Timecop is a 1994 American science fiction action film directed by Peter Hyams and co-written by Mike Richardson and Mark Verheiden . Richardson also served as executive producer. The film is based on Timecop , a story created by Richardson, written by Verheiden, and drawn by Ron Randall , which appeared in the anthology comic Dark Horse Comics , published by Dark Horse Comics . It is the first installment in the Timecop franchise .
84-433: The film stars Jean-Claude Van Damme as Max Walker, a police officer in 1994, with time travel having been made possible, and later a U.S. federal agent in 2004. It also stars Ron Silver as a corrupt politician and Mia Sara as Melissa Walker, the agent's wife. The story follows Walker's life as he fights time-travel crime and investigates the politician's plans. Timecop remains Van Damme's highest-grossing film as
168-600: A box-office flop . Also that year, Van Damme acted in the war film Legionnaire . Despite a $ 35 million budget, it was not released theatrically in the US, only overseas. In 1999, he starred in Universal Soldier: The Return , (1999), where he returns as Luc Deveraux . The movie did poorly at the box office debuting at #4. That year he also starred in Inferno (1999). Released in 2001, Replicant
252-412: A Belgian-French drama film starring Marie-Christine Barrault , and Rutger Hauer . In 1980, he caught the attention of Professional Karate Magazine publisher and editor Mike Anderson and multiple European champion Geert Lemmens. Both men tabbed Van Damme as an upcoming prospect. Van Damme retired from competition in 1982. During his early life, he sold flowers in restaurants, and got a loan to open
336-523: A Mr. Belgium bodybuilding title in 1978. At the age of 16, he took up ballet , which he studied for five years. According to Van Damme, ballet "is an art, but it's also one of the most difficult sports. If you can survive a ballet workout, you can survive a workout in any other sport." Later he took up both Taekwondo and Muay Thai . Among his acting heroes growing up were Charles Bronson , Bruce Lee , James Dean , Montgomery Clift , Steve McQueen , Jean-Paul Belmondo , and Sylvester Stallone . At
420-543: A U.S. teenager who learns karate and defends his martial arts dojo against a Soviet martial artist played by Van Damme. Both Vann Damme and McKinney were set to also star in No Retreat, No Surrender 2 , but backed out. He worked for director John McTiernan for the film Predator (1987) as an early (eventually abandoned) version of the titular alien, before being removed and replaced by Kevin Peter Hall . As
504-588: A black belt, but an Oscar." Also in 2008, he starred in Isaac Florentine 's The Shepherd: Border Patrol . He then reprised his role as Luc Deveraux alongside Dolph Lundgren in the 2009 film Universal Soldier: Regeneration , directed by John Hyams . The film was released theatrically in the Middle East and Southeast Asia and directly to video in the United States and other parts of
588-634: A comeback to fight former boxing Olympic gold-medalist Somluck Kamsing . The fight was a focal point in his ITV reality show Behind Closed Doors . The fight has been repeatedly postponed, with many critics doubting it will occur, especially due to the difficulty of booking the venue. In 2012, he acted in the Russian comedy film named Rzhevsky Versus Napoleon , and U.F.O. He starred in Dragon Eyes , Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning , and Six Bullets . Also that year, he starred as
672-414: A gym to save some money before his move to the United States. Aptly titled California Gym , it was opened in 1979 and catered to "karate, dancing, aerobics, bodybuilding – everything". Van Damme adds that "I wrote special training programs for people, and it was a very upbeat atmosphere with music". At its peak, California Gym was making $ 15,000 per month; "when I decided to sell my gym my father thought I
756-525: A lead actor (his second to break the $ 100 million barrier worldwide). Although met with mixed reviews, it is generally regarded by critics as one of Van Damme's best films. In 1863, Gainesville, Georgia , a time traveller with futuristic weapons slaughters five Confederate soldiers and steals their shipment of gold bullion . In 1994, the Justice Department funds the creation of the clandestine Time Enforcement Commission (TEC) to combat
840-586: A limousine driver and private karate instructor. He described his early days in the United States as being particularly difficult – excluding $ 2,000, he had placed all of his money from the sale of his gym into a European bank; thus, he struggled financially. To ensure his own emotional wellbeing, he would go for runs every night in Santa Monica. After that, he would train at the world-renowned Gold's Gym . This routine reportedly helped him survive for many years. He actively participated in casting calls and had
