BBC News Online: Entertainment

Action star Van Damme released

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.

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.

BMW Z3 driver Attila Henry Hegedus, 23, and passenger Olga Kharitonovich, 20, claim the 62-year-old star was driving too fast and want compensation for injury, lost wages, hospital bills and damage to their car.

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