In the late ’80s and early ’90s, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal were two of the hottest action stars on the planet. While it’s expected there would be natural competition between them, such as what existed between Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger for decades, their rivalry was far more fierce and extended beyond competing for parts and franchises. In fact, the two almost came to blows in the late ’90s.
Unlike Stallone and Schwarzenegger, though, it doesn’t appear like they ever buried the hatchet. For some reason, there is still beef between them, and as more time passes, it seems like the world will never get the chance to see Steven Seagal and Jean-Claude Van Damme share the screen together. The Expendables film series was the perfect vehicle to make this happen; however, Seagal turned down the overtures and missed out on an opportunity to make action fans’ dreams come true. With that said, let’s take a look at the time when JCVD wanted a piece of Seagal, allegedly.
Why Do Steven Seagal and Jean-Claude Van Damme Hate Each Other?
The drama between Steven Seagal and Jean-Claude Van Damme can be traced back to 1991 when the former appeared on The Arsenio Hall Show. Asked what he thought of JCVD as a martial artist, Seagal questioned the legitimacy of the Bloodsport actor’s fighting background, suggesting the records and accolades were made up. In a genre where they sold themselves as tough guys, these were fighting words.
JCVD (one of the greatest 90s action stars) responded to these comments years later, saying he had confronted Seagal about what he had said, but they were all good now. However, Van Damme never missed a beat to poke fun at his rival whenever he was brought up, saying Seagal was uptight, unexciting as an actor, and not in the best physical shape. Clearly, there was still tension on Van Damme’s part, and he likely wanted to prove a point to his rival that he wasn’t going to let it go so easily.
The Night Van Damme Nearly Fought Seagal at Sylvester Stallone’s House
According to what Sylvester Stallone said in a Q&A session (via Ain’t It Cool), Steven Seagal and Jean-Claude Van Damme were guests at Stallone’s Miami home in either 1996 or 1997. The party featured a guest list including the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, and Madonna, so it wasn’t a small soirée for friends. Reportedly, JCVD didn’t appreciate Seagal saying he could beat him up and confronted him at the party, offering to take a fight outside and settle their issues once and for all.
Stallone said that Seagal (one of the actors nobody cares about anymore) excused himself and left the party, heading off to a nightclub instead of exchanging fists with JCVD. “Van Damme, who was completely berserk, tracked him down and again offered him a fight, and again Seagal pulled a Houdini,” Stallone revealed. “Who would win? I have to say I believe Van Damme was just too strong and Seagal wanted no part of it.”
Years later, on a talk show, Jean-Claude Van Damme confirmed there had been an altercation between him and Steven Seagal; however, he downplayed it as a little bit of shoving and said he wouldn’t have started a fight inside the house out of respect for Stallone’s home. On the show Steven Seagal: Lawman, Seagal dismissed the event that happened entirely, saying Van Damme goes in the opposite direction when he sees him coming.
Where Do Things Stand Between Seagal and Van Damme Now?
For all the bad blood between the two actors detailed above, the feud has taken a very different turn over the years. In April 2025, Seagal and Van Damme finally set aside their decades-long rivalry. Van Damme confirmed on social media that they had squashed their beef and even teased a “big announcement” – which fans are guessing could mean a film team-up at some point. However, it’s been more than a year since, and the planned announcement hasn’t happened yet. [Read the full story of their reconciliation.]
Later, it was learned that Seagal and Van Damme were nearly cast opposite each other decades earlier in Demolition Man, a role that, ultimately, went to Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes. According to a new report, Warner Bros. had approached both Seagal and Van Damme for the same roles. Van Damme has since confirmed he was set to play the villain, Simon Phoenix, with Seagal as the hero, John Spartan. Just imagine what that set would have looked like. [Read the full story of the Demolition Man casting swap.]
Hopefully, the planned “big announcement” happens soon. Because even after all these years, seeing the two action stars, now wrinkled and old, on screen together would be a ’90s kid’s dream.
