Hollywood action hero Jean-Claude Van Damme’s long career has allowed him to show off an impressive array of martial-arts skills over the years — along with an affinity for doing a split whenever the opportunity arises. One talent he hasn’t had nearly as much cause to display, however, is his dancing ability.
A former ballet student, “The Muscles from Brussels” offered a glimpse of his moves during a scene in the original 1989 Kickboxer movie that frequently receives the GIF treatment. And it was that scene that Conan O’Brien revisited during Van Damme’s recent appearance on O’Brien’s late-night talk show.
Asked whether he could still bust a move the way he did 26 years ago in Kickboxer, Van Damme rose to the occasion and proved that he’s still got it.
And if there was any doubt that his martial-arts skills are also up to snuff, Van Damme’s dance was interrupted by a pair of thugs who quickly learned that the 54-year-old action hero still has a little fight left him in. After dispatching his attackers, he went back to dancing — joined by Conan, of course.
Van Damme’s latest film Pound of Flesh premieres this week, but the actor is also set to revisit the world of Kickboxer in an upcoming remake of the action film that kicked off (pun totally intended) his career. Veteran stunt actor Alain Moussi (X-Men: Days Of Future Past) will play the role of Kurt Sloan originated by Van Damme in the 1989 film, with Van Damme playing the role of mentor to the film’s young star.
The remake of Kickboxer is set to co-star Guardians of the Galaxy actor Dave Bautista and MMA fighter-turned-actor George St. Pierre (Captain America: The Winter Soldier). Like the original film, it will follow a martial artist who enters a deadly tournament in order to avenge the death of his brother.
