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 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