Van Damme was briefly the Predator, until he quit the sweltering suit
Before Bloodsport made him a star, Jean-Claude Van Damme was cast as the alien in Predator, meant to move like an agile ninja. He left after a few days, reportedly complaining the costume made him faint and that his face never appeared. The part went to a taller actor, and he later said he had no regrets.
He was born Jean-Claude Van Varenberg in Brussels on 18 October 1960, son of an accountant and florist. His father enrolled him in Shotokan karate at ten; he later called himself a geeky, physically ungifted kid. By 18 he held a black belt, and lifting weights to fill out his frame won him the Mr. Belgium bodybuilding title in 1978. Less expected, he studied ballet for five years from 16, calling a ballet workout harder than most sports.
As a fighter he went 44 wins and four losses in semi-contact bouts between 1976 and 1980, and 18 wins, all knockouts, against one loss in full contact. He helped Belgium's team win the European Karate Championship in December 1979. He also ran California Gym in Brussels, which at its peak earned $15,000 a month; his father was appalled when he sold it to chase acting in America.
Arriving in 1982 with his friend Michel Qissi, he struggled. With most of his savings parked in a European bank, he bounced at a bar owned by Chuck Norris, drove limousines and taught karate. To get past studio receptionists he invented a story about being a Brussels actor backed by a Hong Kong investor, with a friend playing along; the aim was only to get meetings. His first notable role was a Soviet villain in No Retreat, No Surrender (1986).
Bloodsport opened on 26 February 1988, made for $1.5 million, and became a spring hit. When cast he had reportedly been homeless, sleeping in cars and garages. Kickboxer followed in 1989, returning more than $50 million on a $3 million budget. His films have grossed over $3.3 billion worldwide, and the self-parodying drama JCVD (2008) revived his critical reputation after a late-1990s slump.
Source: Jean-Claude Van Damme
