‘Full House’ and ‘The Godfather Part II’ Actor John Aprea Dies at 83

John Aprea, well-known for portraying Jesse Katsopolis’ father in Full House and the younger Salvatore Tessio in The Godfather Part II, has passed away at the age of 83. His manager, Will Levine, confirmed that Aprea died of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles.

Survived by his wife of 25 years, Betsy Graci, and his daughter Nicole, Aprea was surrounded by family during his final moments. Tributes poured in from numerous celebrities and co-stars, including Paul Carafotes, who had worked with Aprea on CBS’ Knots Landing.

Aprea’s career began with his role as Dr. Kinner in Bullit alongside Steve McQueen, after taking acting classes with Joshua Shelley. He also starred in films such as The Grasshopper, The Dark Side of Tomorrow, and Curtis Hanson’s Sweet Kill during the early ’70s.

His big break came while he was bartending in Los Angeles. An encounter with Francis Ford Coppola led to his role in The Godfather series. Although originally considered for the role of Michael Corleone, he found a more fitting character as the younger Salvatore Tessio in the sequel.

Aprea continued to build his career, gaining recognition and earning a Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Villain for his role as Manny Vasquez in Knots Landing. He worked alongside various A-listers, including Denzel Washington in 2004, and was a consistent presence in TV series and films.

His fame was further cemented when he guest-starred as Nick in Fuller House and reprised his role as Jack Madison in The Bay over the last four years. John Aprea’s legacy remains impactful, and fans have expressed their sorrow and appreciation for his talent. “RIP to John Aprea, a talented and ubiquitous character actor,” one supporter shared on Instagram.

Source: Variety, Deadline