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Jean-Claude Van Damme is a man of many talents. Apart from being a world-renowned martial artist, he is also a legend when it comes to minting out several highly acclaimed action movies. The Belgium-born Van Damme landed in Los Angeles with big dreams, but the reality was far different from what he had expected.

He initially struggled to get roles and landed some small bits here and there. But 1988’s Bloodsport changed everything for the actor.

Jean-Claude Van Damme in Bloodsport | Credits: The Cannon Group

He got the much-needed recognition after this movie, and now several decades later, he’s considered one of the most iconic actors of his generation. However, behind this glitz and glamour, the actor has been really struggling medically and is currently dealing with rapid-cycling bipolar disorder.

Jean-Claude Van Damme and His Ongoing Medical Challenges

After his 1988 hit Bloodsport, Jean-Claude Van Damme was riding high on the success.

Jean Claude Van Damme’s youngest son is facing several charges, including aggravated assault, after allegedly holding his roommate at knifepoint last weekend in anger that the victim called the police about an incident earlier that day, People confirms.

Authorities in Tempe, Arizona, claim 21-year-old Nicolas Van Varenberg refused to let his roommate leave their apartment early on Sunday after the victim had let concerned officers into the residence to perform a welfare check.

Police first responded to the scene after Varenberg allegedly punched the side of an elevator and suffered a bloody gash to his hand, according to a police statement obtained by People.

Darcy Lapier interview on Rodeo Girls, a new series that goes inside the world of barrel racing following five female racers. Rodeo Girls has a two-part series premiere Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 11pm Et/Pt and Thursday, Dec. 12 at 10pm Et/Pt. “I’ve been hurt quite a few times,” says Darcy Lapier. “I had a compound fracture to my left arm. I’ve broken probably three or four fingers and toes. I’ve cracked a rib. I had three concussions.” She’s one of the five brazen beauties who are featured in A&E’s new six-episode reality series Rodeo Girls. Darcy Lapier’s name may ring … Continue reading →

The post Darcy Lapier interview for Rodeo Girls on A&E, an inside look at barrel racers appeared first on Channel Guide Magazine.

We have added a set of pictures from the red carpet of the 82nd Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade, benefiting the Toys For Tots Foundation. Stars turned up in force for the festive charity event. Taylor Spreitler, Melissa Joan Hart, Sean Kanan, Buzz Aldrin, Sammi Hanratty, Richie Sambora, Chris Daughtry, Ace Young, Diana DeGarmo, Ryan Newman, Angell Conwell, Olivia Holt, Valerie Harper, Billy Ray Cyrus, Montel Williams, Jerry Mathers, China Anne McClain, Sierra McClain, Lauryn McClain, Doug Davidson, Dylan Riley Snyder, Hunter King, Darcy Lapier, Ashlee Keating, Jillian Rose Reed, Melisssa Ordway, Tony Dow, Katherine McNamara, Kenny Loggins and William Shatner were photographed on the red carpet.View 30 photos from the event by clicking through the numbers below.Above: Ryan Newman...

A&E Network is getting into some reality TV steer wrestling and saddle-bronc riding. The network said today it has ordered a series from The Weinstein Company about female rodeo competitors. The series, which has the working title Rodeo Girls, was described last year at Mipcom as “Ice Road Truckers meets Housewives.” A&E has put in an eight-episode order. “We are thrilled to be working with The Weinstein Company on Rodeo Girls. The women of the competitive barrel racing world are formidable athletes living sensational lives and we are excited for our viewers to go along for the wild ride,” said David McKillop, Evp Programming at A&E Network and Bio Channel, in a statement Friday. The series is executive produced by Meryl Poster, Barbara Schneeweiss, Roe Baker and Darcy Lapier for Weinstein and Stephen Land for Jupiter Entertainment. Executive producers for A&E are McKillop, Elaine Frontain Bryant,...

While doing press for the upcoming The Expendables 2, Jean-Claude Van Damme got a chance to reflect on his Hollywood career while chatting with British newspaper The Guardian -- including how 1994's Street Fighter let to a fling with Kylie Minogue.

"Yes. Ok. Yes, yes, yes. It happened. I was in Thailand, we had an affair," he admits. "Sweet kiss, beautiful lovemaking. It would be abnormal not to have had an affair, she's so beautiful and she was there in front of me every day with a beautiful smile, simpatico, so charming, she wasn't acting like a big star. I knew Thailand very well, so I showed her my Thailand. She's a great lady."

Related: First Look -- 'Expendables 2'

Someone who probably wasn't too enthusiastic about Jean-Claude showing Kylie his Thailand?

Darcy Lapier, who he was married to at the time. They divorced in 1997.

Darcy Lapier was a stunner who turned heads as a Hawaiian Tropic model. She is also a great example of personal reinvention (and still a stunner), now the subject of E!'s True Hollywood Story airing October 7. Lapier first married her boss, Hawaiian Tropic honcho Ron Rice. Then she caught the eye of Belgian action-star Jean-Claude Van Damme, with whom she had a son, Nicholas. Her third marriage to Herbalife founder Mark Hughes, who died suddenly at age 44, ended less than a year after their nuptials. Today, Lapier, a mother of three, has transformed herself into an award-winning professional rodeo barrel racer in her home state of Oregon. You'll be seeing more of the intrepid athlete whose...

Movie tough-guy Jean-Claude Van Damme hopes his latest big-screen outing will reunite him with his estranged teenage son. The Universal Soldier star has no contact with 13-year-old Nicholas since his bitter divorce from fourth wife Darcy Lapier ended with him losing a custody battle.

He is adamant the teenager is even banned from contacting his siblings, Van Damme's other children - Kristopher, 21, and 18-year-old Bianca. But the musclebound movie star is pinning his hopes on a reunion.

The actor is about to return to the big screen in semi-autobiographical film Jcvd - and wants the movie to prove to his youngest son that his father is not a failure.

Van Damme tells British newspaper The Sun, "The only way I can bring my son back is to be successful again as they were saying to him, 'Your father is a loser'.

"The custody case is very painful. The legal system in California is crazy. For me not to see my kid is a disaster. You cannot do that to nobody. It has got to the point where Nicholas cannot communicate with my other children on Facebook.

"My other son is making a movie and wants my youngest son to be in the film because he is thinking about him. So they were communicating about the script. Someone found out and he was cut off."...

Jean-Claude Van Damme has vowed to resurrect his career to win back his son. The action legend's personal life and career hit rock bottom in the 90s and after a nasty divorce from his fourth wife Darcy Lapier in 1997, he lost access to his youngest son, 13-year-old Nicholas.

The star - dubbed the "Muscles from Brussels" in his 80s heyday - told Britain's The Sun newspaper: "The only way I can bring my son back is to be successful again as they were saying to him, 'Your father is a loser.'"

Jean-Claude includes elements of his own life in new semi-autobiographical action thriller "Jvcd," including his custody battle.

The 48-year-old actor - who is not allowed to speak about details of his divorce from Darcy or their custody battle for Nicholas - hopes his resurgence will help him achieve his one main goal.