John Aprea, who played the young Tessio in The Godfather – Part II and Jesse’s father in Full housedied at the age of 83.
According to his manager Will Levine, Aprea died of natural causes on Monday, August 5, surrounded by his family at his home in Los Angeles.
Aprea was born on March 4, 1941 in Englewood, New Jersey. Her first film was in 1968 Bullittnext to Steve McQueen.
He then secured perhaps his most famous role as young Tessio in 1974 The Godfather – Part IIHe auditioned for the role of Michael Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola’s original 1972 film, but did not get the job.
Aprea once said that working with Coppola and actors Al Pacino and Robert De Niro was “the highlight of his career,” adding: “I was surrounded by the best in The Godfather.”
He also appeared in films such as The Stepford Wives (1975), New Jack City (1991), The game (1997), Dead man on campus (1998) and Candidate of Fear (2004).
To Full houseand the sequel series Fuller houseAprea appeared as Jesse’s (John Stamos) father Nick Katsopolis.
On television, Aprea has also The Gangster Chronicles, Matt HoustonAnd Knots Landingas well as episodes of Wonder Woman, All good things come in threes, The A-Team, Alfred Hitchcock presents, A Colt for all occasions, Falcon Crest, Stories from the dark side, Night Court, Melrose Square, Saved by the Bell: The New Class And The Sopranos.
Aprea Knots Landing Co-star Paul Carafotes paid tribute to the late actor on Saturday. “We had a lot of laughs,” he wrote. “We met over 40 years ago on the set of the CBS television series Knots Landing (1987). This man will be missed by many! Rest in peace, old friend. See you on the other side.”