924-564: A match for the Belgium Lightweight Championship. Van Damme had a 1977 victory over Teugels. Teugels was coming off an impressive showing at the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations World Championships four months earlier, and was favored by some to win this match. According to reports, and Patrick Teugels' own interview (with photos), Teugels lost to Van Damme by TKO in the 1st round. Teugels
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#17327809522781008-423: A more physically imposing actor was needed to make the creature appear threatening against the team of soldiers. The role eventually went to Kevin Peter Hall. After Predator was a success, Van Damme said that he appreciated the movie and that he had no regrets about missing that role. Van Damme's breakout film was Bloodsport , which opened on 26 February 1988, based on the alleged true story of Frank Dux . It
1092-478: A movie and were willing to invest money, but required additional funding. Armed with this, he approached producers and suddenly found that all his phone calls were being answered. Of course, his intention was simply to meet the person and put his name out there, as opposed to securing illegitimate deals. In the 1984 action film Missing in Action starring Norris, which was also released by Cannon Films , Van Damme
1176-413: A new partner, Sarah Fielding. Walker and Fielding travel to 1994 to investigate a time disturbance and discover a younger McComb being bought out of a computer chip manufacturing company by his partner Jack Parker. The 2004 McComb arrives to prevent his 1994 self from accepting the deal, advising him the chip will soon be worth billions, and cautioning that they must not touch as the same matter cannot occupy
1260-405: A score of 48% based on reviews from 17 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale. Critics were mixed on Timecop , citing its various plot holes and inconsistencies. Roger Ebert called Timecop a low-rent Terminator . Richard Harrington of The Washington Post said, "For once, Van Damme's accent
1344-642: A small role in The Exam , a Turkish comedy-drama film directed by Ömer Faruk Sorak . Also that year he starred in Until Death . Van Damme returned to the mainstream with the limited theatrical release of the 2008 film JCVD , which received positive reviews. Time Magazine named his performance in the film the second best of the year (after Heath Ledger 's The Joker in The Dark Knight ), having previously stated that Van Damme "deserves not
1428-511: A specific routine. On Wednesdays, he would purchase the Drama-Logue magazine; then Thursday mornings, he would send out his picture and resume in response to advertisements. He was willing to try anything to achieve success, even going so far as to fabricate a story. He would call movie studios and claim to be an actor from Brussels with an investor from Hong Kong. He also instructed a friend to play along and act as if they wanted him to star in
1512-467: A total of $ 30,102,717 in the US. Retrospective critics perceive it to be a fun action film, with good comical moments, and a good performance by Van Damme who plays two distinct characters. In 1992, he starred in one of the biggest blockbusters of the year in the sci-fi action picture, Universal Soldier , directed by Roland Emmerich for Carolco . Van Damme (as Luc Deveraux ) and Dolph Lundgren (as Sergeant Andrew Scott) play U.S. soldiers during
1596-475: A variety of jobs to support themselves. Their first job working on a film as extras in the hip hop dance film Breakin' (1984), made by Cannon Films ; they are seen dancing in the background at a dance demonstration. Around that time he developed a friendship with action martial art film star Chuck Norris . They started sparring together, and Van Damme started to work as a bouncer at a bar named Woody's Wharf, owned by Norris. He also supplemented his income as
1680-644: Is a Belgian martial artist and actor. Born and raised in Brussels , his father enrolled him in a Shotokan karate school at the age of ten, which led Van Damme to hold the rank of 2nd- dan black belt in karate , and compete in several karate and kickboxing competitions. As a teenager, he won the middleweight championship of the European Professional Karate Association in 1979 and the Mr. Belgium bodybuilding title in 1978. With
1764-588: Is also the founder and President of the Things From Another World retail chain and president of Dark Horse Entertainment , which has developed and produced numerous projects for film and television based on Dark Horse properties or licensed properties. In addition, he has written numerous graphic novels and comics series, including: The Secret , Living with the Dead , and Cut as well as co-authoring two non-fiction books: Comics Between
