Franco Columbu

Francesco Columbu was an Italian actor, author, chiropractor, and former Amateur Boxer, Professional Bodybuilder and World's Strongest Man competitor. Franco was a longtime friend of Arnold Schwarzenegger, whom he met in 1965. He often appeared in small cinematic roles alongside Schwarzenegger at the height of his fame.

He made his Pro Bodybuilding Debut in 1968, and was regularly competing at he top end of the under 200lbs category.

Appeared on the sleeve of Grand Funk Railroad's 1974 album "All the Girls in the World Beware!!!" with fellow-bodybuilders Arnold Schwarzenegger and Frank Zane. Band member faces were cleverly superimposed on their muscle-bound bodies.

Bodybuilding Titles: 1976 Mr. Olympia 1981 Mr. Olympia

This was documented in the 1977 Documentary Pumping Iron (1977).

He went on to win the 1981 IFBB Mr. Olympia competition, becoming the first under 200lbs winner, retiring shortly after. Franco was considered one of the world's strongest men. He held a number of power lifting world records. He performed a strongman act of breaking a hot water bottle by inflating it orally, lifting vehicles onstage while another performer changed a tire, and dead lifted over 320 kg (700 lbs).

Trained Sylvester Stallone for Rambo: First Blood Part 2 (1985).

Was best man at Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver's wedding in April 1986.

Credited as director of movie within a movie in Last Action Hero (1993) starring his friend Schwarzenegger.

Inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.