Veteran actor John Aprea, remembered for his iconic role in The Godfather Part II and TV’s Full House, passed away at 83.
John Aprea, a versatile actor whose career spanned over five decades, died of natural causes on August 5 in Los Angeles at the age of 83. Born on March 4, 1941, in Englewood, New Jersey, John Aprea made his Hollywood debut in 1968, appearing in the Steve McQueen thriller Bullitt. His early career was a mix of television guest spots and film roles, showcasing his adaptability as a performer.
John Aprea’s path to stardom began unexpectedly while he was working as a bartender in Los Angeles. There, he met the legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, who was in the process of casting for The Godfather. Although Aprea auditioned for the role of Michael Corleone, a part that eventually went to Al Pacino, Francis Ford Coppola recognized his talent and cast him as the young Salvatore Tessio in The Godfather Part II (1974). This role became a defining moment in John Aprea’s career, securing his place in cinematic history.
In 1975, he landed his first regularly scheduled television role in the short-lived sitcom The Montefuscos. One of his notable projects was the limited TV drama The Gangster Chronicles (1981). The 1980s saw Aprea expanding his television presence with recurring roles in popular primetime dramas such as Falcon Crest and Knots Landing. He also became a familiar face in daytime television, with roles in Another World and Days of Our Lives. His versatility allowed him to take on guest roles in an array of shows, including Melrose Place, The Hat Squad, Saved by the Bell: The New Class, Renegade, Silk Stalkings, and The Sopranos.
In 1988, Aprea joined the cast of the sitcom Full House, where he played Nick Katsopolis, father to John Stamos’s character, Jesse. His recurring role endeared him to a new generation of fans, and he later reprised the character in the Netflix sequel Fuller House in 2017. Most recently, Aprea appeared in the web drama The Bay, continuing his long-standing commitment to his craft until 2023. His legacy as a gifted actor will be remembered through the many characters he brought to life on both the big and small screens.
