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Franco Columbu

Actor / Screenwriter / Writer / Film Director / Film Producer | * 08/07/1941 († 78, 08/30/2019) | Ollolai, Nuoro (Italy)
Francesco Maria Columbu (August 7, 1941 – August 30, 2019) was an Italian-American bodybuilder, powerlifter, actor, author, producer, and a licensed chiropractor. Originally a boxer, Columbu won the Mr. Olympia in 1976 and 1981, and competed in the inaugural edition of the World's Strongest Man in 1977, where he placed fifth. He also had an acting career and authored numerous books on bodybuilding and nutrition. Columbu was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame in 2001, International Sports Hall of Fame in 2013 and received the Arnold Classic Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009. ()
Photo of Franco Columbu

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.

Most frequent genres for this person: Action | Documentaries | Comedies

Known for these Movies & Shows

A film adaptation of the classic sword and sorcery hero, Conan the Barbarian. A horde of rampaging warriors massacre the parents of young Conan and enslave the young child for years on The Wheel of Pa ...

Conan the Barbarian

R

1982 | 3.4/5 | 2h 9min
Adventure, Fantasy, Action
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Six years after stopping a multi-national arms deal that would have wiped out Los Angeles, Agent Enrico Costa (Franco Columbu) is tracked down at his home halfway around the world. Through revenge and ...

Doublecross on Costa's Island

Certification unknown

1997 | 2.0/5 | 1h 28min
Action, Adventure
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In the post-apocalyptic future, reigning tyrannical supercomputers teleport a cyborg assassin known as the "Terminator" back to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor, whose unborn son is destined to lead insurgen ...

The Terminator

R

1984 | 3.8/5 | 1h 48min
Action, Thriller, Science Fiction
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By 2017, the global economy has collapsed and U.S. society has become a totalitarian police state, censoring all cultural activity. The government pacifies the populace by broadcasting a number of gam ...

The Running Man

R

1987 | 3.3/5 | 1h 41min
Action, Science Fiction, Thriller
available on:
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Movies with Franco Columbu as Actor(22)

as Franco Turelli2015 One More Round
as himself2014 Rocky IV: The American Punch
as Frank2010 Dreamland - La terra dei sogni
as Aldo Paccione2003 Ancient Warriors
as Himself - Mr. Olympia 19812002 Raw Iron: The Making of 'Pumping Iron'
as Enrico Costa1997 Doublecross on Costa's Island
as Franco Armando Beretta1994 Beretta's Island
as Enrico Costa1994 Taken Alive
as Nerescu1993 Desperate Crimes
as Otto the Strongman1988 Big Top Pee-wee
as himself1988 Schwarzenegger: Total Rebuild
as 911 Security Officer #21987 The Running Man
as Medic (uncredited)1987 Predator
as himself1986 Rickles... On the Loose
as himself1984 Getting Physical
as Future Terminator1984 The Terminator
as Pictish Scout1982 Conan the Barbarian
as himself1980 The Hustler of Muscle Beach
as himself1980 The Comeback
as himself1977 Pumping Iron
as Franco Orsini (uncredited)1976 Stay Hungry
1962 Herakles

TV Shows/Series with Franco Columbu as Actor(1)

as Doctor's Assistant (uncredited)1989 Tales from the Crypt

Movies with Franco Columbu as Crew(8)

Production/Producer2003 Ancient Warriors
Directing/Director1997 Doublecross on Costa's Island
Production/Producer1997 Doublecross on Costa's Island
Writing/Writer1997 Doublecross on Costa's Island
Production/Producer1994 Beretta's Island
Writing/Author1994 Beretta's Island
Production/Producer1994 Taken Alive
Writing/Writer1994 Taken Alive

Additional Information

Official websites:
francescocolumbu.com
Born: Thursday, 08/07 1941 (August) in Ollolai, Nuoro (Italy)
Died: Friday, 08/30 2019 (August) in Olbia (aged: 78)
Zodiac sign: Leo (Chinese zodiac sign: Snake)
Languages: English (EN, native language), Italian (IT)
Educated at: Cleveland Chiropractic College
Member of: International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness
Other names for Franco Columbu (nicknames, foreign languages etc.):
"Francesco Columbu"
"The Sardinian Strongman" (Nickname)
Franco Columbu frequently works together with these people:
Arnold Schwarzenegger (13x, Actor)
Werner Herzog (5x, Crew)
Ed Corney (5x, Actor)
Ken Waller (5x, Actor)
Bob Rafelson (4x, Crew)
Van Quattro (4x, Actor)
Timothy Paul Taylor (4x, Crew)
Billy DaMota (4x, Crew)
George Butler (4x, Crew)
Joe Weider (4x, Cast)
Chip Rossetti (4x, Crew)
Richard Donner (3x, Crew)
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WatchPlayStream ID: PEOPLE:208040, Added: 07/24/2018, Last updated: 04/10/2024