John Aprea, 'The Godfather Part II' & 'Full House' Actor, Dies at 83
He was not on the list.
John Aprea, an actor who said his greatest career accomplishment was playing young Salvatore in 1974's "The Godfather Part II," died August 15 of unspecified causes. He was 83.
His friend and former co-star Paul Carafotes, author of the children's book "The Adventures of Charlie Bubbles!," announced Aprea's death on Instagram late Saturday, writing, "I just heard that my old pal, friend Actor, father, husband, brother. Passed away 8/15/2024 We had lots of laughs. We met on the set of CBS television show Knots Landing, 1987 Over 40 years ago. Many will miss this man! Rest old friend. I’ll see you on the other side PC."
He included a flashback photo and a more recent image, showing himself with Aprea in Aprea's hospital bed.
Born March 4, 1941, in Englewood, New Jersey, Aprea was a first-generation Italian-American who studied business before exploring a long-suppressed desire to act. He studied acting with blacklisted Actors Studio member Joshua Shelley, making his film debut in Steve McQueen's 1968 action film "Bullitt."
He was rarely out of work after that, working both on TV and in the movies.
Of his most famous work, he said in a 2020 interview, "['The Godfather II'] is one of the best films ever made. Each time it comes on television, I tell myself, ‘I’m not going to see it again,’ but before I know it, I’ve watched every minute of it. Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo wrote an amazing screenplay.”
As young Salvatore Tessio — Abe Vigoda played the older version — his performance set him up to play mob figures many times over, but he enjoyed dramatic and comedic roles, and found his longest-running gig as Lucas Castigliano on more than 400 episodes of the soap "Another World" (1989-1998).
His other prominent TV roles were on "The Gangster Chronicles" (1981), as Lt. Vince Novelli on "Matt Houston" (1982-1984), as Sheriff North on "Falcon Crest" (1987), as Manny Vasquez on "Knots Landing" (1988), as Lionel Wakefield on "American Heiress" (2007), and playing the dad of John Stamos' character on both "Full House" (1988-1991) and "Fuller House" (2017).
Other films included "The Seven-Ups" (1973), "Caged Heat" (1974), "The Stepford Wives" (1975), "Crazy Mama" (1975), "The Idolmaker" (1980), "Dead Man on Campus" (1998), and "The Manchurian Candidate" (2004).
More recently, Aprea had a recurring role on "The Bay" (2020-2023).
Divorced twice, he is survived by his daughter.
Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Notes
1968 Bullitt Killer
1970 The Grasshopper The Ice Pack
The Dark Side of Tomorrow Jim Jeffers
1972 Sweet Kill Richard
1973 The Seven-Ups Killer Uncredited
1974 Caged Heat Dream Man
The Godfather Part II Young Salvatore Tessio
1975 The Stepford Wives Young Cop
Crazy Mama Marvin
1980 The Idolmaker Mario Vaccari
1982 Comeback Lawyer
1983 The Act Ron
1986 American Anthem Mr. Tevere
1988 Picasso Trigger Salazar
1989 Savage Beach Captain Andreas
1991 New Jack City Don Armeteo
1992 Confessions of a Male Prostitute Nick Short film
1994 Direct Hit Terry Daniels Video
CyberTracker Senator Dilly
1995 To the Limit Philly Bambino
1996 Sunset Park Dominic
1997 The Game Power Executive
My Brother Jack Barry Freed
1998 Deadly Ransom Mr. Merlin
Dead Man on Campus Mr. Frederickson
2000 Brother Mafia Boss Geppetti
2002 The Streetsweeper
2004 The Manchurian Candidate Rear Admiral Glick
2012 Dirty People Sollie
2013 After You Jerry Masselin
2014 Snapshot Joseph Simmons
2015 Sharkskin Mike Esposito
2016 Stevie D Angelo DiMarco
2017 Dark Image Alex Ricci
2019 Lost Angelas Senator John Russell
Space Junk Dad Short film
2021 Cold Daniel Woods
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1969 That Girl Frank Episode: "Shake Hands and Come Out Acting"
1970 Mannix Thug Episode: "Murder Revisited"
Uncredited
1973 The F.B.I. 1st Thug Episode: "Night of the Long Knives"
1975 The Montefuscos Joseph Montefusco Series regular
9 episodes
Kate McShane Episode: "God at $15,732 a Year"
The Rookies Phil Richards Episode: "Shadow of a Man"
1978 The Rock Rainbow Mack Television film
A Guide for the Married Woman Waiter Television film
Fix-It City Joey Bellino Television film
1979 Wonder Woman Dupris Episode: "The Man Who Could Not Die"
Mrs. Columbo Phil Stoppard Episode: "Ladies of the Afternoon"
A Man Called Sloane Harry Helms Episode: "Architect of Evil"
1981 Crazy Times Ralph Television film
The Gangster Chronicles Albert Anastasia Television miniseries
13 episodes
1982 The Powers of Matthew Star Howard Crawford Episode: "The Accused"
1982–1984 Matt Houston Lt. Vince Novelli Series regular
24 episodes
1984 Getting Physical Craig Cawley Television film
Three's a Crowd Armando Episode: "Maternal Triangle"
Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer Matt Rainey Episode: "Catfight"
