Jean-Claude Van Damme, the iconic action hero of the 80s and 90s, is known for his impressive martial arts skills showcased in movies like Bloodsport and Universal Soldier.
With his signature spin kicks and splits punches, he has taken down countless adversaries, sparing only those fortunate enough to escape his ruthless crotch punches.
Unlike other action stars, Van Damme is not all talk and no action.
He is a real-life black belt in karate, having excelled in both semi-contact karate and full-contact kickboxing.
To achieve his remarkable flexibility, he even trained in ballet, an endeavor he claims to be one of the most demanding experiences of his life.
Such prowess makes him formidable in combat, as demonstrated when he challenged the much larger Steven Seagal, who promptly fled the scene.
Undeterred, Van Damme tracked him down and issued the challenge once more.
Even Sylvester Stallone, an esteemed action hero himself, has stated that Van Damme would have emerged victorious had the fight materialized.
However, every hero possesses a weakness, and for Van Damme, it was a tragic addiction that threatened to destroy him.
Let's delve into the gripping tale of the addiction that almost claimed Jean-Claude Van Damme's life.
VAN DAMME'S CAREER ON THE BRINK
According to Alex Godfrey of the Guardian, Van Damme's greatest adversaries were his own demons and copious amounts of cocaine.
Reportedly, the actor indulged in up to ten grams of the illicit substance daily, leading to grandiose delusions that nearly ruined his career.
Despite receiving a substantial $7 million for his role in the lackluster video game adaptation Street Fighter (1994), success went to his head.
He began demanding exorbitant fees akin to Jim Carrey's, resulting in a series of disappointments.
As Van Damme's cocaine addiction and arrogance spiraled out of control, he found himself in his fifth marriage and relegated to direct-to-DVD projects by the late 1990s.
However, his addiction posed a far greater threat than career setbacks.
A NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE
In a candid interview with EW in 1998, Van Damme recounted the harrowing incident that nearly claimed his life in a Hong Kong hotel room.
He described how, under the influence of cocaine, he poured out his problems, fears, and insecurities onto the back of a script, filling around 80 pages.
Overwhelmed, he nearly lost consciousness, feeling as if he was dying.
He witnessed his body lying motionless on the floor, experiencing a mix of coldness, heat, and fear.
In that moment, he felt neither male nor female, but an indescribable existence on the brink of death.
Ultimately, he managed to regain a sense of self, realizing he was not ready to face the afterlife.
Fortunately, this terrifying encounter served as a wake-up call for Van Damme.
He turned his life around, embracing fatherhood and finding happiness in his marriage.
While he still faced years of appearing in lesser-known films, he eventually reclaimed some of his former glory with critically acclaimed movies like JCVD (2008) and The Expendables 2 (2012), where he engaged in a memorable fight scene with Sylvester Stallone.
Jean-Claude Van Damme's battle with addiction is a testament to the human capacity for redemption and resilience.
Despite the devastating effects of his crippling addiction, he managed to overcome adversity and rebuild his life.
Today, he stands as a symbol of hope and triumph, reminding us that even the mightiest heroes can conquer their darkest demons.
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