Franco Columbu obit

Italian Actor, Bodybuilder Franco Columbu Dies at 78

Italian bodybuilder, boxer and actor Franco Columbu, one of Arnold Schwarzenegger's closest friends, has died. He was 78.

 

He was not on the list.

Italian bodybuilder, boxer and actor Franco Columbu, one of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s closest friends, has died. He was 78.

Columbu died Friday in a hospital in his native Sardinia after being taken ill while he was swimming in the sea.

His longtime friend Schwarzenegger tweeted: “I love you Franco. I will always remember the joy you brought to my life, the advices you gave me, and the twinkle in your eye that never disappeared. You were my best friend.”

After starting his career as a boxer, Columbu progressed into Olympic weightlifting, powerlifting and later bodybuilding, winning the prestigious title of Mr. Olympia in 1976 and 1981.

In addition to his athletic career, Columbu also acted on popular TV series and in movies. He appeared in Schwarzenegger’s films The Terminator, The Running Man and Conan the Barbarian.

Columbu was Schwarzenegger’s best man at his marriage to Maria Shriver in 1986.

Filmography

Year       Title       Role       Notes

1976      Stay Hungry        Franco Orsini      Uncredited

1977      Pumping Iron     Himself                

1980      The Hustler of Muscle Beach       Himself                

1980      The Comeback   Himself                

1982      Conan the Barbarian       Pictish Scout      

1984      The Terminator  Future Terminator           

1984      Getting Physical                 Himself                

1986      Don Rickles: Rickles on the Loose               Himself                

1987      Predator               Medic    Uncredited

1987      The Running Man             911 Security Officer #2  

1987      Last Man Standing           Batty     

1988      Big Top Pee-wee               Otto the Strongman       

1990      Perduta                L'americano       

1992      Il ritmo del silenzio          Nerescu                Also executive producer

1993      Beretta's Island         Franco Armando Beretta               Also producer and writer

1994      Taken Alive          Enrico Costa       Also producer and writer

1997      Doublecross on Costa's Island     Enrico Costa       Also director, producer, and writer

1998      Hollywood Salutes Arnold Schwarzenegger: A Cinematheque Tribute         Himself                

2002      Raw Iron: The Making of Pumping Iron    Himself                

2003      Ancient Warriors              Aldo Paccione    Also producer

2008      Why We Train    Himself                

2010      Muscle Beach then and Now       Himself                

2011      Dreamland La Terra dei Sogni      Frank Graziani   

2015      One More Round              Franco Turelli