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

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As a gamer who has spent countless hours immersed in the worlds of crime dramas and soap operas, I can truly say that John Aprea was a stalwart figure whose presence graced the screens of many an avid viewer like myself. From his unforgettable role as Salvatore Tessio in The Godfather Part II to his recurring character on Full House, he left an indelible mark on my television-viewing life.

83-year-old John Aprea, famed for his captivating performances as the young Salvatore Tessio in The Godfather Part II and as the father of John Stamos’ character on Full House, has sadly passed away.

Aprea died Aug. 5 of natural causes in Los Angeles, his manager, Will Levine, announced.

Originating from New Jersey, the individual made appearances under director Jonathan Demme in films like “Caged Heat” (1974), “Crazy Mama” (1975), and “The Manchurian Candidate” (2004). In Taylor Hackford’s “The Idolmaker” (1980), they portrayed the sibling of Ray Sharkey’s rising music promoter, while in Mario Van Peebles’ “New Jack City” (1991), they took on a role as a mob member.

During a span of about ten years (1989-1998), Aprea portrayed two different roles on the NBC daytime drama Another World. One was Lucas Castigliano, a crafty character, and the other was Alexander Nikos, a wealthy shipping tycoon. Interestingly, both characters met their demise at the hands of women.

He played the head of an extended Italian-American family in the NBC series titled “The Montefuscos“, however, the sitcom, developed by Bill Persky and Sam Denoff, only aired for nine episodes back in 1975.

In the bustling city of Los Angeles, Aprea worked behind a bar and had the opportunity to cross paths with Francis Ford Coppola. This encounter led to an audition for the role of Michael Corleone in the movie “The Godfather” (1972). Although Al Pacino was ultimately chosen for the part, Aprea did manage to secure a role in the first sequel, portraying Tessio – the character originally played by Abe Vigoda.

He called up Vigoda seeking understanding about the character, to which he is said to have responded: “I’m not sure what I may have done. Just enjoy yourself, young man.” For him, this performance was the pinnacle of his professional journey, he declared.

Back in the late ’80s to early ’90s, I stepped into the shoes of Jesse Katsopolis’ no-nonsense father on ABC’s “Full House.” Fast forward to 2017, I returned to the role for the Netflix revival of this classic sitcom.

Jonathan Aprea was born on March 4, 1941, to Italian immigrants, specifically in Englewood, New Jersey. For a short while, his family resided in Italy, but they eventually returned to New Jersey. In 1959, he graduated from Dwight Morrow High School, where he participated in football.

In the early 60s, Aprea decided to chase his acting dreams in New York City. Later, he transferred to Los Angeles where he starred as a hitman in Steve McQueen’s iconic film “Bullitt” (1967). He continued with roles in movies like “The Grasshopper” (1970) and Curtis Hanson’s “Sweet Kill” (1972).

Later, Aprea became prominently known for portraying the notorious mob boss Albert Anastasia in the critically-acclaimed 1981 NBC series titled “The Gangster Chronicles“.

In the realm of television, I graced the screens as Lt. Vince Novelli in the initial two seasons (1982-84) of the ABC action series Matt Houston. Later, I found myself at the heart of significant narratives on a couple of CBS prime-time soaps – I portrayed Sheriff Jack North in Falcon Crest during 1987 and took on the menacing role of Manny Vasquez in Knots Landing in 1988.

His acting career boasted appearances on shows such as Mannix, The Rookies, The F.B.I., Wonder Woman, Silk Stalkings, The Sopranos, Cold Case, NYPD Blue, and CSI, along with roles in films like The Stepford Wives (1975), American Anthem (1986), and The Game (1997).

Living on are his third spouse, Betsy (a partnership spanning 25 years); his daughter, Nicole, born from a past union with actress Cherie Latimer; and step-offspring Marika and Valentino. His sister, Rosanna, preceded him in death.

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2024-08-18 19:56