Entertainment

Hollywood Star John Aprea Dies At 83

Published

3 months ago

Aug 19, 2024.

Veteran actor John Aprea, best known for his roles as young Salvatore Tessio in “The Godfather Part II” and as John Stamos’ father on “Full House,” passed away at the age of 83.

Aprea’s manager, Will Levine, confirmed that the actor died of natural causes in Los Angeles, surrounded by his family.

Born in 1941 in Englewood, New Jersey, to Italian immigrant parents, Aprea launched his acting career in the early 1960s after moving to New York City.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that he eventually relocated to Los Angeles, where he secured his first major role in the 1967 film “Bullitt” starring Steve McQueen. His career-defining moment came when he was cast as the young version of Sal Tessio in “The Godfather Part II,” a role that became a hallmark of his acting legacy.

Although he initially auditioned for the role of Michael Corleone in “The Godfather,” which went to Al Pacino, Aprea embraced his role as Tessio. He sought advice from Abe Vigoda, who played the older version of Tessio, and cherished Vigoda’s advice to “just have a good time” throughout his career.

John Aprea Dies At 83

Aprea enjoyed a diverse career in film and television, appearing in movies like “The Stepford Wives,” “The Idolmaker,” and shows such as “NYPD Blue” and “Matt Houston.” He also portrayed Jesse Katsopolis’ father in “Full House” and reprised the role in the 2017 reboot “Fuller House.”