The 38-year-old - known as "The Muscles from Brussels" - was arrested in the early hours of Thursday on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood.

The Belgian actor spent five hours in a cell at West Hollywood police station before being released.

After his release, Van Damme got into a car and was driven away without making any comment.

Drink-driving suspects are usually held until their blood-alcohol level reaches a legal level. Police say their investigation is ongoing.

The former European middleweight karate champion, whose latest movie is Universal Soldier: The Return, shot to fame as an action film star in the mid-1980s.

His movie credits include Bloodsport, Kickboxer, Double Impact, Hard Target and Sudden Death, Street Fighter and Cyborg.

Head-on: Nicholson is being sued over another crash

Van Damme, who has battled drug addiction in the past, has been married five times - twice to his present wife Gladys Portugues .

Hollywood veteran Jack Nicholson is another star in trouble over his driving.

Two people have filed a personal injury claim against him seeking damages for a head-on collision with his Mercedes on 8 July.