Editing Jean-Claude Van Damme (section)

=== 1982 to 1988: Early works and breakthrough ===
In 1982, he and childhood friend [[Michel Qissi]] moved to the United States in the hope of working as actors. They did a variety of jobs to support themselves. Their first job working on a film as extras in the hip hop dance film ''[[Breakin']]'' (1984), made by [[The Cannon Group, Inc.|Cannon Films]]; they are seen dancing in the background at a dance demonstration.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.worldation.com/stories/muscles-brussels-story-jean-claude-van-damme/2/|title=The muscles from Brussels - the story of Jean-Claude Van Damme {{!}} Worldation|date=9 October 2017|work=Worldation|access-date=9 April 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

Around that time he developed a friendship with action martial art film star [[Chuck Norris]]. They started sparring together, and Van Damme started to work as a bouncer at a bar named Woody's Wharf, owned by Norris.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bjjee.com/articles/jean-claude-van-damme-chuck-norris-training-together/|title=Jean-Claude Van Damme and Chuck Norris training together|date=4 May 2017|work=Bjj Eastern Europe|access-date=9 April 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> He also supplemented his income as a limousine driver and private karate instructor.

He described his early days in the United States as being particularly difficult – excluding $2,000, he had placed all of his money from the sale of his gym into a European bank;<ref name=bh1z/> thus, he struggled financially.<ref name=Polow1>Polowy, K. [https://uk.news.yahoo.com/bloodsport-jean-claude-van-damme-behind-the-scenes-160011995.html "'Bloodsport' at 35: How a desperate Jean-Claude Van Damme begged his way into the action film that made him a star"], ''[[Yahoo! News]]'', published 24 February 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.</ref> To ensure his own emotional wellbeing, he would go for runs every night in Santa Monica. After that, he would train at the world-renowned [[Gold's Gym]]. This routine reportedly helped him survive for many years. He actively participated in casting calls and had a specific routine. On Wednesdays, he would purchase the Drama-Logue magazine; then Thursday mornings, he would send out his picture and resume in response to advertisements. He was willing to try anything to achieve success, even going so far as to fabricate a story. He would call movie studios and claim to be an actor from Brussels with an investor from Hong Kong. He also instructed a friend to play along and act as if they wanted him to star in a movie and were willing to invest money, but required additional funding. Armed with this, he approached producers and suddenly found that all his phone calls were being answered. Of course, his intention was simply to meet the person and put his name out there, as opposed to securing illegitimate deals.<ref name=bh1z/>

In the 1984 action film ''[[Missing in Action (film)|Missing in Action]]'' starring Norris, which was also released by [[The Cannon Group, Inc.|Cannon Films]], Van Damme is credited in the stunt team crew.<ref>{{cite AV media |title=Missing In Action |date=1984 |last=Zito |first=Joseph |type=VHS |language=en |publisher=MGM/UA |isbn=0-7928-0782-0}}</ref> That same year he also had a role in the comedy short film ''[[Monaco Forever]].<ref>{{Citation|last=Levey|first=William A.|title=Monaco Forever|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087739/|others=Charles Pitt, Nancy Brock, Daniele Romer|access-date=9 April 2018}}</ref>''<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/1995/02/17/van-dammes-first-film/|title=Van Damme's first film|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=27 August 2018|language=en}}</ref>

[[Corey Yuen]]'s martial arts film ''[[No Retreat, No Surrender]],'' which premiered On 2 May 1986 in [[Los Angeles]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/57425-NO-RETREAT-NO-SURRENDER?cxt=filmography|title=AFI{{!}}Catalog|website=catalog.afi.com|access-date=3 January 2020}}</ref> was his first sizeable role when he was cast as the Russian villain. It starred [[Kurt McKinney]], and was released through [[New World Pictures]].<ref>{{Citation|title=No Retreat, No Surrender Blu-ray|url=http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/No-Retreat-No-Surrender-Blu-ray/158610/#Overview|access-date=27 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=No Retreat, No Surrender|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/no_retreat_no_surrender/|language=en|access-date=27 August 2018}}</ref> McKinney stars as Jason Stillwell, a U.S. teenager who learns karate and defends his martial arts [[dojo]] against a Soviet martial artist played by Van Damme.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://cinapse.co/no-retreat-no-surrender-an-endearing-the-karate-kid-clone-6c4a42fc914f|title=NO RETREAT, NO SURRENDER: An Endearing THE KARATE KID Clone|date=21 February 2017|work=Cinapse|access-date=27 August 2018|archive-date=26 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221126200819/https://cinapse.co/no-retreat-no-surrender-an-endearing-the-karate-kid-clone-6c4a42fc914f|url-status=dead}}</ref> Both Vann Damme and McKinney were set to also star in ''[[No Retreat, No Surrender 2]],'' but backed out.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Keith Strandberg interview: No Retreat No Surrender|language=en|work=Den of Geek|url=http://www.denofgeek.com/uk/movies/no-retreat-no-surrender/49131/keith-strandberg-interview-no-retreat-no-surrender|access-date=24 July 2018}}</ref>

