In 1996, Friends opened up an episode with “He’s so cute” and ended it with “Did you just flick me?” The 13th episode from season two of the show had Jean-Claude Van Damme grace the screens and create an on-screen rift between Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox. Filled with spontaneous hilarity and mentions of Drew Barrymore, the episode was one of the best in the season. Now, decades later, after sharing screen space, the Bloodsport actor opened up on his experience of working with what arguably was the “hottest show” in the world back then.

Instead of a flowery or superfluous remark, Vane Damme stayed true to himself and described his outing as a bit “strange”.

Here is why Jean-Claude Van Damme was “ashamed” of his cameo on Friends

Gracing the screens alongside Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox, while life-affirming for many was “strange” for Van Damme back then. In his appearance on The One After the Super Bowl, Pt. 2 episode, the actor found himself smitten on-screen initially by Cox’s Monica Geller and then by Aniston’s Rachel Green. Recalling that experience in talks with the New York Post, the now 63-year-old disapproved of his acting. “It’s like, I’m ashamed of myself,” he put it.

Incidentally, the actor’s cameo was preceded by Matthew Perry’s ‘poetically’ unfulfilled love, Julia Roberts. In its quest to set upon a larger footprint, Friends had many such guest stars walk down its sets. Moreover, for Van Damme, the experience felt “strange” only because he believed himself to “look so like a ham”. Regardless, his overall experience with the two glamorous actresses “was a good memory”. Moreover, Jean-Claude Van Damme also mentioned that despite his many movies, his career highlight also remains his Friends cameo.

At a time when Hollywood action is being redefined by CGI, the timeless action hero stands as a tall figure in the genre. Yet, he still has an interesting history with another heavyweight in the genre.

Van Damme believes he is ‘braver’ than Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone

Boasting a ravishing stature, the actor has also helmed the screen and shared it in some of Hollywood’s biggest action flicks. In the genre’s booming era of the 70s, Van Damme was often pitted against his The Expendables 2 co-stars, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. While he stands as an admirer of the latter’s works, his relationship with the former is nothing short of rocky.

Fierce competition led to some animosity between the two action greats. Despite starring in three movies together, the duo has never shared screen space. Moreover, recently, Van Damme claimed to be braver than the other two with regards to taking a movie role. He believes that he has taken more dangerous and challenging roles than his peers. Regardless, in the world of entertainment, nothing stays certain.

What are your thoughts on Van Damme’s comments on Friends and his co-stars? Let us know in the comments below.