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 Pier Francesco Pingitore (born 27 September 1934) is an Italian director, screenwriter, playwright and author. Biography Born in Catanzaro, Pingitore started his career as a journalist,Giorgio Dell’Arti, Massimo Parrini. ''Catalogo dei vive ...

, 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 Bruno Corbucci (23 October 1931 – 7 September 1996) was an Italian screenwriter and film director. He was the younger brother of Sergio Corbucci, and wrote many of his films. He was born in Rome, where he also died. The vast majority o ...

. 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.

Partial filmography

* ''Remo e Romolo (Storia di due figli di una lupa)'' (1976) - Pappo * ''La prima notte di nozze'' (1976) * ''

Hit Squad The Hit Squad is an American hip hop collective of East coast hip hop artists. Originally formed in the 1990s by Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith of the rap group EPMD, the group included rap artists such as K-Solo, Redman, Das EFX, Top Quality, ...

'' (1976) - Er Trippa * '' Nerone'' (1977) - Roscio * ''

Il marito in collegio ''Il marito in collegio'' is a 1977 Italian comedy film directed by Maurizio Lucidi. It is based on the novel with the same name by Giovanni Guareschi. Plot A gas station attendant (Enrico Montesano) falls in love with a Lombard noblewoman ( Si ...

'' (1977) - Killer * '' Messalina, Messalina'' (1977) - Zenturio Bisone * ''

Squadra antitruffa ''Squadra antitruffa'' is a 1977 Italian crime film directed by Bruno Corbucci and starring David Hemmings, Tomas Milian and Anna Cardini. It is the third chapter in the Nico Giraldi film series starred by Tomas Milian. Plot A rude Roman po ...

'' (1977) - Franco 'Venticello' Bertarelli * '' Little Italy'' (1978) - Venticello * ''Scherzi da prete'' (1978) - Bombolo * ''

Assassinio sul Tevere ''Assassinio sul Tevere'' (''Assassination on the Tiber'') is a 1979 Italian "poliziottesco"-comedy film directed by Bruno Corbucci. It is the sixth chapter in the Nico Giraldi film series starred by Tomas Milian. Cast * Tomas Milian: Nico Gir ...

'' (1979) - Franco 'Venticello' Bertarelli * ''Tutti a squola'' (1979) - Bombolo il bidello * '' L'imbranato'' (1979) - Bombolo, il genero * ''

Ciao marziano ''Ciao marziano'' is a 1980 Italian science fiction-comedy film directed by Pier Francesco Pingitore. Plot An alien named Bix is sent from the planet Mars to Rome in order to learn the habits and customs of the humans. Cast * Pippo Franco: ...

'' (1980) - Pietro * ''

La settimana bianca ''La settimana bianca'' (Girls Will Be Girls) is a 1980 Italian commedia sexy all'italiana directed by Mariano Laurenti. Plot A group of employees, on a winter vacation, rather than skiing, spend their time in an attempt to impress the beautifu ...

'' (1980) - Giulio Cesare * '' Delitto a Porta Romana'' (1980) - Franco 'Venticello' Bertarelli * ''

Il casinista ''Il casinista'' is a 1980 Italian comedy film directed by Pier Francesco Pingitore. It stars Pippo Franco, Renzo Montagnani, Bombolo, and Simona Mariani Simona may refer to: * 1033 Simona, a main-belt asteroid * Simona (given name), a feminine g ...

'' (1980) - Poldo * ''L'amante tutta da scoprire'' (1981) - Bombolo * ''La settimana al mare'' (1981) - Orazio Canestrari * ''

Uno contro l'altro, praticamente amici ''Uno contro l'altro, praticamente amici'' (''Against Each Other, Practically Friends'') is a 1981 Italian comedy film directed by Bruno Corbucci. Cast *Renato Pozzetto as Franco Colombo *Tomas Milian as Quinto Cecioni aka "Er Monnezza" *Anna ...

'' (1981) - Capoccione * ''I carabbinieri'' (1981) - Mozzarella * ''Una vacanza del cactus'' (1981) - Augusto Squarciarelli * ''

Crime at the Chinese Restaurant ''Crime at the Chinese Restaurant'' ( it, Delitto al ristorante cinese) is a 1981 Italian "poliziottesco"-comedy film directed by Bruno Corbucci. It is the eighth chapter in the Nico Giraldi film series; in this chapter Tomas Milian plays a doub ...

'' (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 ''Crime in Formula One'' ( it, Delitto in Formula Uno) is a 1984 Cinema of Italy, Italian "Poliziotteschi, poliziottesco"-comedy film written and directed by Bruno Corbucci. It is the tenth chapter in the Nico Giraldi film series starred by Tomas ...

'' (1984) - Venticello * ''

Cop in Drag ''Delitto al Blue Gay'', internationally released as ''Cop in Drag'', is a 1984 Italian "poliziottesco"-comedy film directed by Bruno Corbucci. It is the eleventh and final chapter in the Nico Giraldi film series starred by Tomas Milian. Plot R ...

'' (1984) - Franco 'Venticello' Bertarelli * ''Vacanze d'estate'' (1985) - Cardinale * ''Giuro che ti amo'' (1986) - (final film role)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bombolo Italian male film actors 1931 births 1987 deaths Italian male stage actors 20th-century Italian male actors Male actors from Rome Italian male comedians 20th-century Italian comedians Burials at the Cimitero Flaminio