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#17327809522781848-471: Is credited in the stunt team crew. That same year he also had a role in the comedy short film Monaco Forever . Corey Yuen 's martial arts film No Retreat, No Surrender , which premiered On 2 May 1986 in Los Angeles , was his first sizeable role when he was cast as the Russian villain. It starred Kurt McKinney , and was released through New World Pictures . McKinney stars as Jason Stillwell,
1932-479: Is easier to understand than the plot." David Richards of The New York Times disparaged Van Damme's acting and previous films but called Timecop "his classiest effort to date". The film made Entertainment Weekly 's "Underrated Films" list in November 2010, mostly because of Van Damme's acting. In September 1994, a novelization of the film was written by author S.D. Perry and published by Penguin. The film
2016-496: Is from Brussels and bilingual, and his mother is Flemish (Dutch-speaking). Van Damme was brought up Roman Catholic. His paternal grandmother was Jewish . He began martial arts at the age of ten, enrolled by his father in a Shōtōkan karate school. His styles consist of Shōtōkan Karate and Kickboxing . He eventually earned his black belt in karate at 18, and earned the rank of 2nd- dan black belt . He started lifting weights to improve his physique, which eventually led to
2100-406: Is murdered; Walker discovers Melissa had been for treatment because she was pregnant. Realizing this is the day of her murder, Walker finds Melissa, reveals he is from the future, and convinces her to ensure his 1994 self does not leave that night for work. That night, the attackers, revealed to be McComb's henchmen, attack the younger Walker, but he and Melissa are able to fight them off with aid from
2184-452: Is offered a position at the TEC but before he can accept, he and his wife Melissa are attacked by unknown assailants; Walker is left for dead while Melissa is killed when their house explodes. In 2004, veteran TEC agent Walker travels to 1929 to apprehend his former partner Lyle Atwood who is using future knowledge to profit from the stock market crash . Atwood confesses to working for McComb who
2268-733: Is the second collaboration between Van Damme and director Ringo Lam , and the fifth time that Van Damme has starred in a dual role . It co-stars Michael Rooker . Also that year he starred in The Order , directed by Sheldon Lettich , and written by Van Damme. In 2002, he starred in Derailed . In Hell is a 2003 American prison action film directed by Ringo Lam . It is the third collaboration between Van Damme and Lam. Van Damme plays an American working overseas in Magnitogorsk , Russia. That same year, he employed his dancing training in
2352-431: Is using Kleindast's original time travel prototype and Matuzak helps send Walker back in time to restore history before being shot dead by McComb's guards. McComb concludes that Walker must be erased at a point before he ever joined the TEC to eliminate his interference. Back in 1994, Walker finds Fielding recovering in a hospital. She agrees to testify against McComb but while Walker is erasing evidence of her treatment she
2436-410: Is using his position to send subordinates through time to obtain funds for his failing presidential campaign. Fearing McComb will erase him and his family from history as a punishment, Atwood refuses to testify and is executed for his crimes by the TEC. During McComb's visit to the TEC, Walker implies his suspicions of McComb. After surviving an ambush at his home by McComb's henchmen, Walker is assigned
2520-540: The Pittsburgh Civic Arena , where a gang of terrorists are holding U.S. Vice President and several other VIPs hostage in a luxury suite during a game. The movie was a modest success. In 1996, he starred and directed The Quest . The film, though it under-performed domestically, did better internationally at the box-office and was a commercial success. That year, he appeared in the TV show Friends in
2604-527: The Vietnam War who end up shooting each other dead after Devereaux discovers that Scott has gone insane and resorted to mutilating civilians . They are later reanimated in a secret Army project along with a large group of other previously dead soldiers and sent on a mission. At the 1992 Cannes Film Festival , Van Damme and Lundgren were involved in a verbal altercation that almost turned physical when both men pushed each other only to be separated, but it
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2688-445: The splits while perched with each of his feet on the outer rearview mirrors of one semi-trailer truck and one box truck moving backwards, which he describes in the commercial as "the most epic of splits". The video quickly went viral around the web, receiving more than 11 million views in three days, 35 million in the first week. It was dubbed as The Epic Split . Swelter is a 2014 American action film where he plays one of
