Franco Columbu

Franco Columbu

Born: August 7, 1941
Died: August 30, 2019
in 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.

Movies for Franco Columbu...

Arnold & Sly: Rivals, Friends, Icons
Title: Arnold & Sly: Rivals, Friends, Icons
Character: Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Released: April 23, 2024
Type: Movie
TMZ exclusively sits down with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone as they discuss for the first time how their once-fierce rivalry led to two Hollywood icons forever being friends and brothers in arms
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One More Round
Title: One More Round
Character: Franco Turelli
Released: June 2, 2015
Type: Movie
Basically a Christian version of Rocky
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Rocky IV: The American Punch
Title: Rocky IV: The American Punch
Character: Self
Released: October 11, 2014
Type: Movie
Rocky IV is dually symbolic - it embodies both the victory of the American boxer over the Soviet one and the victory of neo-liberalism over a dwindling socialism. Today, Rocky is held up as a model by some and is a subject of derision for others. An emblem of the 1980s, its culture and its heroes, the film will be the subject of an entertaining analysis of popular culture.
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Dreamland: The Land of Dreams
Title: Dreamland: The Land of Dreams
Character: Frank
Released: July 8, 2011
Type: Movie
Giacomo, a boy from Puglia, leaves immediately after the war for the United States of America, where, after a few years, he will be known by the name of "James". The young man, however, enters the gang scene. Following a fight, he will be put back on the right path by the former boxer, now carpenter, Frank!
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Ancient Warriors
Title: Ancient Warriors
Character: Aldo Paccione
Released: March 1, 2003
Type: Movie
Special Forces Captain Aldo Paccione must pull together his former world team Delta Force and go deep within the mines of Sardinia when it is discovered that a vengeful band of mercenaries are developing deadly biochemical weapons.
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Raw Iron: The Making of 'Pumping Iron'
Title: Raw Iron: The Making of 'Pumping Iron'
Character: Himself - Mr. Olympia 1981
Released: January 1, 2002
Type: Movie
A documentary on the making of "Pumping Iron" to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Aired on Cinemax.
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Doublecross on Costa's Island
Title: Doublecross on Costa's Island
Character: Enrico Costa
Released: January 1, 1997
Type: Movie
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 deception, from Sardinia to Beverly Hills, Costa must ready for a final showdown by finding his way through an intricate web of double crosses, while meeting up with old friends and enemies. If Costa wants to survive and save his home, and island, he will have to fight his way out!
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Taken Alive
Title: Taken Alive
Character: Enrico Costa
Released: May 12, 1994
Type: Movie
A beautiful secret agent recruits a local sculptor to aid her in rescuing a presidential candidate's kidnapped mistress.
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Beretta's Island
Title: Beretta's Island
Character: Franco Armando Beretta
Released: May 5, 1994
Type: Movie
Franco Columbo stars as Interpol operative Franco Armando - code name Beretta - who's forced out of retirement to avenge the cold-blooded murder of a cop. The killer's trail leads to Franco's hometown on the beautiful island of Sardinia, where drugs are turning the peaceful village into a hell hole. The sinister druglord has a sadistic welcome for Franco: the kidnapping of his best friend's beautiful daughter.
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Desperate Crimes
Title: Desperate Crimes
Character: Nerescu
Released: November 24, 1993
Type: Movie
In the large industrial port of an Italian city - sailors, women, black market traffickers, sleazy nightclubs, and dingy narrow alleys make up a world of danger, where a young American girl vanishes without a trace while an Italian man tries to track her down. On the way, he encounters a strange group of characters: a beautiful and ambitious prostitute, a girl ravaged by drugs, and the ferocious Joe Nerescu who is battling against a rival gang so he can gain control of the port.
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Perduta
Title: Perduta
Character: L'americano
Released: January 1, 1991
Type: Movie
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Title: Tales from the Crypt
Character: Doctor's Assistant (uncredited)
Released: June 10, 1989
Type: TV
Cadaverous scream legend the Crypt Keeper is your macabre host for these forays of fright and fun based on the classic E.C. Comics tales from back in the day. So shamble up to the bar and pick your poison. Will it be an insane Santa on a personal slay ride? Honeymooners out to fulfill the "til death do we part" vow ASAP?
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Big Top Pee-wee
Title: Big Top Pee-wee
Character: Otto the Strongman
Released: July 22, 1988
Type: Movie
Paul Reubens stars as Pee-wee Herman in his second full-length film about a farmer who joins the circus after a storm drops a big tent in his front yard. Pee-wee, along with an outlandish cast of animals and circus performers, puts on the best show ever.
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Schwarzenegger: Total Rebuild
Title: Schwarzenegger: Total Rebuild
Character: Himself
Released: March 1, 1988
Type: Movie
After an absence of five years, six times Mr. Olympia winner Arnold Schwarzenegger makes a comeback and attempts to take the World Body Building Championship for the 7th time.
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The Running Man
Title: The Running Man
