How did Jean-Claude Van Damme get into acting?

Search: jean claude van damme

Why: You know this gif? (I don't know really how to post gifs, but you can click on it to see it in its full glory... maybe.)

It's from a 1984 movie called Breakin', which I watched last night with Ariana and Cody. That is the extent of his role - he's part of a crowd on the Venice boardwalk watching some hardcore breakdancing. (The girl in the pink thong is the star.)

Answer: Born 1960 in Brussels as Jean-Claude Camille Francois Van Varenberg, he grew up doing Shotokan karate, eventually earning his black belt. He competed on the Belgian Karate Team and in other martial arts competitions, eventually forming a style that consists of kickboxing, Shotokan karate, Muay Thai, and Taekwondo.

From 16 to 21, he studied ballet, describing it as "an art, but... also one of the most difficult sports." He was also a weightlifter, and he won the Mr. Belgium bodybuilding title in 1978.

In 1982, he and a pal moved to America to try to make it big as action stars, and both were cast as extras in Breakin'. In 1985, he was cast as the villain in No Retreat, No Surrender, and then finally in his breakout role in Bloodsport in 1988.

Source: Wikipedia, TheVanDammeFans

The More You Know: I was also curious about some of the other actors in Breakin', since the only other person I recognized was Christopher "Shooter McGavin" MacDonald.

• Michael "Boogaloo Shrimp" Chambers went on to dance as the Urkelbot in "Family Matters" and as Good Robot Bill at the end of Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey, which I think everyone knows is my favorite movie of all time.

He has been in some music videos for folks like Chaka Khan and Sugar Ray.

• Adolfo "Shabba-Doo" Quinones was one of the founders of the dance style commonly known as locking. He danced in Xanadu, Tango & Cash, and an episode of "Miami Vice" He was a primary dancer and main choreographer for Madonna's Who's That Girl? Tour in 1987, and he choreographed Three Six Mafia's performance at the Oscars the year they won.
• Lucina Dickey was third runner-up for Miss Kansas. She recently appeared as a judge on TLC's Master of Dance.

All three reprised their roles in Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo, which I plan to watch sometime rill soon. Stay tuned.