2772-483: The 1930s. After capturing the robber and returning to present time, Walker realizes the timeline has been damaged because the criminal's robotic bodyguard remained in the past and was still active. Walker returns to the 1930s and defeats the robot with the help of a local whom he rewards with a diamond. Returning home, the timeline is largely restored but readers see the local became a political leader who helped end Apartheid. Richardson and Verheiden then teamed up to write
2856-591: The American manga scene. The company achieved success with major Japanese titles, including Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima 's Lone Wolf and Cub , Katsuhiro Otomo 's Akira , and Masamune Shirow 's Ghost in the Shell . Following these successes, Dark Horse imported Hiroaki Samura 's Blade of the Immortal and Kosuke Fujishima 's Oh My Goddess! to the United States, where the series have become two of
2940-517: The Panels and Blast Off! . Mike Richardson was born on June 29, 1950, in Portland, Oregon . His family moved to Milwaukie, a suburb of Portland, in 1955. He is a graduate of Portland State University , where he majored in art and played for the university basketball team. While in college, Richardson built a list of clients as a freelance artist and had planned on starting an art agency under
3024-560: The State of Oregon when applying for a DBA registration. The store opened for business on January 1, 1980. After a name change to Things From Another World in 1993, the original store grew into a chain with as many as eleven locations in three states, including Universal Studio’s CityWalk in Los Angeles and Sony’s Metreon in San Francisco . The success of the on-line TFAW retail site led to a decision to limit expansion plans and, reduce
3108-601: The age of 12, Van Damme joined the Centre National de Karaté (National Center of Karate) under the guidance of Claude Goetz in Belgium. Van Damme trained for four years and he earned a spot on the Belgian Karate Team; he later trained in full-contact karate and kickboxing with Dominique Valera. According to Van Damme, "it was tough growing up. I was kind of geeky, and physically I was not gifted". At
3192-732: The age of 15, he started his competitive karate career in Belgium. From 1976 to 1980, he compiled a record of 44 victories and four defeats in tournament and non-tournament semi-contact matches. He was a member of the Belgium Karate Team when it won the European Karate Championship on 26 December 1979 at La Coupe François Persoons Karate Tournament in Brussels. He placed second at the Challenge Coupe des Espoirs Karate Tournament (1st Trials). At
3276-652: The chance to get involved with a small horror film he was developing, As a result, Richardson set up Dark Horse Productions, later to become Dark Horse Entertainment, and received a co-producer credit on Many Cota’s Dr. Giggles. Two of Richardson's creations, The Mask and Timecop , followed in 1994 and both topped the box office charts. In 2008, Richardson received an Emmy as Producer of the John Landis directed documentary, Mr. Warmth, The Don Rickles Project. Richardson and DHE have been involved in producing more than 30 film and television projects since 1992. Richardson
3360-570: The comics industry. Dark Horse is currently the largest privately owned comics company in North America. Along with his other activities, Richardson continues to write comics. In 2014, his collaboration with Stan Sakai , 47 Ronin , was placed on the American Libraries Teen Reading List. Early on, Dark Horse Comics received attention from the film industry, with producers and studios attempting to option
3444-603: The computer animation film Kung Fu Panda 2 . In the film, he voices a character who helps the heroes of the previous film. That same year, he co-starred with Scott Adkins in Assassination Games . Also in 2011, he played a role in the French comedy Beur sur la ville . Also that year, he starred in his own reality TV show Behind Closed Doors . The show showcases his family life, his personal troubles, and an upcoming fight. Since 2009, he has been planning to make
Timecop - Misplaced Pages Continue
3528-739: The desire of becoming an actor in Hollywood , he moved to the United States in 1982, where he worked on several films, until he got his break as the lead in the martial arts film Bloodsport (1988). He became a popular action film star and followed up with commercially successful films such as Cyborg , Kickboxer (both 1989), Lionheart , Death Warrant (both 1990), Double Impact (1991), Universal Soldier (1992), Nowhere to Run , Hard Target (both 1993), Timecop , Street Fighter (both 1994), Sudden Death (1995), The Quest , which marked his directorial debut , and Maximum Risk (both 1996). He achieved sex symbol status in
