John Aprea, the actor famed for portraying John Stamos’ father on “Full House” and Sal Tessio in “The Godfather Part II,” has passed away at the age of 83. His manager confirmed that Aprea died of natural causes on August 5 in Los Angeles, surrounded by family.
Aprea is perhaps best known for his role as the younger version of mobster Salvatore “Sal” Tessio in the critically acclaimed 1974 film “The Godfather Part II.” In addition, he played mob boss Don Armeteo in the 1991 film “New Jack City,” where he clashed with the character Nino Brown, played by Wesley Snipes.
Another significant role for Aprea was as Nick Katsopolis, the father of Uncle Jesse, portrayed by Stamos, on “Full House.” He was part of the original series airing from 1988 to 1991 and made a guest appearance in the Netflix sequel, “Fuller House,” in 2017.
Aprea was born in 1941 in Englewood, New Jersey, to Italian immigrant parents. His acting career began with a significant role as a killer in the 1968 Steve McQueen film “Bullitt,” followed by his memorable performance in “The Godfather Part II.” Fellow actor Abe Vigoda, who originally portrayed Tessio, encouraged Aprea to enjoy the role.
Throughout his career, Aprea appeared in several television series, including “The Montefuscos” in 1975, and made guest appearances on popular shows such as “NYPD Blue,” “The A-Team,” “Melrose Place,” “The Sopranos,” and “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.” His final acting role was in the British crime drama “The Bay,” which aired from 2020 to 2023.
Aprea is survived by his wife Betsy Graci, with whom he spent 25 years, his daughter Nicole from a previous marriage, and stepchildren Marika Parker and Valentino Graci. He was predeceased by his sister, Rosanna Sole.