Franco Columbu death: Italian bodybuilder and regular Arnold Schwarzenegger co-star dies, aged 78

The Austrian actor paid emotional tribute to his 'best friend'

Franco Columbu, the Italian bodybuilder, actor and close friend of Arnold Schwarzenegger, has died aged 78.

The star died in hospital after being taken ill during a swim in the sea near his home of Sardinia.

Columbu appeared alongside Schwarzenegger in classic films The Terminator, Conan the Barbarian and The Running Man.

Schwarzenegger paid tribute to his friend on Twitter.

He wrote: “I love you Franco. I will always remember the joy you brought to my life, the advices you gave me, and the twinkle in your eye that never disappeared. You were my best friend.”

As well as enjoying a successful athletic career, in which he won Mr Olympia in 1976 and 1981, Columbu appeared in several TV shows and films, including The Streets of San Francisco and Tales from the Crypt.

In 1986, Columbu was Schwarzenegger’s best man at his wedding to Maria Shriver.

Schwarzenegger will next be seen reprising one of his most famous roles in Terminator: Dark Fate, which will be released in the UK on 23 October.