Jean-Claude Van Dammeis a true action movie legend who has continually popped up across film and television in cameo roles. As a talented martial artist with incredible kickboxing skills,Van Damme has the fighting skillsto back up his action star persona and has punched, kicked, and fought his way through Hollywood productions as well as international movies. While Van Damme’s breakout role came in the late 1980s in the cult favoriteBloodsport, this was just the tip of the iceberg when it came to his vast and varied filmography.
Not just known as an action hero,Van Damme has also excelled at playing villains, as well as fictionalized versions of himself in self-referential movies and TV series. With an enjoyable and knowing sense of humor,Van Damme was never afraid to poke fun at his legacyand lean into the over-the-top martial arts stylings that made him such a star in the first place. As one of thegreatest action movie starsof them all, it’s always exciting to see Van Damme pop up in a cameo role.
7Corporal Vs. Napoleon (2011)
Jean-Claude Van Damme as Himself
In what just might beJean-Claude Van Damme’s most absurd cameo appearance, he played himself inCorporal vs. Napoleon, a Russian-Ukrainian comedy set in the early 19th century. However, after audiences suspend their disbelief and accept Van Damme’s appearances, this was also a fun little moment in an otherwise forgettable and lackluster movie. As a sequel to the 2008 comedyHitler Goes Kaput!, this cameo was truly for Van Damme completionists only.
Van Damme’s appearances lasted little more than a minute and saw him getting into a quickly escalating confrontation. Russian media reported that Van Damme took on this role free of charge (viaVokrug) and was happy to accept having his lodging paid so he could spend some time in Kyiv, Ukraine. Van Damme was not the only notable name among the cast of this film, as the future leader of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, also had a starring role as Napoleon Bonaparte.
6Beur Sur La Ville (2011)
Jean-Claude Van Damme as Colonel Merot
Belgian actor Jean-Claude Van Damme spoke in his mother tongue for his cameo role in the French comedyBeur sur la ville. In his brief role as Colonel Merot, Van Damme tapped into his tough guy persona to portray a no-nonsense yet bumbling military man. While this role may not be as well known as Van Damme’s most iconic cameos, it was a strong example of his often underrated talent for physical comedy and slapstick styling.
Beur sur la villewas a thought-provoking comedy that dealt with police prejudices and racism within contemporary society. The hilarious setup involved a young Frenchman of Maghrebi origin named Khalid Belkacem who has failed all his examples and pursues his last option of joining the police force. With some clever humor, a satirical slant, andan enjoyable cameo appearance from Van Damme, action-comedy lovers should seek out this underseen gem.
5Robot Chicken (2005 - Present)
The Adult Swim animated sketch seriesRobot Chickenhas featured countless celebrity guestsplaying themselves in cameo roles. One hilarious example was Jean-Claude Van Damme showing up in season 4 episode “Maurice Was Caught,” where he was playing himself filming a Volvo ad while doing his signature splits move in between two moving trucks. However, as Van Damme boasted about the strength of his “pubic muscles,” he was hit in the groin by a passing giraffe that caused him to writhe in pain.
This was a hilarious brief appearance from Van Damme, who also lent his voice to several more characters in this episode ofRobot Chicken, portraying Count Dracula and Rhett Butler in different skits. As an actor who has excelled across all types of mediums, it’s only appropriate that Van Damme also showcase his comedic skills within the world of animation. With some big laughs at his own expense, Van Damme got the most out of hisRobot Chickenappearance.
Robot Chicken
Cast
In this stop-motion animated adult comedy show, a variety of original characters, pop culture icons, and notable real-life figures perform a variety of comedy sketches. At the heart of it all is Robot Chicken, a cyborg chicken reanimated by the fittingly-named Mad Scientist.
4Jian Bing Man (2015)
The Chinese superhero parody movieJian Bing Manwas full of well-known actors playing fictionalized versions of themselves, although Jean-Claude Van Damme was the only name that was immediately recognizable to the average Western viewer.Jian Bing Manstarred writer and director Da Peng as a version of himself who, while working as a poor street vendor, discovers he gains superpowers from pancakes. Released under the English titlePancake Man,Da Peng’s quest for fortune and fame eventually sees him making his own movie.
This movie-within-a-movie was also titledJian Bing Manand saw Da Peng make the film with the assistance of various celebrities, including Van Damme. As the two face off in an epic battle against one another, Van Damme can’t help but admire Da Peng’s fighting skills and compliment him on his action-hero credentials. This was trulyone of Van Damme’s funniest cameos, filled with hilarious one-liners, such as when Da Peng asked if he was stronger than Iron Man, to which JCDV replied, “Iron Man never kicked my ass.”
