‘Despite being an action star, he is very insecure and shy’: Jean-Claude Van Damme’s downfalls and comebacks
Journalist Lorenzo Ayuso explores the work of the Belgian actor in a new book that argues that he deserves to be regarded as both an actor and an auteur
Ciudad Real Airport, a result of Spain's property bubble era, was an abandoned airport costing up to €1 billion which later sold for a fraction of its value but provided the location for The Epic Split (2013) - an advertisement starring Jean-Claude Van Damme performing the iconic spagat, a 180-degree leg split between two trucks. The video garnered 127 million views on YouTube, rivaling his most famous films like Kickboxer (1989), Street Fighter (1994), and Universal Soldier (1992).
Cultural journalist and filmmaker Lorenzo Ayuso delves into Van Damme's career with his nearly 700-page book, Van Damme: The Vitruvian Hero. The cover art features Van Damme doing the splits, a nod to Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man, a drawing that did not account for Van Damme's athletic flexibility. Ayuso identifies four distinct periods in Van Damme's career: Kumite (1986-91), Deluxe (1991-99), Via Crucis (2001-08), and In Pro Per (2008-18).
He highlights how the duality of Van Damme's persona, balancing contradictions and tensions, is reflected in his filmography.
Ayuso's journey paralleled Van Damme's as a fan, starting with Kickboxer as a child and exploring martial arts, only to retreat from the genre during adolescence. However, his perspective shifted in 2008 with Van Damme's autofiction film, JCVD, which humanized the action star, revealing his struggles with cocaine addiction, marriages, and unprofessional behavior. Critics and viewers praised the film, marking a significant comeback for Van Damme.
The author argues that Van Damme deserves recognition as an actor-auteur, capable of leaving a distinct mark on his films even without directing or writing. While working behind the camera, Van Damme made his directorial debut with The Quest (1996). Ayuso emphasizes Van Damme's unique blend of martial arts and European influences, contrasting him with typical American action heroes. His films often feature recurring themes of doppelgängers, symbolizing internal conflicts and the struggle for stardom.
In the 1990s, Van Damme experienced a cocaine-fueled epiphany while promoting Hard Target (1998), writing 80 pages about his emotional state in his hotel room. This episode underscores his gender fluidity in screen persona and the destructive spiral of his personal life during that decade. The spagat, a symbol of balance and precision, serves as a metaphor for Van Damme's career - a testament to his ability to transcend labels and redefine himself as an artist.
Written by urgent.news from El Pais English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