He worked for director [[John McTiernan]] for the film ''[[Predator (film)|Predator]]'' (1987) as an early (eventually abandoned) version of the titular alien, before being removed and replaced by [[Kevin Peter Hall]].<ref name="bleeds">{{cite news|title=If It Bleeds, We Can Kill It|last=Haufrect|first=Ian T|publisher=[[20th Century Fox]]|year=2001}}</ref> As the first choice to play the titular [[Predator (fictional species)|Predator]] character, with the intent that he would use his martial arts skills to make the alien an agile, [[ninja]]-like hunter, but after few days shot, he left the film. It was reported that he constantly complained about the monster suit being too hot and causing him to pass out; he allegedly also voiced reservations about only appearing on camera in the suit. Additionally, it became apparent that a more physically imposing actor was needed to make the creature appear threatening against the team of soldiers. The role eventually went to Kevin Peter Hall.<ref>''Haufrect, Ian T. (2001). If It Bleeds, We Can Kill It. Predator DVD: [[20th Century Fox]].''</ref> After ''Predator'' was a success, Van Damme said that he appreciated the movie and that he had no regrets about missing that role.

Van Damme's breakout film was ''[[Bloodsport (film)|Bloodsport]]'', which opened on 26 February 1988, based on the alleged true story of [[Frank Dux]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/60095-BLOODSPORT?cxt=filmography|title=AFI{{!}}Catalog|website=catalog.afi.com|access-date=3 January 2020}}</ref> It was shot on a $1.5-million budget for Cannon.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-05-01-me-3111-story.html|title=NINJA: Hero or Master Fake? : Others Kick Holes in Fabled Past of Woodland Hills Martial Arts Teacher|last=Johnson|first=John|date=1 May 1988|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=27 August 2018|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Bloodsport#tab=summary|title=Bloodsport (1988) - Financial Information|work=The Numbers|access-date=27 August 2018}}</ref> The film is about [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] Captain Frank Dux (played by Van Damme), trained from his youth in the ways of [[ninjutsu]] by Senzo Tanaka, who takes the place of Tanaka's deceased son Shingo in the illegal martial-arts tournament Kumite in [[Hong Kong]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/johannacox/an-interview-with-the-man-who-inspired-and-paid-for-some-of|title=15 Things You Didn't Know About "Bloodsport"|work=BuzzFeed|access-date=27 August 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media |date= 1 October 2002|title=Bloodsport|medium= film|language= en, fr, ja|publisher= Warner Home Video|id=  0 85393 77442 4|isbn= 0-7907-6540-3}}</ref> It became a U.S. box-office hit in the spring of 1988. Producer Mark Di Salle said he was looking for "a new martial arts star who was a ladies' man, [but Van Damme] appeals to both men and women. He's an American hero who fights for justice the American way and kicks the stuffing out of the bad guys."<ref name="jean">{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1989/08/27/punch-lineage/|title=Punch Lineage|last1=Thompson|first1=Anne|author-link1=Anne Thompson (film critic)|date=27 August 1989|website=[[The Chicago Tribune]]|access-date=15 October 2016}}</ref> In reality, Van Damme had begged for a starring role; at the point of casting, he was homeless, sleeping in cars and garages, and sometimes had to resort to stealing food to survive.<ref name=Polow1/>  Also in 1988, he played another Russian villain in ''[[Black Eagle (1988 film)|Black Eagle]]'', opposite [[Sho Kosugi]].<ref>{{Citation|title=Black Eagle Blu-ray|url=http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Black-Eagle-Blu-ray/190192/|access-date=27 August 2018}}</ref>