Jean-Claude Van Damme is an integral part of the action cinema of the 80s and 90s: The Belgian’s martial arts skills were ahead of competitors such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone, which earned him his first major role in the martial arts film “Karate Tiger” in 1987 (at that time he was not yet starring as a martial artist). hero, but as antagonist). Kurt McKinney, who is much less known today). Films like “Bloodsport” (1988) or “Cyborg” (1989) catapulted him into the A-league of B-movie stars; Van Damme later starred in some of the best and craziest action films of the 90s (“Sudden Death”, “Knock-off”).
After satirizing himself and his career in 2008 with the meta-action comedy “JCVD,” the 62-year-old now rarely appears in films — and when he does, it’s in relatively low-budget DTV actors. But how did his acting career actually start?
The actor, nicknamed “The Muscles From Brussels”, started training in karate at the age of ten. Later, bodybuilding and ballet training (!) were added. At 19, Van Damme became European Professional Karate Association middleweight champion, earned a black belt in Shōtōkan karate – and in 1978 he was named Mr. Belgium as a bodybuilder!
Only one thing had not yet been developed: his acting talent. To change that, he traveled to the US with his childhood friend Michel Qissi and was able to make ends meet doing odd jobs there for a few years – until Chuck Norris discovered his talent and hired him as a stuntman for the Vietnam War action film ‘Mission In Action’. ” (1984). But his short appearance does not qualify as his first film role, after all he is only a stunt double – and therefore deliberately not recognizable as Van Damme.
“Monaco Forever” (1984) by William A. Levey (director of the major disco film “Skatetown, USA”, which in turn features the cinema debut of Patrick Swayze) is more of a short film, but lasts 48 minutes it is more of a short film – and was not shown on the big screen. By the way, his role is listed in the IMDb simply as “Gay Karate Man”. The action star made his first ‘real’ cinema appearance in 1984 – but to discover him you have to concentrate on the background…
Van Damme’s first cinema appearance
Van Damme’s first film role required his dance training rather than his martial arts skills. In Joel Silberg’s brightly colored breakdance filmHack‘” you will see Jean-Claude Van Damme as a background dancer at a dance battle in Venice Beach!
In a shirt and shorts, Van Damme stands on the right side of the screen among countless other dancers (including Michel Qissi) – and although he usually holds back with great emotions in his action roles, he dances as exuberantly as if he were having the time of his life!
Unfortunately, “Breakin’” – like the completely free-to-play sequel “Breakin’ 2 – Electric Boogaloo” from “American Fighter” director Sam Firstenberg, released the same year – is currently not available on German streaming services. But if you get your hands on one of the sold-out DVDs or Blu-rays, we definitely recommend the breakdance double act that will immediately put you in a good mood, and not just because of Van Damme’s exuberant film debut. In any case, Van Damme could have done worse than starting his career right away with one of the best dance films of the 80s!