“The Godfather Part II” and “Full House” star John Aprea dies at 83
Actor John Aprea, who played the young Salvatore Tessio in the legendary mafia film The Godfather – Part IIdied on August 5th of natural causes, according to his manager Will Levine, who announced the news to Deadline Sunday. He was 83.
The actor died in Los Angeles “surrounded by his family,” Levine added.
The New Jersey native began his career in show business with the 1968 Steve McQueen film Bullitt, and appeared in 99 films and television shows throughout his career.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, he got his role in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather series after meeting the director while working as a bartender.
He first auditioned for the role of gangster Michael Corleone – the role later made famous by Al Pacino – in the first part of the trilogy, released in 1972. He later got his breakthrough when he landed a place in the sequel, released in 1974.
John Aprea in the movie “The Godfather: Part II” directed by Francis Ford Coppola.
CBS via Getty Images
After Aprea got the role, she called actor Abe Vigoda, who played Tessio in the original, to discuss the role.
“I don’t know what I did. Just have fun, boy,” Vigoda is said to have told Aprea.
Aprea’s second star appearance came in the successful family sitcom of the 1980s and 90s Full house, where he played Jesse Katsopolis’ (John Stamos) father Nick Katsopolis. He later returned to the Netflix reboot of the series, Fuller housein 2017.
His other roles include roles in films such as The Stepford Wives, The gameAnd Candidate of fear.
Actor John Aprea attends a charity event in 2010.
Donato Sardella/WireImage
On the small screen, Aprea did considerable work on the soap operas Falcon Crest, Another worldAnd Time of our longing.
His last role before his death was in a drama called The Baywhere he played Jack Madison.
