In a recent documentary published on social media, Jean-Claude Van Damme unexpectedly reveals a very different side of himself. The action legend and symbol of an entire cinematic era speaks not of training and triumphs, but of faith — and of a phone call that, he says, changed his destiny.
That call came from Israeli director Menahem Golan. At the time, Van Damme was not yet a global star, but the conversation became a turning point in his life. Recalling it today, the actor speaks quietly and with visible emotion — tears in his eyes — emphasizing that he does not see what followed as coincidence, but as a manifestation of the Divine will.
In the film, Van Damme openly states that all of his success comes from the “Creator of the Universe.” Even at the peak of his fame, he reflects on the fleeting nature of human achievement and stresses that true value lies in one’s connection with the One who governs the world. These words carry particular weight coming from a man long associated with strength, speed, and outward brilliance.
This theme is not accidental in Van Damme’s life. A little-known detail of his biography is that his paternal grandmother was Jewish. Perhaps this connection became an inner bridge to a Jewish understanding of destiny, success, and Divine guidance.
Van Damme turns the story of a single phone call into something far greater — the story of a man who, despite experiencing global fame, preserved a deep sense of gratitude and a living faith.