John Aprea has died of natural causes at the age of 83. According to his manager Will Levine, the popular actor died on August 5 in his home in Los Angeles. He was surrounded by his family.
© GettyBorn on March 4, 1941 in Englewood, New Jersey, John began his decades-long career with a small role in the 1968 classic Bullittwith Steve McQueen in the lead role. In the early 70s, the star appeared in The Grasshopper (1970), Sweet Kill (1972) and The Seven-Ups (1973) before landing one of his most popular roles.
In the role of the young Salvatore Tessio in Francis Ford Coppola’s crime epic The Godfather – Part 2 (1974) John took on the role of Abe Vigoda. The film won six Oscars and a BAFTA, among others.
In an interview with Digital Journal in 2020, John spoke of his enduring pride. “There have been jobs that have changed everything for me, like The Godfather Part II, which was monumental for me. Plus a series here and there and a pilot that has aired. Those are the things that keep you going.”
“The Godfather Part II just stays with you,” he continued. “It’s a part of you. It’s one of the best films ever made.”
© GettyJohn also referred to The Godfather – Part 2 as the “highlight” of his career. Looking back on the time he spent working with Francis Ford Coppola, Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, he noted: “In The Godfather I was surrounded by the best.”
While John’s portrayal of Salvatore Tessio is perhaps his most talked about, the New Jersey native also left his mark on television. From 1988 to 1991, he played Nick Katsopolis – the father of John Stamos’ character Jesse – and later signed with Another world.
The Sopranos (1999), Time of longing (1999), CSI – Tracking the perpetrators (2013), Decker (2016-17), Fuller house (2017) and The Bay (2020–2023) round out his extensive list of TV credits.
John leaves behind his third wife Betsy, with whom he was together for 25 years, his daughter Nicole from his second marriage to actress Ninon Aprea, and his stepchildren Marika and Valentino.
Following the news of his death, condolences poured in on X, formerly Twitter. “#JohnAprea has died. Such a great actor! I loved him on #AnotherWorld and @TheBaytheSeries,” wrote one fan.
“RIP to John Aprea, a talented and omnipresent character actor,” wrote a second.
