Franco Columbu
Born
August 7, 1941
Died
August 30, 2019 (78 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Ollolai, Nuoro, Italia
An Italian born former bodybuilder, actor and author. Despite his short statue at 5 ft 5 (165cm) he won Mr. Olympia bodybuilding in 1976 and 1981. During a competition in Munich in 1965, he met Arnold Schwarzenegger and the two of them got very close. After Arnolds relocation to USA, he brought Franco over not long after because he missed his best friend. It was a friendship that would last for 54 years til Franco'a death. Franco Columbo's would participate in several minor roles in movies after his US entry, acting along side Schwarzenegger in a few of his motion pictures. Although he held a US residence and lived there since the 1970's, Columbu would often travel back home to Sardinia on vacation, and it was there he ultimately passed away at the age of 78.
Known For
Arnold & Sly: Rivals, Friends, Icons
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2024
One More Round
Franco Turelli
2015
Rocky IV: The American Punch
Self
2014
Dreamland: The Land of Dreams
Frank
2011
Ancient Warriors
Aldo Paccione
2003
Raw Iron: The Making of 'Pumping Iron'
Self - Mr. Olympia 1981
2002
Doublecross on Costa's Island
Enrico Costa
1997
Taken Alive
Enrico Costa
1994
Beretta's Island
Franco Armando Beretta
1994
Desperate Crimes
Nerescu
1993
Perduta
L'americano
1991
Tales from the Crypt
Doctor's Assistant (uncredited) (segment "The Switch") · (1 episode)
1989
Big Top Pee-wee
Otto the Strongman
1988
Schwarzenegger: Total Rebuild
Self
1988
The Running Man
911 Security Officer #2
1987
Predator
Medic (uncredited)
1987
Rickles... On the Loose
Self
1986
The Road To Olympia
Self
1984
The Terminator
Future Terminator
1984
Getting Physical
Himself
1984
Conan the Barbarian
Pictish Scout
1982
The Hustler of Muscle Beach
Self
1980
The Comeback
Self
1980
The World's Strongest Man
Competitor · (1 episode)
1977
Pumping Iron
Self
1977
Stay Hungry
Franco Orsini (uncredited)
1976
Herakles
1962
The Mike Douglas Show
Self · (1 episode)
1961