Franco Columbu

Acting

Franco Columbu

Born 1941-08-07 · 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.

Acting credits

The Terminator poster
7.7

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?

The Terminator

1984

Predator poster
7.6

A team of elite commandos on a secret mission in a Central American jungle come to find themselves hunted by an extraterrestrial warrior.

Predator

1987

Conan the Barbarian poster
6.8

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.

Conan the Barbarian

1982

The Running Man poster
6.5

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.

The Running Man

1987

Big Top Pee-wee poster
5.0

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.

Big Top Pee-wee

1988

Pumping Iron poster
7.1

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.

Pumping Iron

1977

Stay Hungry poster
5.7

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.

Stay Hungry

1976

Beretta's Island poster
3.5

Franco Armando - code name Beretta - is 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.

Beretta's Island

1994

Raw Iron: The Making of 'Pumping Iron' poster
7.1

A documentary on the making of "Pumping Iron" to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Aired on Cinemax.

Raw Iron: The Making of 'Pumping Iron'

2002

Getting Physical poster
4.3

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.

Getting Physical

1984

Last Man Standing poster
5.0

Roo Marcus has just spent 8 years in a mental institution, and takes up bare-knuckle boxing and gets a job fighting in a gym run by Napoleon. Roo is often tormented by memories of shock treatment and inhumane conditions. His friends, Capser and Ratty help him along the way, until he gets brutally beaten up by one of Napoleon's fighters...

Last Man Standing

1987

Ancient Warriors poster
5.1

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.

Ancient Warriors

2003

The Hustler of Muscle Beach poster
5.8

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.

The Hustler of Muscle Beach

1980

Rickles... On the Loose poster
7.0

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.

Rickles... On the Loose

1986

Doublecross on Costa's Island poster
4.6

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!

Doublecross on Costa's Island

1997

Desperate Crimes poster
4.3

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.

Desperate Crimes

1993

Taken Alive poster
8.0

A beautiful secret agent recruits a local sculptor to aid her in rescuing a presidential candidate's kidnapped mistress.

Taken Alive

1994

The Comeback poster
7.0

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.

The Comeback

1980

Herakles poster
6.0

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.

Herakles

1962

The Road To Olympia poster
NR

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.

The Road To Olympia

1984

Schwarzenegger: Total Rebuild poster
4.7

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.

Schwarzenegger: Total Rebuild

1988

Dreamland: The Land of Dreams poster
2.4

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!

Dreamland: The Land of Dreams

2011

Rocky IV: The American Punch poster
6.4

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.

Rocky IV: The American Punch

2014

One More Round poster
1.0

As his marriage, finances, and life fall apart, a washed-up Christian boxer steps back into the ring one last time to fight for his family and future.

One More Round

2015

Behind the camera

Beretta's Island poster
3.5

Franco Armando - code name Beretta - is 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.

Beretta's Island

1994

Ancient Warriors poster
5.1

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.

Ancient Warriors

2003

Doublecross on Costa's Island poster
4.6

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!

Doublecross on Costa's Island

1997

Doublecross on Costa's Island poster
4.6

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!

Doublecross on Costa's Island

1997

Doublecross on Costa's Island poster
4.6

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!

Doublecross on Costa's Island

1997

Taken Alive poster
8.0

A beautiful secret agent recruits a local sculptor to aid her in rescuing a presidential candidate's kidnapped mistress.

Taken Alive

1994

Taken Alive poster
8.0

A beautiful secret agent recruits a local sculptor to aid her in rescuing a presidential candidate's kidnapped mistress.

Taken Alive

1994