Franco Columbu was an Italian bodybuilder, powerlifter, actor, author, producer, and licensed chiropractor. Unfortunately, he died while swimming off the coast of San Teodoro, Sardinia, he drowned on 30 August 2019. He later died during transportation by helicopter to the hospital in Olbia. As a bodybuilder, he has won several titles including the Arnold Classic Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.
Moroever, he had also been a writer and producer for the films “Beretta’s Island” and “Doublecross on Costa’s Island”. Columbu had also directed the highly successful movie “Ancient Warriors” in 2003. Furthermore, he had roles in films that starred Schwarzenegger like “Conan the Barbarian (1982)”, “The Terminator (1984)”, and “The Running Man (1987)”.
Caption: Franco and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Source: The Guardian
Franco Columbu: Bio, Family, Career
The multi-talented personality was born on 7 August 1941 as Francesco Maria Columbu in Ollolai, Nuoro, Sardinia, Italy. He was born as the son of shepherds Maria Grazia Sedda and Antonio Columbu. He has three siblings: sisters Anna, Gonaria, and Celestina. Columbu had earned his license as a chiropractor and degree from Cleveland Chiropractic College in 1977.
The boxer had revealed that he used to be skinny but working as a shepherd and trained as a boxer. He had quitted boxing after winning over 30 fights to acquire a good career in weightlifting and bodybuilding. He then moved to Germany in order to pursue his career at a young age. In the late 1960s, he moved to California along with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Following that, he participated in bodybuilding competitions. And he won several titles including 1970 the IFBB Mr. Europe and Mr. Universe titles, and the 1971 IFBB Mr. World, and the lightweight class of the 1974 and 1975 IFBB Mr. Olympias.
In 1978, he was inducted into the Guinness Book of Records for blowing into a hot water bottle and bursting it in 55 seconds. Moreover, he has also appeared as himself in the 1977 bodybuilding documentary Pumping Iron. He had also worked as an actor, producer, and director. He was the bodybuilding coach for Sylvester Stallone in the film Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985).
Franco Columbu: Personal Life & Wife
Moving toward her personal life, he was a happily married man. He married a beautiful woman named Deborah Columbu. However, he has not provided much information on his marriage date or dating history. The duo had welcomed a daughter named Maria Columbu. He often used to share pictures of them on his social media platforms.
Furthermore, he reported being in a relationship with a fellow chiropractor Anita Sanangelo. He then met Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1965 after moving to Germany at a bodybuilding competition. After that, he formed a lifelong friendship with Schwarzenegger. Also, he became the best man for his marriage to Maria Shriver in 1986 and godfather to their daughter Christina.
Caption: Franco and wife Debbi with Betty Weider
Source: Instagram
Death:
He had experienced a heart attack on 30 August 2019 while swimming off the coast of San Teodoro, Sardinia. Further, he drowned and passed away during transportation by helicopter to the hospital in Olbia.
Franco Columbu: Net Worth & Social Media Profiles
Coming over to his earning, he surely has earned a hefty amount from his career. He had established his career as a bodybuilder, actor, and won the World’s Strongest Man contestant. Therefore, he had a net worth of $10 million at the time of his death in 2019.
There is a verified and personal Instagram account @francocolumbu with 236k followers. Other than this, it seems he was not available on different social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook.
Franco Columbu: Body Measurements
He had a strong and healthy body that stands to a height of 5 feet 5 inches or 1.65 meters and weighs around 84kg. No information on his body measurements of chest, waist, or biceps. He had brown eyes color as well as brown hair color.
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