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Jean-Claude Van Damme

 Martial artist and actor, (born October 18, 1960)

Jean-Claude Van Damme is a martial arts specialist and film star who is best known for his long series of actions films. His Belgian origins, his bodybuilder physique and the commercial success of his films have given rise to his nicknames"The Muscles from Brussels" and " the King of the Belgians".

Van Damme broke into the Hollywood mainstream in the 1990s, often working with famous foreign directors. His films include Kickboxer (1989), Double Impact(1991), Universal Soldier(1992), Nowhere to Run(1993), Hard Target(1993) and Sudden Death (1995). His most critically-acclaimed work is Timecop (1994).

Many of his roles are doppelgänger or “Lazarus” characters, which are unusual in action films.

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