Bombolo

Italian character actor and comedian

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Key Takeaways

Franco Lechner , best known as Bombolo (22 May 1931 – 21 August 1987), was an Italian character actor and comedian.
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.

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".