Jean-Claude Van Damme, renowned martial artist and action film star, had a personal life as colorful and dramatic as the characters he played on screen.
Jean-Claude Van Damme was born on October 18, 1960 in the picturesque town of Berchem-Sint-Agathe, Brussels, Belgium. He is a Belgian who does not profess his religious beliefs, but there is no doubt that he believes in the power of the spinning kick.
Van Dam’s father, Eugene Van Wallenberg, was an accountant, and his mother, Eliana Van Wallenberg, was a homemaker. He had one brother and one sister, but details about them are as elusive as ninjas in the night. Thanks to his father’s foresight, his early education was as colorful as his martial arts skills, and he began studying Shotokan karate at the age of 10.
His formal education consisted mainly of grueling training, where he honed his skills in karate, taekwondo, and bodybuilding. These trainings laid the foundation for his future success in Hollywood, where he became a household name and a master of splits.
Jean-Claude Van Damme’s love life has attracted much attention. He was married five times and had marriages with four women, including marriages with famous women such as Gladys Portugus and Darcy LaPierre.
Maria Rodriguez
Jean-Claude Van Damme’s first marriage was to Maria Rodriguez in 1980. The two married in Brussels, where Jean-Claude Van Damme was born and raised. The marriage lasted four years and ended in divorce in 1984. This was a pivotal moment for Jean-Claude Van Damme, who decided to give up his professional martial arts career and move to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career.
Van Dam married Venezuelan-born Maria Rodriguez on August 25, 1980, just before he decided to end his professional martial arts career and move from Brussels to Los Angeles. He worked various jobs in Los Angeles, such as carpet layer, limousine driver, and pizza deliveryman, while taking English classes. Eventually, he found a job as a bouncer at a club, on the recommendation of Chuck Norris. However, the marriage did not survive this transition, and they divorced in 1984.
Despite the end of his first marriage, Van Damme’s career continued to flourish. He became a successful actor and martial artist, starring in several action films.
Cynthia Derderian
In 1985, Jean-Claude Van Damme married Cynthia Derderian, but their marriage was short-lived and they divorced a year later. During this period, Jean-Claude Van Damme began to become famous in Hollywood, starring in “Bloodsport” and”Taekwondo athlete”
Despite the end of his marriage to Cynthia, Van Damme’s acting career continued to flourish. He landed his first acting role in 1985, the same year he married Cynthia, but their relationship soon ended. Despite this, Van Damme’s career continued to flourish, solidifying his status as a successful and sought-after actor in the action film industry.
Gladys Portugs
In 1987, Jean-Claude Van Damme married Gladys Portugs, a bodybuilder, fitness competitor, and actress. The couple had two children, Christopher Van Damme (born 1987), also known as Chris Van Damme, and Bianca Brie (born 1990). However, their marriage faced challenges, including infidelity, which led to their divorce in 1992.
Despite their turbulent relationship, fraught with rumors of infidelity and brief separations, Jean-Claude and Gladys reconciled in 1995. Their marriage ultimately ended in divorce in 1997. Despite the challenges, Gladys and Jean-Claude remained on good terms and continued to raise their children together.
Darcy LaPierre
In 1994, Jean-Claude Van Damme married actress and model Darcy Lapierre in a grand wedding in Bangkok, Thailand. They had a son, Nicolas Van Valenburg (born in 1995). However, their marriage was short-lived and they divorced in 1997. During this period, Jean-Claude Van Damme had an extramarital affair with Kylie Minogue while filming the movie Street Fighter.
Despite their shared interests, including a love of barrel racing, their marriage ended in 1997. Shange and Darcey denied being in a romantic relationship with Minogue, claiming they were just friends. This contradicted previous reports and interviews in which he admitted to having an affair. The controversy surrounding the scandal continues to haunt Shange.
Gladys Portugs
After his divorce from Darcy LaPierre, Jean-Claude Van Damme rekindled his love for Gladys Portugs. They remarried in 1999 and have remained together ever since, navigating relationship challenges together and celebrating more than 20 years of marriage.
Jean-Claude Van Damme’s personal life has been full of ups and downs, with multiple marriages and reconciliations. His current wife is American bodybuilder Gladys Portugs, and the two initially married in 1987, but their marriage ended in 1992 due to Jean-Claude’s affair with Darcy LaPierre. Despite the setback, Jean-Claude and Portugs got back together and remarried in 1999, proving that love can withstand the toughest of circumstances. Their marriage has withstood the test of time, and they still live happily together.
Jean-Claude Van Damme and Gladys Portugs have faced challenges in their marriage, but they have remained a strong and resilient couple. They have built a successful family, and their children, Chris Van Damme and Brigitte Bianca Van Damme, have followed in their parents’ footsteps into the entertainment industry. Despite divorce rumors in 2015, the couple chose to work out their differences, further solidifying their enduring love and commitment to one another. Their relationship is a testament to the strength of their bond.
