Jean-Claude van Damme
- Born: 18 Oct, 1960
From his arrival in the USA in 1981 at age 21, Jean-Claude Van Damme harbored only one dream, to become a movie star. Handsome and muscular, he studied martial arts from the time he was 11 and eventually won the European Professional Karate Association's middleweight championship while in his late teens. The Belgian, who was born Jean-Claude Van Varenberg, reportedly operated the California Gym in his native land before traveling to Hong Kong (where he briefly worked as a model). In 1981, he settled in Hollywood with the expressed goal of becoming a movie star.
FAMILY & COMPANIONS
- father Eugene Van Varenberg:
- mother Eliana Van Varenberg:
- sister Veronique Van Varenberg: lives in Belgium
- son Kristopher Van Varenberg: born c. 1987; mother, Gladys Portugues
- daughter Bianca Van Varenberg: born in October 1990; mother, Gladys Portugues
- son Nicholas Van Varenberg: born on October 10, 1995; mother, Darcy LaPier
- wife Maria Rodriguez: first wife, Venezuelan, born c. 1954; separated in 1981 when Van Damme moved to the USA
- wife Cynthia Derderian: married for one year in 1985; met while he was working in her father's carpet store
- wife Gladys Portugues: married in 1986; separated in July 1992; divorced; reconciled after his separation from LaPier in 1997; remarried in a civil ceremony on June 25, 1999 and in a church ceremony on June 26, 1999
- wife Darcy La Pier: born c. 1965; a Hawaiian Tropic beauty contest winner representing the state of Oregon in 1985; previously married to Hawaiin Tropic mogul Ron Rice in a highly publicized lavish wedding while still married to a man in Portland, Oregon; married on February 3, 1994; filed for divorce on June 7, 1996; reconciled; filed again for divorce on December 19, 1996; reconciled a second time; refiled divorce petition in November 1997, alleging that Van Damme physically abused her and was addicted to drugs; divorced
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