Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Fear of Sylvester Stallone: A Comedic Spotlight
By the Combined Wit of Jimmy Carr, Rowan Atkinson, Ricky Gervais, and Lee Evans
Ah, the glorious world of action films! It’s a realm where muscles have muscles, and every punch is measured by the number of protein shakes consumed beforehand. Enter Jean-Claude Van Damme — the muscle-bound Belgian who flexed his way into our hearts and cinema screens. But wait! Who’s that towering over him like an aging Greek god? That’s right, it’s none other than the action legend himself, Sylvester Stallone. And guess what? JCVD is downright terrified of him!
A Match Made in Action Heaven
So, here’s the scene: Van Damme, the kid from Brussels who made it big, finally finds himself on set with the legendary Stallone in “Expendables 2.” Now, you’d think he’d be flexing his biceps and throwing out one-liners. But instead? He’s as nervous as a vegetarian at a barbecue! Why, you ask? Well, it seems the prospect of suggesting a good old-fashioned brawl with Stallone was about as appealing as asking a lion for a hug.
“We are fighting in a crashing helicopter. Stallone is injured by the debris and I manage to escape. So we can’t talk about a real fight…”
It’s like bringing a cheeseburger to a gluten-free dinner party! Stallone was injured, and Van Damme wanted to have a tête-à-tête fight — but that’s all just “Hollywood business.” Apparently, talking to Sly about script changes was like trying to convince a dog not to bark at a mailman. A sticky situation indeed!
The Letter That Never Was
Now, instead of confronting the ‘Rocky’ star, our Belgian friend decided to channel his inner romantic by writing a heartfelt letter. Cue the violins! But alas, when the moment came, and the letter was nowhere in sight, JCVD faced his fears head-on — or rather, face-to-chest, given Stallone’s height!
“I had to tell him in person. And to my surprise, he told me to work on better fight scenes.”
Ah, nothing like a little advice from someone who’s been uppercutting his way through life for decades. I mean, this is a man who survived “Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot.” If that’s not commendable, I don’t know what is!
A Respectful Rivalry
You see, beneath the haze of testosterone and the overwhelming urge to show off their biceps, there’s a beautiful friendship brewing between these two fighting titans. Van Damme, like most of us, has come to respect not just Stallone’s work ethic but also his emotional depth. In a world where we often want to punch through our problems, Stallone showed Van Damme a different side of resilience after losing his son.
“Sly is very intimidating, a very strong character…he replied with a letter in which he wrote: ‘Life is a bitch.’”
And let’s be real here; anyone who can casually drop “life is a bitch” in a heartfelt note is someone you don’t want to cross — unless, of course, you enjoy running with scissors while blindfolded.
Conclusion: Bro-Lationship Goals
At the end of the day, it’s about respect, camaraderie, and the understanding that even the most macho of men can have a tender side. Van Damme and Stallone, each with their own legacy, show us that fear and admiration can coexist, especially when they’re trapped in a helicopter together. So the next time you watch these action legends duke it out on screen, remember: behind every punch, there might just be a heartwarming story of friendship.
Now, if only we could get them to share a smoothie together!
Inspire Me Podcast (DR) / Konbini (DR)
By Elsa Girard-Basset | Web journalist
During his career in Hollywood, Jean-Claude Van Damme had the chance to film with some of the biggest names in action cinema. But no experience marked him more than his meeting with Sylvester Stallone, a character who particularly intimidated him. One anecdote in particular told by the Belgian clearly confirms this…
For a shy little boy from the suburbs of Brussels, social ascension commands respect. Ignoring criticism and mockery, Jean-Claude Van Damme established himself as one of the stars of action cinema in the 1980s and 1990s, managing to become an essential star in Hollywood. A status that allowed him to rub shoulders with the elite of his community.
Jean-Claude Van Damme discusses his fear for Sylvester Stallone
In 2012, JCVD joined the cast of “Expendables 2,” marking his first meeting with a certain Sylvester Stallone. But upon reading the script, the most “aware” man in the entire French-speaking world was disturbed by the absence of a head-on fight between him and the interpreter of Rocky and Rambo. But finding the strength to assert his point of view was anything but easy…
We are fighting in a crashing helicopter. Stallone is injured by the debris and I manage to escape. So we can’t talk about a real fight, at least the one that the fans really want to see. But to talk to him about it… With him, you just have to do your job and not contradict him. He might get angry.
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So terrified of expressing his opinion face-to-face, JCVD decided to write a letter to “Sly”. But everything didn’t go as planned:
Once there, there was no way of getting my hands on the letter I had written to him, so I had to tell him in person. And to my surprise, he told me to work on better fight scenes.
If this anecdote says a lot about the fear Stallone inspires, don’t count on Van Damme to criticize him: “He’s a very intelligent guy. He’s still hungry. Like a guy who has just started,” he said to Inrocks a few years ago. And the Belgian opens up a little more about his relationship with him for “Konbini”:
I was very impressed with Stallone. He works a lot. I did the promo tour with him, that’s when he lost his son. He remained locked in his room, no one dared to say anything to him. Sly is very intimidating, a very strong character. I told him I was sorry and he replied with a letter in which he wrote: “Life is a bitch”… Today we sometimes meet in Beverly Hills, with Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Enter respect, craIntegrity and friendship, it is a complex relationship that Jean-Claude Van Damme established with Sylvester Stallone. One thing is certain: beyond the testosterone and the rivalry that exists between them, the two men agree on their work ethic and their desire to continue to stay at the top, despite the years that pass. A mentality that commands respect.
**Interview with Jean-Claude Van Damme about his Experience with Sylvester Stallone**
*Interviewer:* Thank you for joining us today, Jean-Claude! It must be a thrill to be working on a film in Italy, especially after your experiences with action stars like Sylvester Stallone.
*Jean-Claude Van Damme:* Absolutely! It’s always an adventure in this industry, but meeting Stallone was particularly memorable.
*Interviewer:* You mentioned once that you felt intimidated by Stallone. Can you elaborate on that?
*Jean-Claude Van Damme:* (laughs) Oh yes! When I was working on “Expendables 2,” I was nervous just being on set with him. He is such a giant in the action genre; it’s hard not to feel a little awestruck.
*Interviewer:* Was it challenging to express your ideas about your scenes to him?
*Jean-Claude Van Damme:* Definitely! There was a scene where we were supposed to fight in a helicopter, but the script didn’t allow for a direct confrontation, and I wanted that for the fans. Approaching Sly about it felt like trying to convince a lion to be a vegetarian!
*Interviewer:* How did that conversation go when you finally worked up the courage to speak with him?
*Jean-Claude Van Damme:* (smiles) I actually ended up writing him a letter. But when the moment came, I had to tell him in person anyway. He listened and then told me to work on better fight scenes. It was great advice coming from someone who has had such a storied career.
*Interviewer:* It sounds like you both developed a mutual respect during that time. Did anything change after your conversations?
*Jean-Claude Van Damme:* Yes, absolutely. Beneath the bravado, we share a lot of respect for each other’s work. It’s nice to know that even someone as tough as Stallone has a softer side, especially after his personal hardships.
*Interviewer:* What do you hope audiences take away from your dynamic in action films?
*Jean-Claude Van Damme:* I hope they see that behind the muscles and the fighting, there’s a culture of camaraderie among us action stars. Fear and admiration can coexist, and it’s how we respect each other that really defines our relationships in this industry.
*Interviewer:* Thank you so much for sharing your experiences, Jean-Claude! We can’t wait to see what you do next in Mola di Bari!
*Jean-Claude Van Damme:* Thank you! It’s going to be an exciting project. Let’s keep the action going!
