Personal Info
Known For:
Acting
Birthday:
August 7, 1941
Place of Birth:
Ollolai, Nuoro, Italia
Social Media
Franco Columbu
Biography
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
Filmography
| Year | Movie | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Arnold & Sly: Rivals, Friends, Icons | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) |
| 2015 | One More Round | Franco Turelli |
| 2014 | Rocky IV: The American Punch | Self |
| 2011 | Dreamland: The Land of Dreams | Frank |
| 2003 | Ancient Warriors | Aldo Paccione |
| 2002 | Raw Iron: The Making of 'Pumping Iron' | Self - Mr. Olympia 1981 |
| 1997 | Doublecross on Costa's Island | Enrico Costa |
| 1994 | Beretta's Island | Franco Armando Beretta |
| 1994 | Taken Alive | Enrico Costa |
| 1993 | Desperate Crimes | Nerescu |
| 1991 | Perduta | L'americano |
| 1988 | Big Top Pee-wee | Otto the Strongman |
| 1988 | Schwarzenegger: Total Rebuild | Self |
| 1987 | The Running Man | 911 Security Officer #2 |
| 1987 | Predator | Medic (uncredited) |
| 1986 | Rickles... On the Loose | Self |
| 1984 | The Terminator | Future Terminator |
| 1984 | Getting Physical | Himself |
| 1984 | The Road To Olympia | Self |
| 1982 | Conan the Barbarian | Pictish Scout |
| 1980 | The Comeback | Self |
| 1980 | The Hustler of Muscle Beach | Self |
| 1977 | Pumping Iron | Self |
| 1976 | Stay Hungry | Franco Orsini (uncredited) |
| 1962 | Herakles |
| Year | TV Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Tales from the Crypt | Doctor's Assistant (uncredited) (segment "The Switch") |
| 1977 | The World's Strongest Man | Competitor |
| 1961 | The Mike Douglas Show | Self |