Starting out his athletic career as a boxer he progressed into the sport of powerlifting and later bodybuilding, scooping the title of Mr. Olympia in both 1976 and 1981.
Franco Columbu is also famous for being long time friend of Arnold Schwarzenegger, whom he met in Munich in 1965 and competed against him in several international level bodybuilding competitions.
In addition to being a renowned champion of such competitons as the Olympia and The World's Strongest Man, Columbu also has an extensive acting background. Appearing alongside Arnold in Pumping Iron, he has also appeared in cameo roles in The Terminator, The Running Man and starred in his own films, notably, Berretta Island.
He holds doctorates in chiropracty and nutrition.