John Aprea, known for his role as young Tessio in “The Godfather Part II” and as John Stamos’ father in the beloved sitcom “Full House,” passed away on August 5 at the age of 83. His manager, Will Levine, confirmed that Aprea died of natural causes in Los Angeles, surrounded by his family and loved ones.
Born in 1941 to Italian immigrant parents in Englewood, New Jersey, Aprea moved to New York City in the early 1960s to pursue an acting career before eventually relocating to Los Angeles.
Aprea’s first significant role came in the 1967 film “Bullitt” starring Steve McQueen, which paved the way for his portrayal of young Salvatore “Sal” Tessio in “The Godfather Part II.” Although he initially auditioned for the part of Michael Corleone in “The Godfather,” the role went to Al Pacino.
Before filming, Aprea reached out to Abe Vigoda, who portrayed the older version of his character in “The Godfather.” Vigoda advised him to simply “have a good time.”
Reflecting on his career, Aprea considered his role in “The Godfather Part II” a highlight. Over the years, he appeared in numerous television shows and films, including “The Montefuscos,” “The Idolmaker,” “Matt Houston,” “Mannix,” “The Rookies,” “NYPD Blue,” “The Stepford Wives,” “American Anthem,” and “The Game.”
In “Full House,” Aprea had a recurring role as the exterminator dad of Stamos’ character, Jesse Katsopolis, from 1988 to 1991, and he reprised this role in the 2017 Netflix sequel, “Fuller House.”
He is survived by his third wife, Betsy Garci, his daughter Nicole from a previous marriage to actress Cherie Latimer, and his stepchildren, Marika Parker and Valentino Garci.