In a tragic-ironic twist, even as the Knots Landing When episodes featuring John Aprea as Manny Vasquez began airing for the first time in years, news broke that the 83-year-old actor had died in early August.
According to TMZ, Aprea, who is perhaps best known to soap fans for his time on Another worlddied on August 7 surrounded by friends and family. The cause of death was not disclosed.
Aprea had a long and successful career, starring in some of the most popular films and television series of all time. He played the father of John Stamos’ Uncle Jesse in Full house and Salvatore Tessio in The Godfather, Part II.
In 1988, Aprea joined the cast of Knots Landing as shady businessman Manny Vazquez during season 9. Paul Carafotes, who played Manny’s nephew/hired muscleman Harold, expressed his sadness over the loss on Instagram. “We laughed a lot,” he wrote, noting that it had been 40 years since they met on the set of the primetime soap opera. “Many will miss this man!”
In 1989, the daytime soap Another world scored a hit with the pairing of Lucas Castigliano (Aprea) and flamboyant writer Felicia Galant (Linda Dano). He later took on a second role in the Bay City-set soap, that of Alexander Nikos.
More: The story of Another World
Ironically, Aprea later appeared in another soap, The Baywhich is also set in a town called Bay City. There he played the patriarch and former mayor Jack Madison.
His numerous other engagements included Falcon Crest — where he appeared as Sheriff Jack North — and a brief career at Time of longing as Dr. Bryce.
We are thinking of Aprea’s friends and family and join us in remembering those other Daytimers who lost their lives in 2024.
