Quick Facts
Biography
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)