Character: 911 Security Officer #2
Released: November 13, 1987
Type: Movie
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 game shows in which convicted criminals fight for their lives, including the gladiator-style The Running Man, hosted by the ruthless Damon Killian, where “runners” attempt to evade “stalkers” and certain death for a chance to be pardoned and set free.
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Predator
Title: Predator
Character: Medic (uncredited)
Released: June 12, 1987
Type: Movie
A team of elite commandos on a secret mission in a Central American jungle come to find themselves hunted by an extraterrestrial warrior.
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Rickles... On the Loose
Title: Rickles... On the Loose
Character: Self
Released: August 23, 1986
Type: Movie
Special featuring Don Rickles in his live comedy act at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas, mixed with footage of Rickles "on the loose" across the state of California.
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The Road To Olympia
Title: The Road To Olympia
Character: Himself
Released: November 14, 1984
Type: Movie
A truly iconic video based on the Mr. Olympia contest from 1984. Every single one of the competitors was a star in their own right. ‘Road to Olympia’ 1984 was a classic release at the time. It was the forerunner of the later Battle for the Olympia series. In this video the camera follows in particular Tom Platz, Chris Dickerson, Franco Columbu, Samir Bannout, Al Beckles and the eventual winner – Lee Haney. You also see a very beautiful Rachel McLish. This video is now a classic slice of bodybuilding history.
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The Terminator
Title: The Terminator
Character: Future Terminator
Released: October 26, 1984
Type: Movie
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 insurgents against 21st century mechanical hegemony. Meanwhile, the human-resistance movement dispatches a lone warrior to safeguard Sarah. Can he stop the virtually indestructible killing machine?
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Getting Physical
Title: Getting Physical
Character: Himself
Released: March 20, 1984
Type: Movie
The world of female bodybuilding provides the backdrop for this tale of an aspiring young actress who initially becomes interested in the sport as a means of self-defense following a physical attack by two men, but then finds that while concentrating on building up her body her relationship with her parents, with whom she is living, and her new-found boyfriend, a young cop, is breaking down. Several noted bodybuilders and iron-pumpers, male and female, put in appearances to give this production an added authenticity.
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Conan the Barbarian
Title: Conan the Barbarian
Character: Pictish Scout
Released: April 2, 1982
Type: Movie
A horde of rampaging warriors massacre the parents of young Conan and enslave the young child for years on The Wheel of Pain. As the sole survivor of the childhood massacre, Conan is released from slavery and taught the ancient arts of fighting. Transforming himself into a killing machine, Conan travels into the wilderness to seek vengeance on Thulsa Doom, the man responsible for killing his family. In the wilderness, Conan takes up with the thieves Valeria and Subotai. The group comes upon King Osric, who wants the trio of warriors to help rescue his daughter who has joined Doom in the hills.
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The Hustler of Muscle Beach
Title: The Hustler of Muscle Beach
Character: Self
Released: May 16, 1980
Type: Movie
A slick promoter in the bodybuilding subculture of Venice Beach, California, finds what he considers a diamond in the rough: a dedicated but somewhat mentally challenged young man who wants to win bodybuilding championships, but needs some help and direction--and the promoter thinks he's just the one to do it.
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The Comeback
Title: The Comeback
Character: Himself
Released: May 12, 1980
Type: Movie
After an absence of five years, six times Mr Olympia winner Arnold Schwarzenegger makes a comeback and attempts to take the World Body Building Championship for the 7th time.
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Title: The World's Strongest Man
Character: Competitor
Released: December 24, 1977
Type: TV
Athletes compete for a place in the World Finals.
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Pumping Iron
Title: Pumping Iron
Character: Self
Released: January 18, 1977
Type: Movie
Amateur and professional bodybuilders prepare for the 1975 Mr. Olympia and Mr. Universe contests as five-time champion Arnold Schwarzenegger defends his Mr. Olympia title against Serge Nubret and the shy young Lou Ferrigno.
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Stay Hungry
Title: Stay Hungry
Character: Franco Orsini (uncredited)
Released: April 23, 1976
Type: Movie
A dishonest businessman asks rich layabout Craig Blake to help him buy a gym, which will be demolished for a development project in Alabama. But after spending time with weightlifter Joe Santo and gym worker Mary Tate Farnsworth, Craig wants out of the deal. The property negotiations turn ugly, causing a brawl at the gym and a spectacle at a big bodybuilding meet, as Craig learns that it's not easy to turn your back on fair-weather friends.
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Herakles
Title: Herakles
Released: January 1, 1962
Type: Movie
Basically, 'Herakles' is an omnium-gatherum of film clips depicting images of machismo. Some of those images are explicitly macho: we see various body-builders flexing their biceps and triceps. Other images seen here are not macho in the literal sense, but are indirectly related to testosterone or cojones on some level: we see military aircraft making bombing raids, and footage of car crashes.