Jean-Claude Van Damme: Revelations about his family life

Invited by Audrey Crespo-Mara in the portrait of the week of “Sept à quatre”, Jean-Claude Van Damme, 64, delivered sincere and touching confidences about his family life. The Belgian actor, legend of martial arts in the cinema, first spoke of a “terrific” life before expressing his regrets concerning his children. “I lost the relationship with my children,” he said emotionally. “I don’t think my children like me very much at the moment,” he added, visibly affected.

For Jean-Claude Van Damme, this family gap can be explained by his career and his past choices: “When I succeeded, I gave everything, and they will not understand it, even when I am dead, they will not not understand it.” He also spoke of his absence in their daily lives: “My wife is fine, but my children are burned out. I don’t know if it will be fixed, it’s too far away, they are 38, 34 and 28.”

The actor also reveals the complexity of their current situation. “They are still under my roof, and I maintain, they do not work too much,” he confided. “Because they all want to be actors, I said, “We’re going to make it!” And I was wrong. I wonder if they're mad at me for that.” A bitter observation. He ends up concluding: “A lot of friends tell me: “Your children, they admire you, but there’s a little jealousy.” And that pisses me off.”