Remember the good ol’ days when action stars didn’t need a plot to punch their way into your heart? Just a pair of sunglasses, a tight leather jacket, and muscles so big you’d think they had their own zip code. In the 1980s, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone ruled the action movie kingdom, but they weren’t the only ones.
Steven Seagal, the guy who could twist people’s arms literally and look cool doing it. He was the Aikido master with the deadpan stare, the guy women wanted on their side if they ever found themselves in a tight spot.
Fast forward a few decades, and you might not recognize the guy who used to break necks in movies like Under Siege. A recent batch of photos has left fans scratching their heads. Meanwhile, his arch-nemesis from the muscles from Brussels—Jean-Claude Van Damme—seems to have found the secret to eternal youth. JCVD still has a body that makes you wonder if he’s made of steel, or maybe just pure, unfiltered adrenaline.
Steven Seagal’s Transformation vs. Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Ripped Physique
Remember when Steven Seagal was the guy you didn’t mess with? Well, fast forward to today, and his physique doesn’t exactly scream “Under Siege”.
The once-chiseled martial arts guru, 72, has ballooned to a reported 350 pounds since leaving Hollywood behind for a life in Russia (see Daily Mail). And let’s just say, Seagal’s recent appearance is a far cry from his glory days of kicking butt on the big screen.
Seagal’s transformation isn’t just physical. His new role as a key figure in a Russian propaganda film—In The Name of Justice—has shocked fans just as much as his dramatic weight gain. In the 30-minute documentary, which aired on a Russian state-run channel in October, Seagal is seen touring war-torn regions of Ukraine.
And his appearance? Let’s just say Seagal’s love for martial arts seems to have taken a back seat. His once impressive 6’4” frame now carries a more generous build. A source close to Seagal even claimed he would’ve “gone ape-s**t” if any footage from his past films had showcased his weight gain.
Meanwhile, his arch-enemy, Jean-Claude Van Damme, is still out here looking like he could take on a whole army with his bare hands. You can check out his recent Instagram video.
And here’s a fun tidbit: according to Chris Hemsworth—the God of Thunder himself from the Marvel Cinematic Universe—Jean-Claude Van Damme takes the crown for delivering the best action performance of all time (see Hot Ones).
The Alleged Conflict Between Steven Seagal and Jean-Claude Van Damme
You’d think Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal—the two powerhouse actors—each with their own distinctive brand of a*s-kicking—would have bonded over shared experiences and martial arts prowess. But, in fact, their onscreen collaborations were absent, and off-screen tensions ran high.
Their rivalry began early and only got more intense with time. In a 1990s interview on The Arsenio Hall Show, Seagal was asked to speak about Van Damme’s martial arts career, and he didn’t exactly shower him with praise.
Seagal, hesitated before responding but ultimately said:
I just promised all my mentors that I was going to be a good boy. I think that it’s a matter of opinion that he was a champion anywhere. I’m not being catty or anything — I wish the guy all the best — but there are an awful lot of people who say that that’s not true.
Van Damme didn’t exactly shy away from the topic when the subject came up. In an interview with The Telegraph, he recounted a time when former Sony Pictures head Peter Guber proposed a fight between the two action stars, with $20 million on the line for each of them. Of course, Seagal didn’t bite. Van Damme was quick to note:
The first movie I saw of his, I said, ‘This guy’s going to make it, he’s very charismatic.’ Even now, with his overweight years, he’s got this Steven Seagal way of talking.
Van Damme continued:
They were having an idea to have a fight between me and Steven at The Mirage. Twenty million each. He didn’t take the fight.
But Van Damme’s words didn’t stop there. If there had been a fight, he was already plotting his victory.
If him and I fight, I run faster than him – much faster. I would run away. He’s going to try to catch me, he’s going to get out of shape.
Now, whether or not these two will ever have their long-awaited, over-hyped fight in the ring is another story. But one thing’s for sure: in the battle for the title of the greatest action star of all time, it looks like Jean-Claude Van Damme has already claimed victory.
