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.

Selected filmography

• Hit Squad (1976)
• Squadra antitruffa (1977) - Franco 'Venticello' Bertarelli
• Messalina, Messalina (1977)
• Il marito in collegio (1977)
• Nerone (1977)
• Little Italy (1978)
• Assassinio sul Tevere (1979)
• L'imbranato (1979)
• Delitto a Porta Romana (1980)
• Ciao marziano (1980)
• Il casinista (1980)
• Crime at the Chinese Restaurant (1981)
• Uno contro l'altro, praticamente amici (1981)
• W la foca (1982) - Doctor Filippo Patacchiola
• Delitto sull'autostrada (1982)
• Cop in Drag (1984)
• Crime in Formula One (1984)