Bombolo
Franco Lechner, best known as Bombolo (22 May 1931 – 21 August 1987), was an Italian character actor and comedian. Life and career Born in Rome into a humble 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". He got a large popularity in cinema as the sidekick of Tomas Milian in a successful series of half-serious poliziottesco films directed by Bruno Corbucci. He was also partner of Enzo Cannavale in a number of comedy films. He died at age 56 as a result of complications following a major surgical operation. Decades later, his characteristic slang, and particularly his distinctive "tze tze", remain popular among the younger generations. 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 Squadra antitruffa (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 La settimana bianca (1980) - Giulio Cesare Delitto a Porta Romana (1980) - Franco 'Venticello' Bertarelli Il casinista (1980) - Poldo L'amante tutta da scoprire (1981) - Bombolo La settimana al mare (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) References External links Italian male film actors 1931 births 1987 deaths Italian male stage actors 20th-century Italian male actors Male actors from Rome Italian male comedians 20th-century Italian comedians Burials at the Cimitero Flaminio Comedians from Rome