John Aprea, actor in “The Godfather, Part II” and “Full House,” dies at the age of 83

John Aprea, an actor who played crooks in the Godfather trilogy and other films and later appeared briefly as the strict but loving father of a popular character in the sitcom Full househas died. He was 83 years old.

Aprea died on August 5 at his home in Los Angeles, according to his manager Will Levine. A cause of death was not given.

In The Godfather – Part II (1974), the second part of the mafia family’s cult masterpiece, Aprea played a young version of Salvatore “Sal” Tessio, a serious gangster.

Aprea won the role of Michael Corleone against Al Pacino in The Godfather (1972). But his role as Tessio helped him launch his career.

“I think that was the credit that changed everything,” he said in a 2019 interview with actor Clint Culp.

In several episodes of the hit ABC Family sitcom Full houseIn the series, which ran from 1987 to 1995, he played Nick Katsopolis, an exterminator and father of John Stamos’ character Jesse Katsopolis, known as “Uncle Jesse.”

John Aprea was born on March 4, 1941 in Englewood, New Jersey. He and his family moved to Italy, where his parents were from, for several years before they all returned to New Jersey.

Aprea moved to New York in the 1960s to become an actor before moving to Hollywood in 1968. His first breakthrough came with the role of a killer in the crime thriller Bullitt with Steve McQueen.

He was originally supposed to be the spitting image of another actor in the film, Aprea said in the 2019 interview, but the crew found a stronger doppelgänger. Aprea was brought in for his scene as filming was wrapping up, he said.

Aprea’s other films included The Stepford Wivesa 1975 thriller set in Connecticut; The Idol Makera 1980 film based on the life of rock promoter and producer Bob Marcucci; New Jack Citya 1991 crime drama about urban violence; and Candidate of Feara 2004 remake of the 1962 political thriller.

Aprea also reiterated his Full house Role for the reboot of the Netflix series, Fuller housewhich ran from 2016 to 2020. And he appeared in popular shows such as NYPD Blue, CSI And The Sopranos.

Aprea leaves behind his wife Betsy Graci and his daughter Nicole from a previous marriage to actress Ninon Aprea.