3612-469: The emerging threat of the past being altered following the invention of time travel technology by Dr. Hans Kleindast. Users are unable to travel to the future as it has not yet happened, but they can travel to and change the past, creating ripples through time that alter the present. Senator Aaron McComb volunteers to oversee the TEC and police officer Eugene Matuzak is assigned as the TEC's initial commissioner. Metropolitan Police Department officer Max Walker
3696-461: The film was "the first movie to demonstrate that Van Damme was more than just a flash-in-the-pan "Karate Guy" who would never rise above simplistic low-budget karate movies." It also featured rear nudity from Van Damme which Lettich says "became a very memorable moment for the ladies in the audience, and for the gay guys as well. Showing off his butt (clothed or unclothed) almost became a signature trademark of his after that." In 1991, Double Impact
3780-405: The film was released as a double feature for both this and Bloodsport from Warner Home Video on September 14, 2010, which has the full uncut 98-minute version in 2.35:1 widescreen, but no extra features. Timecop was released in the U.S. on September 16, 1994, where it opened at the number 1 spot with $ 12,064,625 from 2,228 theaters, and a $ 5,415 average per theater. In its second week, it took
3864-411: The film. Also that year, he was seen as part of Kam Sing's ring crew when Kam Sing fought against Jomhod Kiatadisak . He also appeared in commercials for Coors Light beer, showing him on a snow-covered mountain wearing a sleeveless denim jacket, and for the washing powder Dash. On 21 October 2012, he was honored with a life-size statue of himself in his hometown of Brussels . He told reporters during
3948-525: The first American film from director John Woo . Also released that year, he starred in Timecop , playing a time-traveling cop. Directed by Peter Hyams , the film was a huge success, grossing over $ 100 million worldwide, and remains his highest-grossing film in a lead role to date. Also that year, he starred in Street Fighter , written and directed by Steven E. de Souza for Universal and based on
4032-440: The first choice to play the titular Predator character, with the intent that he would use his martial arts skills to make the alien an agile, ninja -like hunter, but after few days shot, he left the film. It was reported that he constantly complained about the monster suit being too hot and causing him to pass out; he allegedly also voiced reservations about only appearing on camera in the suit. Additionally, it became apparent that
4116-437: The house before it is destroyed by the bomb, and places her beside his unconscious younger self. Back in 2004, Walker finds that Matuzak and Fielding are alive and at the active TEC, while Senator McComb disappeared in 1994, erasing his future actions. Walker is taken to his rebuilt house where he finds Melissa and his young son waiting for him. Mike Richardson wrote a three-part story titled "Time Cop: A Man Out of Time" that
4200-551: The late 1980s and early 1990s. Between 1993 and 1998, three Hong Kong filmmakers collaborated with Van Damme for their debuts in Western cinema: John Woo , Tsui Hark , and Ringo Lam . After a decline in popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s, he returned to prominence with the critically acclaimed crime drama JCVD (2008). His big return to the action genre was in The Expendables 2 (2012), in which he starred as
4284-594: The leads. It stars Lennie James , and co-stars Grant Bowler , Josh Henderson , and Alfred Molina . James plays a sheriff in a small town who has a dark past that he can not remember, only to have to confront it when his ex-partners show up looking for stolen money they believe he has. Mike Richardson (publisher) Mike Richardson (born June 29, 1950) is an American publisher, writer, and producer. In 1986, he founded Dark Horse Comics , an international publishing house located in Milwaukie, Oregon . Richardson
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#17327809522784368-587: The longest-running Japanese manga titles in the country. In 1988, Dark Horse introduced a series based on the James Cameron film Aliens . Breaking from comic tradition, the series was presented as a direct sequel, continuing the adventures of the film's main characters and related directly to the film’s plot. This approach was repeated by Dark Horse in subsequent series based on films such as Terminator , Predator , Star Wars , and Aliens vs. Predator . This approach to film properties has become standard in
