LOS ANGELES — John Aprea, the actor best known for his roles in “The Godfather Part II” and “Full House,” died on August 5 at his Los Angeles home. He was 83.
Aprea’s manager, Will Levine, confirmed that the actor died of natural causes, surrounded by family members.
Born in New Jersey, Aprea moved to New York in the 1960s to pursue an acting career after playing football in school and living in Italy for several years. His career spanned decades and included notable roles in both film and television.
Aprea’s breakout role came in “The Godfather Part II” (1974), where he played the young Salvatore Tessio. All of his lines in the film were spoken in Italian. He had initially auditioned for the role of Michael Corleone in the first “Godfather” film after meeting director Francis Ford Coppola while bartending in Los Angeles.
His television career included starring roles in NBC’s “The Montefuscos” in the 1970s and a recurring part in “Knots Landing” in 1988. Aprea gained further recognition for his role as Nick Katsopolis, John Stamos’ father, in the popular sitcom “Full House” and later reprised the role in the 2017 sequel series “Fuller House.”
Aprea’s film credits also include playing a hitman in the Steve McQueen movie “Bullitt” (1968). He portrayed a mob boss in the 1981 NBC miniseries “The Gangster Chronicles.”
The actor continued working until recently, with a recurring role as Jack Madison in the crime drama series “The Bay.” Gregori J. Martin, the show’s creator and showrunner, praised Aprea’s professionalism and the “beautiful moments” he brought to the role.
Aprea was married twice, first to actress Cherie Latimer for 11 years. His second marriage was to Ninon Zenovich in 1987, with whom he had a daughter in 1989.
Fellow actors and fans have paid tribute to Aprea. Paul Carafotes, his “Knots Landing” co-star, remembered him as an “old pal” with whom he shared “lots of laughs.”
Aprea’s passing marks the end of a long and varied career in Hollywood, leaving behind a legacy spanning multiple decades and genres in both film and television.
