Gladys Portugues
| Gladys Portugues | |
|---|---|
| Born | Gladys Portugues September 30, 1957 Manhattan, New York, U.S |
| Occupation | |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Spouse(s) | Jean-Claude Van Damme (m. 1987; div. 1992) (m. 1999) |
| Children | 2 |
Gladys Portugues (born September 30, 1957) is an American former professional female bodybuilder and actress. As a bodybuilder, she twice placed in the top 10 in the Ms. Olympia contest. She is married to Belgian actor and martial artist Jean-Claude van Damme.
Personal life
Portugues has said that she was inspired to start her own bodybuilding and weight training regimen while attending Marymount Manhattan College, when she saw Rachel McLish on television winning the Ms. Olympia title.
In 1987, at the age of thirty, Portugues married Belgian martial artist and actor Jean-Claude van Varenberg.[1] The couple divorced in 1992, but remarried in 1999. They have two children: Kristopher van Varenberg (born 1987) and Bianca Brigitte (born 1990).[2] Her husband is professionally known as Jean-Claude Van Damme. [3]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Pumping Iron II: The Women | Herself | Cinecom International Films |
| 1986 | The Morning After | Bodybuilder | 20th Century Fox |
| 1987 | It's Alive III: Island of the Alive | Waitress | Larco Productions Inc. |
TV
| Year | Title | Episodes | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Behind Closed Doors | 1 season (8 episodes) | Herself |
Books
- Hard Bodies Express, Portugues, Dell; Reissue 1988, ISBN 0-440-53426-7
- Hard Bodies, Portugues and Vedral, Dell; Reissue edition 1986, ISBN 0-440-53424-0
