\n\n\n\nOur thoughts and prayers are with Franco\u2019s family and Arnold Schwarzenegger during this difficult time.\n\n\n\n
He claims that his \u201cpartner in crime\u201d and fellow bodybuilder, who died at age 78, made his life \u201cmore complete.\u201d\n\n\n\n
Franco Columbu, an Italian actor and bodybuilder, died at 78. Arnold Schwarzenegger referred to him as his \u201cbest friend\u201d in a touching tribute on social media.\n\n\n\n
Schwarzenegger and Columbu, a two-time Mr. Olympia, appeared together in films such as The Terminator, The Running Man, and Conan the Barbarian.\n\n\n\n
According to the Associated Press, he became ill while swimming in the sea and passed away at a hospital in his native Sardinia.\n\n\n\n
The 72-year-old Hollywood legend paid tribute to his Italian pal on Instagram and posted photos of the two at various periods in their life.\n\n\n\n
The former governor of California and actor said Columbu made his life \u201chappier, more colorful, and richer\u201d in an emotional ode posted on Instagram.\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut I\u2019m also grateful for our 54 years of friendship and enjoyment.\u201d\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou were my partner in crime from the day we met in Munich,\u201d Schwarzenegger wrote of Columbu.\n\n\n\n
\u201cI knew I wouldn\u2019t be the same without my best friend, so I asked Joe Weider to bring you to training with me.\u201d\n\n\n\n
\u201cI could live without money or my parents, but not without you.\u201d\n\n\n\n
According to an interviewer who spoke with him, Columbu and Schwarzenegger founded a bricklaying company named European Brick Works in 1969 to make ends meet.\n\n\n\n
That was supposedly before the candidate had a valid work visa, which Schwarzenegger denied.\n\n\n\n
In a statement, he expressed thanks for their relationship and the \u201c54 years of joy we shared\u201d while being \u201cdevastated\u201d by Columbu\u2019s death.\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe did everything together, including the pumps, chess matches, construction work, lunches, practical jokes, and life lessons,\u201d he wrote.\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe grew together by learning and loving.\u201d\n\n\n\n
Columbu\u2019s only heirs are Maria, his daughter, and his wife, Debbie.\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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