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 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". He got a large popularity in cinema as the sidekick of Tomas Milian in a successful series of 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. Even after several decades, younger generations continue to embrace his characteristic slang, particularly his distinctive and iconic "tze tze".

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

External links