From a young age, Jean-Claude Van Damme was captivated by Eastern martial arts, including karate and kung fu. His famous split, showcased between two trucks in a commercial, didn’t just appear out of nowhere; Van Damme had trained in ballet for over five years.

To compete in sports events, the young athlete had to travel extensively. During one tournament, he was noticed and offered a role in film. At 19, Jean-Claude landed a minor role that marked the beginning of his acting career. Seven years later, he starred in No Retreat, No Surrender, a film that featured him in one of the lead roles.

After two unsuccessful marriages, in 1987, Jean-Claude married actress and bodybuilder Gladys Portugues. That same year, they welcomed a son, followed soon by a daughter. When their daughter was only three years old, the couple divorced. Fast forward to 1999, after his fourth divorce, Van Damme married Gladys again, his third wife. Despite frequent quarrels and talk of separation, the couple continues to live together.

Bianca decided to trade her hard-to-pronounce surname for a stage name. At 33, she made her film debut alongside her father. Recently, she appeared in the film The Eagle Path with her brother, where Jean-Claude not only played the lead role but also served as writer, director, and producer.

Nicolas, the son of Jean-Claude Van Damme and his fourth wife Darcy LaPier, is now 28. He chose to live a life away from the film industry. In 2017, Nicolas made headlines for legal issues and was sentenced to probation.

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