John Aprea, the Hollywood actor best known for his role in the 1974 classic film The Godfather Part II and the popular TV show Full House, has died at the age of 83.
Aprea, who portrayed the young Salvatore “Sal” Tessio in The Godfather Part II, passed away earlier this month. His manager, Will Levine, confirmed that Aprea died of natural causes on Monday, August 5, in Los Angeles, surrounded by his loved ones.
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of Mr. Aprea,” Levine told Fox News Digital. “He was an incredibly talented actor and was loved by his friends. He was one of the classiest men I’ve ever known.”
Born in 1941 in Englewood, New Jersey, to Italian immigrant parents, Aprea began his acting career with a role in the 1968 Steve McQueen film Bullitt, a San Francisco cop drama. He later gained significant recognition for his portrayal of young Tessio in The Godfather Part II.
When Aprea was cast for the role, he reportedly reached out to Abe Vigoda, who played the older version of Tessio in The Godfather Part I, for advice on the character. Vigoda humorously told him, “I don’t know what I did. Just have a good time, kid.”
Aprea had a long career in television as well, playing characters like Alexander Nikos and Lucas Castigliano on the long-running daytime soap opera Another World. He also played John Stamos’ father on the family sitcom Full House and reprised this role years later when the show was rebooted on Netflix as Fuller House.
John Aprea is survived by his wife and partner of 25 years, Betsy Graci; his daughter, Nicole, from a previous marriage; and his stepchildren, Marika Parker and Valentino Graci.
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