance in the Turkish movie Sinav from 2006.
Lellouche, Van Damme plays an imagined version of himself in a cameo
Together with his friend Michel Qissi, Van Damme received a small
Van Damme plays Charles, who is hired by a group of students to steal the
appearance. The main character of the movie Gus, played by Guillaume
figurant part as a dancing spectator in the dance movie Breakin’. Van
exams for them.
Canet, idolizes Van Damme as the ultimate karate man. Gus imagines
Damme wears a black stretch suit during the three minutes scene. Despite
himself in a conversation with Van Damme, who plays the conscience of
his efforts to get the attention from the camera man, the scene didn’t
Las Vegas (2004)
gave him much notice.
Van Damme received a role as himself in the popular television series
Gus.
Las Vegas. He stars in episode 15 of the first season called Die Fast, Die
Sinav (2006)
Last Action Hero (1993)
Furious. In the episode Jean-Claude Van Damme dies when he is filming a
Although it’s not considered a feature film of Van Damme he did play a
With his fame rising high, Van Damme received a small cameo to play
dangerous stunt in the Montecito, the security team has doubts about it
big part in the Turkish movie Sinav, and he also appeared on the theatrical
himself in the Arnold Schwazenegger movie Last Action Hero. Van Damme
being an accident.
release movie poster. The movie is about a group of students that are
appears in a red carpet scene during a premiere of the new Jack Slater IV
in their final year of school and ready to do exams. The students hire a
movie, a movie series of the character Jack Slater that Schwarzenegger
Narco (2004)
professional thief names Charles (Jean-Claude Van Damme) to retrieve
plays in the movie.
In the French movie Narco that was directed by Tristan Aurouet and Gilles
the exams for them.
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The Films of
Jean-Claude
Van Damme
By Maarten Mulder
MAARTEN MULDER BOOKS
The Films of
Jean-Claude
Van Damme
By Maarten Mulder