3Las Vegas (2003 - 2006)
Yet another example of Jean-Claude Van Damme leaning into his status as an action movie legend was his appearance as himself inLas Vegas. This comedy-drama focused on a team working at the Montecito, a fictional hotel and casino on the Las Vegas Strip, and all the issues that arise in this eventful location.Van Damme’s appearance came in the season 1 episode “Die Fast, Die Furious,”in which the Montecito was a filming location for the Hollywood star’s next movie.
While this was a standard set-up for the average Van Damme cameo appearance, things took a surprising turn when JCDV died while filming a dangerous stunt, a tragic event that the security teams began to doubt was not an accident. With a closer disclaimer that stated, ““No Jean-Claude Van Dammes were actually injured or killed during the filming of this episode,” the cameo appearance inLas Vegaswas truly one of this star’s most playful brief roles.
Las Vegas
Las Vegas is a crime drama that ran from 2003 to 2008 on NBC. Starring James Caan and Josh Duhamel, Las Vegas centers on workers of a fictional hotel casino called the Montecito as they deal with the intense action of the Las Vegas Strip. Gary Scott Thompson created the series and wrote the majority of the episodes as well.
2Friends (1994 - 2004)
As one of the defining action heroes of the 1990s, it was only right that Jean-Claude Van Damme popped up in one of the biggest sitcoms of this era with a cameo appearance inFriends. Van Damme memorably caused a rift within the friend group as Monica spotted the man she called “The Muscles from Brussels” on set, although she was too nervous to talk to him. Instead, Rachel offered to ask him out for her, but Van Damme was more interested in dating her, and even though Monica said she was okay with it initially, she soon felt betrayed.
This brief appearance from Van Damme in the season 2 episode “The One After the Superbowl” showcased just how much of a star he was during the 1990s, as other guest stars included the likes of Brad Pitt, Ben Stiller, and Julia Roberts. WhileVan Damme only appeared onscreen in one scene, the characters discussed him throughout the episodes as Rachel and Monica’s conflict continued into Central Perk, where Rachel told the rest of the group about her date, which she said ended up with her and Van Damme hanging out with Drew Barrymore.
Van Damme’s appearance inFriendsfeatured several references to his incredible career as Monica gushed over his incredible performance inTime Cop, asserting that he “totally changed time!” While it’s uncertain exactly what movie he was supposed to be filming when Rachel and Monica first spotted him on set, seeing him dressed in a military outfit standing beside an overturned car hinted it was going to be another Van Damme action movie classic. As one ofFriends’most enjoyable cameo roles, Van Damme got to show off his often underappreciated comedic timing with this brief appearance.
Friends
Friends is a television sitcom that debuted in 1994, revolving around six young New Yorkers navigating the complexities of adulthood. The series highlights their friendship as they support each other through personal and professional challenges, encapsulating the ups and downs of life in a comedic and relatable manner.
1Last Action Hero (1993)
The old saying that less is more was never truer than in Jean-Claude Van Damme’s incredible cameo in Arnold Schwarzenegger’sLast Action Hero. This blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment came as Schwarzenegger’s character of Detective Jack Slater gate-crashed his own movie premiere and ran head-first into real-life stars like Chevy Chase and Damon Wayans.Among the stars seen on the red carpet was Van Damme, who was being interviewed by a reporter amid all the commotion.
This hilarious cameo leaned into the self-referential meta-humor ofLast Action Hero, a film that blended fact and fiction in a way that was truly ahead of its time.Last Action Herowas one of three films that Van Damme and Schwarzenegger were involved with together, with the others beingPredatorandThe Expendables 2, although shockingly, the two have never appeared in the same shot together. Van Damme’s cameo inLast Action Herowas an early example of his willingness to play with his legacy, a tendency that reached its peak with his satirical filmJCVD.
It was especially exciting to see Van Damme appear in a Schwarzenegger movie, as the two stars' history dates back to the beginning of his Hollywood career. While Van Damme was replaced from his role, he was first cast as the deadly Predator, where it was planned that he would use his martial arts skills to fight as a ninja-like foe. However, this did not work out, andVan Damme was fired from the role. SeeingJean-Claude Van Dammeat last appear in a Schwarzenegger movie all those years signaled just how far he had come in the years since.
Last Action Hero
Last Action Hero follows young Danny Madigan, who magically enters the world of his favorite action film through a special ticket. Inside the movie, he teams up with action hero Jack Slater, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, to battle cinematic villains. Directed by John McTiernan, the film blends reality and fiction, offering a whimsical take on action film tropes.