4452-439: The main villain in The Expendables 2 . The film series follows a mercenary group as they undertake a mission which evolves into a quest for revenge against a rival mercenary (Van Damme). The film was a success, grossing over $ 310 million worldwide, and was his big return to the action genre. Empire ' s Nick de Semlyen praised Van Damme's "grandstanding, plutonium-crazed baddie" and Lundgren's "action-troll" as high points in
4536-473: The most successful action stars of all time. Outside his film career, Van Damme has publicly supported various conservationist causes and animal rights organisations. Van Damme was born Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg, on 18 October 1960, in Berchem-Sainte-Agathe , Brussels , Belgium, the son of Eliana and Eugène Van Varenberg, who was an accountant and florist . His father
4620-665: The music video for Bob Sinclar 's "Kiss My Eyes". His 2004 film was Wake of Death , an action film directed by Philippe Martinez . Ringo Lam was the original director, but he left the project after a few weeks of filming in Canada. It co-stars Simon Yam , Valerie Tian, Tony Schiena , etc. In 2005, he played himself in the French film Narco . In 2006, he starred in Second in Command directed by Simon Fellows, and The Hard Corps directed by Sheldon Lettich. In 2007, he played
4704-475: The name Dark Horse Graphics. In 1980, Richardson quit his job producing art and designing products for a furniture company located in Portland and moved to Bend, Oregon, with his wife, Karie, and their newborn daughter, Michelle. He used a credit card with a $ 2,500.00 limit to open a small, pop culture retail store. The store’s name, Pegasus Fantasy Books, was chosen off a list of twenty suggestions he submitted to
4788-480: The number of brick-and-mortar locations, in favour of increased emphasis toward online sales. Richardson frequently hosted writers and artists at signings in his retail stores. He repeatedly heard these creators complain that they did not own or control the characters they created, a general practice continued from the industry’s earliest days. He began envisioning a comics publishing company that offered intellectual property rights to comics creators. Dark Horse Comics
4872-450: The older Walker. The 2004 McComb arrives and takes Melissa hostage, confronting Walker with a C4 explosive. McComb accepts he will die in the explosion but Walker's death will mean McComb's younger self will become president unhindered. However, Walker reveals he has lured the 1994 McComb to the house and he pushes him into the older McComb, merging them into a writhing, screaming mass of flesh that then disappears. Walker carries Melissa out of
4956-618: The pages of DHP into its own title and became a critical, as well as financial, success. Many of the titles and characters created in the early days of Dark Horse were created, written, or plotted by Richardson and Stradley. Over the years, Dark Horse published creator-owned projects such as Frank Miller and Geof Darrow’s Hard Boiled, Miller’s Sin City and 300 , Mike Mignola's Hellboy , and Eric Powell’s The Goon . Richardson’s interest in Japanese pop culture led to Dark Horse’s early entry into
5040-433: The publisher's titles. From the beginning, Richardson's goal was to keep Dark Horse and its creators as involved in the development of its titles for entertainment as possible. It quickly became apparent that the only way to assure involvement was to act as a producer on those projects. In 1989, Richardson met producer Larry Gordon, who had heard about the company through his creative executive, Lloyd Levin . Gordon offered him
5124-531: The same space. McComb kills Parker and Fielding betrays and captures Walker, admitting she is in McComb's employ. In the ensuing shootout, McComb shoots Fielding and escapes to 2004. Walker returns to a heavily altered future where McComb is a wealthy presidential frontrunner and has shut down the TEC to prevent further interference in his plans. Walker convinces Matuzak, who is oblivious to McComb's changes, that he and Walker were close friends. They deduce that McComb
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#17327809522785208-464: The screenplay for the movie adaptation. It wasn’t at all planned from the beginning that I would make two films with Jean-Claude Van Damme back-to-back. I was approached to do Timecop , and I loved the auspices. (Producer) Larry Gordon was involved with it; Moshe Diamant was a terrific producer; Sam Raimi was involved... It was a really clever story, and I thought it was a chance to make the best movie Van Damme ever made. I said yes and we made it, and it
5292-522: The success of Bloodsport , Cannon Films offered him the lead in Delta Force 2 , American Ninja 3 or Cyborg , a cyberpunk martial arts film directed by Albert Pyun . He chose Cyborg which premiered in 1989. The film was a low budget box office success and led to two sequels, neither of which Van Damme appeared in. Cannon used Van Damme again in Kickboxer released that same year. It
