Bombolo
Bombolo | |
|---|---|
| Born | Franco Lechner 22 May 1931 Rome, Italy |
| Died | 21 August 1987 (aged 56) Rome, Italy |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1966–1987 |
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) |


Franco Lechner, best known as Bombolo[a] (22 May 1931 – 21 August 1987), was an Italian character actor and comedian.
Life and career
Born in Rome into a poor family, a former peddler of dishes, Lechner was discovered in a tavern by Franco Castellacci and Pierfrancesco Pingitore, who entered him in their cabaret company "Il Bagaglino".[1] He got a large popularity in cinema as the sidekick of Tomas Milian in a successful series of poliziottesco films directed by Bruno Corbucci.[1] He was also partner of Enzo Cannavale in a number of comedy films.[2] He died at age 56 as a result of complications following a major surgical operation.[1] Even after several decades, younger generations continue to embrace his characteristic slang, particularly his distinctive and iconic "tze tze".[2]
Partial filmography
- Remo e Romolo (Storia di due figli di una lupa) (1976) – Pappo
- La prima notte di nozze (1976)
- Hit Squad (1976) – Er Trippa
- Nerone (1977) – Roscio
- Il marito in collegio (1977) – Killer
- Messalina, Messalina (1977) – Zenturio Bisone
- Swindle (1977) – Franco 'Venticello' Bertarelli
- Little Italy (1978) – Venticello
- Scherzi da prete (1978) – Bombolo
- Assassinio sul Tevere (1979) – Franco 'Venticello' Bertarelli
- Tutti a squola (1979) – Bombolo il bidello
- L'imbranato (1979) – Bombolo, il genero
- Ciao marziano (1980) – Pietro
- Girls Will Be Girls (1980) – Giulio Cesare
- Delitto a Porta Romana (1980) – Franco 'Venticello' Bertarelli
- Il casinista (1980) – Poldo
- L'amante tutta da scoprire (1981) – Bombolo
- The Week at the Beach (1981) – Orazio Canestrari
- Uno contro l'altro, praticamente amici (1981) – Capoccione
- I carabbinieri (1981) – Mozzarella
- Una vacanza del cactus (1981) – Augusto Squarciarelli
- Crime at the Chinese Restaurant (1981) – Bombolo
- Miracoloni (1981) – Taxista
- Il marito in vacanza (1981) – Agenore
- W la foca (1982) – Doctor Filippo Patacchiola
- Attenti a quei P2 (1982) – Bombolo il portiere
- Il sommergibile più pazzo del mondo (1982) – Il Postino
- Delitto sull'autostrada (1982) – Venticello
- Sturmtruppen 2 (tutti al fronte) (1982)
- La sai l'ultima sui matti? (1982) – Caciotta
- È forte un casino! (1982) – Cicciobello
- Un jeans e una maglietta (1983)
- Sfrattato cerca casa equo canone (1983) – Maciste
- La discoteca (1983) – Bombolo
- Crime in Formula One (1984) – Venticello
- Cop in Drag (1984) – Franco 'Venticello' Bertarelli
- Vacanze d'estate (1985) – Cardinale
- Giuro che ti amo (1986) – (final film role)
Notes and references
- Notes
- ^ colloquially meaning tubby person.
- References