1985 Hardcastle and McCormick Episode: "What's So Funny?"
Simon & Simon Sidney Gretchen Episode: "The Mickey Mouse Mob"
Street Hawk Dumos Episode: "Follow the Yellow Gold Road"
Stingray Peter Shefland Television film (pilot)
The A-Team Woody Stone Episode: "There Goes the Neighborhood"
1986 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Fisher Episode: "A Very Happy Ending"
The Fall Guy Joe Bradley Episode: "I Now Pronounce You...Dead"
1987 Blood Vows: The Story of a Mafia Wife Frank Television film
Private Eye Larry Robbins Episode: "Blue Movie"
Falcon Crest Sheriff Jack North Recurring role
16 episodes
1988 Tales from the Darkside Lee Episode: "Going Native"
Knots Landing Manny Vasquez Recurring role
12 episodes
1988–1989; 1991 Full House Nick Katsopolis Recurring role
7 episodes
1989 Father Dowling Mysteries Peter Luciani Episodes: "The Mafia Priest Mystery Part 1 & Part 2"
Night Court Marty Cologne Episode: "From Snoop to Nuts Part 1"
1989–1992; 1997–1998 Another World Lucas Castigliano; Alexander Nikos Contract roles
423 episodes
1993 The Hat Squad Stevenson Episode: "Dead Man Walking"
Dark Justice Episode: "Clean Kill"
Melrose Place John Bryant Episode: "Of Bikes and Men"
Saved by the Bell: The New Class Mr. De Luca Episode: "Tommy A"
1993; 1995 Silk Stalkings Ross Simon; Frank Danner Episodes: "Daddy Dearest", "Friendly Persuasion"
1994 Heaven Help Us Det. Walker Episode: "Stepping Out"
1995 Renegade Vino Borelli Episode: "Den of Thieves"
1998 Vengeance Unlimited Episode: "Ambition"
1999 Pacific Blue Sonny Sorrento Episode: "Thicker Than Water"
The Sopranos U.S. Attorney Episode: "I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano"
1999; 2012 Days of Our Lives Arthur; Dr. Bryce Recurring roles
2000 The District Chief of Detectives Episode: "Dirty Laundry"
2001–2002 Philly Victor Tommasino Episodes: "Blown Away", "San Diego Padre"
2005 NYPD Blue Owen Munson Episode: "Old Man Quiver"
2006 Mystery Woman: At First Sight Mark McPhillips Television film
2007 American Heiress Lionel Wakefield Series regular
28 episodes
2009 Cold Case Paul Romano '09 Episode: "Libertyville"
2010 Lie to Me Victor Musso Episode: "The Whole Truth"
2011 The Christmas Pageant Herb Television film
2012 Interglobal Trading Fund Howard Television short
2013 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Pit Boss Episode: "Take the Money and Run"
2016–2017 Decker General Cotter; General Cotter Clone Recurring role
10 episodes
2017 Drive Share Frank's Dad Episode: "Balls Deep"
Fuller House Nick Katsopolis Episode: "Wedding or Not Here We Come"
2020–2023 The Bay Jack Madison Recurring role
9 episodes
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