5376-695: The three-day tournament, he defeated 25 opponents before losing in the finals to teammate Angelo Spataro. On 8 March 1980, in Brussels, Belgium, he competed against his former teammate Patrick Teugels at the Forest National Arena on the undercard of the Dan Macaruso-Dominique Valera Professional Karate Association Light-Heavyweight World Championship bout. Prior to this match, Teugels had defeated Van Damme twice by decision, including
5460-641: The top spot again with $ 8,176,615. It finished its run with $ 45 million in the U.S. In other territories, it grossed about $ 57 million, for a total worldwide gross of $ 101 million. This makes it Van Damme's highest-grossing film in which he played the leading role, and his second to make over $ 100 million overall (after Universal Soldier ). On Rotten Tomatoes , the film has a 42% rating based on 45 reviews, with an average rating of 5.2/10. The site's consensus is: "It's no Terminator , but for those willing to suspend disbelief and rational thought, Timecop provides limited sci-fi action rewards." On Metacritic , it has
5544-552: The two-part episode " The One After the Superbowl ". He also starred in Maximum Risk , the first American film directed by Ringo Lam , and their first collaboration. The film was mildly successful at the box office. He followed up with Double Team (1997), a sci fi action film with basketball superstar Dennis Rodman . It was Hong Kong director Tsui Hark 's American debut. In 1998, he and Hark reunited on Knock Off ,
5628-663: The unveiling, "Belgium is paying me back something, but really it's to pay back to the dream. So when people come by here, it is not Jean-Claude van Damme but it's a guy from the street who believed in something. I want the statue to represent that". In 2013, he acted in the comedy Welcome to the Jungle . Also that year , he played the main villain in Enemies Closer , an American action thriller film directed by Peter Hyams . On 13 November 2013, Volvo Trucks released an advertisement on YouTube that shows Van Damme doing
5712-554: The video game. It was poorly received critically. Though a commercial success, making approximately three times its production cost. Van Damme and Hyams re-teamed for Universal's Sudden Death , released in 1995. Van Damme portrays a French Canadian -born firefighter with the Pittsburgh Fire Bureau who suffered a personal crisis after he was unable to save a young girl from a house fire. Now removed from active duty, he has become demoted to being fire marshal for
5796-609: The villain, opposite Sylvester Stallone 's character. From thereon, he continued starring in action films and doing extensive voice work, appearing in the well-received Enemies Closer (2013), The Bouncer , Kickboxer: Retaliation (both 2018), Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022), and Darkness of Man (2024). In television, he starred in the Ridley Scott -produced Jean-Claude Van Johnson (2016-2017). Regarded as an icon of action and martial arts cinema, his films have grossed over $ 1 billion worldwide, making him one of
5880-406: The world. Since its release, the film has received mostly positive reviews, with praise towards the performances and surprisingly high production values. In 2010, he directed himself in the barely released Full Love . That same year, he turned down the role of Gunner Jensen in the first instalment of The Expendables and the role went to Dolph Lundgren . In 2011, he voiced Master Croc in
5964-516: Was a ladies' man, [but Van Damme] appeals to both men and women. He's an American hero who fights for justice the American way and kicks the stuffing out of the bad guys." In reality, Van Damme had begged for a starring role; at the point of casting, he was homeless, sleeping in cars and garages, and sometimes had to resort to stealing food to survive. Also in 1988, he played another Russian villain in Black Eagle , opposite Sho Kosugi . After
6048-475: Was believed to have only been a publicity stunt. Universal Soldier opened in theatres on 10 July 1992, a moderate success domestically with $ 36,299,898 in US ticket sales, but a major blockbuster worldwide, making over $ 65 million overseas, which earned the film a total of $ 102 million worldwide, on a $ 23 million budget. He was considered to play Simon Phoenix in Demolition Man and
6132-452: Was born, and with the help of Richardson's friend and writer Randy Stradley , released its first publication, Dark Horse Presents #1, in July 1986. Richardson paid 100% of the book’s profits to the creators featured in the book. Hoping to sell 10,000 copies in order to break even, DHP #1 topped the 50,000 sales mark. The company quickly grew from there. Paul Chadwick’s Concrete graduated from
