Jean-Claude Van Damme is ‘completely crazy and weird’ but also ‘the real deal’

I have never met Jean-Claude van Damme, but from all the interviews he’s given over the years, the kind of movies he makes, and what people are saying about him, we know he’s a very interesting and eccentric guy. I’d like to meet Van Damme because I’ve heard that meeting him is a truly unforgettable experience.

Peter Atenciothe director of Jean-Claude Van Johnson, recently opened up about his experience working with Van Damme, and confirms that the actor is “completely crazy and weird” and the “real deal.” In Jean-Claude Van Johnson, Van Damme plays a man with a double life: Jean-Claude Van Damme is a fictitious version of the actor’s real-world identity, while “Johnson” – just Johnson – is an identity he assumes to make a contract in style black ops work. During an interview with CB, Atencio said of Van Damme:

“Oh my god, yeah. He’s a character,” Atencio told ComicBook.com’s Chris Killian. “He’s just everything you want him to be. He’s just so weird and awesome, and he’s in incredible shape, but he’s also out there. There was one day in particular that I’ll never forget. Doing that show for him, it’s It was such a surreal experience because Dave was taking things from his real life and his real past and mixing them with this narrative. It was like half wish fulfillment, half brutal self-reflection. One day he came to me on set, and he was very serious, and he just grabbed me by the shoulders and said, ‘Peter, be honest with me, there’s no show. This is an intervention, yes?’ And I was like, ‘Hate to break it to you, Jean-Claude, but there’s definitely a show we’re doing. This isn’t just a therapy session for you.’ But he had emotional breakthroughs on that show. It was a wild experience, but he was a lot of fun to work with.”

Atencio went on to say that Van Damme is “totally worth meeting” and said:

“He’s completely crazy and weird, but he’s also the real deal. He lives a life, gets in his Bentley convertible with like three dogs in the back and goes to Gold’s Gym whenever he says and works out. He’s super busy and everywhere you go with him, people come up to him and say, “You’re my hero. You’re the reason I did it” or “You changed my life.” And he’s incredibly kind. No one loves their fans more than he does. He’s just such a sweet person. I think someone has all that adoration and has it still do and still be a really honest person, that’s quite admirable.

Well after reading this I really want to meet Van Damme! It looks like everything I hoped it would be in real life! You can watch the first season of Jean-Claude Van Johnson now on Prime Video.