Jean-Claude Van Damme, born in Brussels, Belgium, in 1960, is a martial artist, actor, and cultural icon who defined the golden age of the action film. Nicknamed "The Muscles from Brussels," he rose to fame in the late 1980s and dominated the direct-to-video and theatrical action markets throughout the 1990s. His signature moves—the split , the helicopter kick , and the 360-degree spin kick —became instantly recognizable trademarks.