6216-656: Was briefly considered for the role of Michael Cheritto in Heat . In 1993, he made a cameo in Last Action Hero , and starred in Nowhere To Run . The film was the first in a three-picture deal between Van Damme and Columbia Pictures and his fee was $ 3.5 million. Columbia said the film is "true to his audience and goes beyond his audience." In 1994, he starred in Hard Target for Universal Pictures ,
6300-429: Was clear that it was going to be a hit because it previewed through the roof every time. It’s still his biggest hit. So Universal and Moshe Diamant wanted to team us again as soon as possible, so they put Sudden Death together. There was never any question that we would just do Timecop 2 . I would never have agreed to that. The last thing you want to do is repeat yourself. That would be awful. The musical score of Timecop
6384-431: Was composed by Mark Isham and conducted by Ken Kugler. Timecop was first released on VHS on February 21, 1995, LaserDisc on February 28, 1995, and later released on DVD January 20, 1998. The DVD extras include production notes, a theatrical trailer and notes on the cast and crew. By 2010, the rights to the film had reverted to Largo successor InterMedia, and distribution shifted to Warner Home Video . A Blu-ray of
6468-400: Was crazy. He said, 'What the hell are you doing? You have the best gym in Brussels. You have a sports car, a beautiful apartment, you’re making so much money that you can have anything you want — and now you’re going to sell your business and go to America'. He was very upset". In 1982, he and childhood friend Michel Qissi moved to the United States in the hope of working as actors. They did
6552-503: Was followed by a TV series of the same name , running for nine episodes in 1997 on ABC . It starred T.W. King as Jack Logan and Cristi Conaway as Claire Hemmings. A direct-to-DVD sequel, Timecop 2: The Berlin Decision , was released in 2003, starring Jason Scott Lee and Thomas Ian Griffith , and directed by Steve Boyum . In 2010, Universal Pictures announced a remake of the film, to be written by Mark and Brian Gunn , but it
6636-582: Was highly successful, returning over $ 50 million on a $ 3-million budget. The film started the Kickboxer franchise . He did not appear in any of the film's four sequels, though he did return as a different character in the reboot series. In 1990, he starred in Death Warrant , the first script credit for David S. Goyer . Also that year he starred in Lionheart . Lionheart was directed by Sheldon Lettich who had co-written Bloodsport , and said
6720-488: Was included in the launch of the Dark Horse Comics anthology series in 1992. Richardson developed the story, while the comic was written by Mark Verheiden and drawn by Ron Randall . The comic told a story of Max Walker, a Time Enforcement Commission agent whose wife is implied to be dead (though the circumstances of this are unknown). Max pursues an illegal time traveler robbing a South African diamond mine in
6804-511: Was kicked in the nose and was unable to continue as a result. In a 2013 interview, Van Damme called this fight his most memorable match. He began his full-contact career in 1977, when Claude Goetz promoted the first ever full-contact karate tournament in Belgium. From 1977 to 1982, he compiled a record of 18 victories (18 knockouts) and one defeat. In 1979, he had an uncredited role in André Delvaux 's Woman Between Wolf and Dog ,
6888-836: Was never made. The film, which was originally based on a comic, was adapted into a two-issue comic book series of the same name . A game based on the movie was developed by Cryo Interactive and released on the SNES in 1995 . Additionally, a series of tie-in novels by author Dan Parkinson published in 1997–1999 featured the Jack Logan character from the television series. Jean-Claude Van Damme Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg ( French: [ʒɑ̃ klod kamij fʁɑ̃swa vɑ̃ vaʁɑ̃bɛʁɡ] , Flemish: [vɑɱ ˈvaːrə(m)bɛr(ə)x] ; born 18 October 1960), known professionally as Jean-Claude Van Damme ( French: [vɑ̃ dam] , Flemish: [vɑn ˈdɑmə] ),
6972-404: Was released. Directed by Lettich, it features Van Damme in the dual role of Alex and Chad Wagner, estranged twin brothers fighting to avenge the deaths of their parents. Upon its opening it received mixed reviews. The Los Angeles Times said the film "delivers the goods", while Variety didn't like the plotline and predicted a flop. The film grossed $ 23,683,813 in its first 28 days. It made
7056-544: Was shot on a $ 1.5-million budget for Cannon. The film is about U.S. Army Captain Frank Dux (played by Van Damme), trained from his youth in the ways of ninjutsu by Senzo Tanaka, who takes the place of Tanaka's deceased son Shingo in the illegal martial-arts tournament Kumite in Hong Kong . It became a U.S. box-office hit in the spring of 1988. Producer Mark Di Salle said he was looking for "a new martial arts star who
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