Losing someone dear is devastating. That kind of loss is something that takes days and maybe even months to get over. Some never get over it completely. Whether it is a parent or a friend, the hole they leave in your life gets bigger as you age. But it is something one has to deal with as one grows older and sees people slowly leaving them for the afterlife. When Arnold Schwarzenegger lost his best friend in 2019, even the Terminator was crushed. And he paid a heartfelt tribute to his late pal.
When Franco Columbu breathed his last in 2019 at the age of 78, Schwarzenegger was one of the few to mourn his death. “I am devastated today. But I am also so, so grateful for the 54 years of friendship and joy we shared,” he wrote on his blog on medium. In his tribute, he mentioned how they hit it off when they first met in Munich. From that day on, they became each other’s companions during the good and the bad times. They competed with each other and also had some great fun when not competing.
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Columbu were extremely tight since they first met in the 1960s in Germany. Columbu was an Italian American bodybuilder born in 1941. He was also bestowed with the glorious title of Mr. Olympia twice in 1976 and in 1981. The man was crowned Mr. Universe in 1970. He later transitioned to acting like his best friend.
Columbu was in Ollolai, Sardinia when he suddenly felt sick while taking a dip in the pool. He was admitted to a hospital in Italy where he breathed his last. He used to reside in Los Angeles, however, he always paid an annual visit to his hometown, Ollolai.
Arnold Schwarzenegger picked Franco Columbu as his best man at his wedding
Maria Shriver and the ex-governor tied the knot in 1986. And it was none other than Franco Columbu, who played the part of the best man at their wedding. Eventually, when the Hollywood Superstar and Maria welcomed their baby girl, Christina Shriver, Franco Columbu became her godfather.
Franco even starred in several of Arnold’s projects like Terminator, Conan The Barbarian, and The Running Man. Meanwhile, at the age of 75 now, the Mr. Olympia winner remains quite active. He is now reported to join Avatar 4.
Did you know about these two buddies? Let us know in the comments.
