John Aprea, the actor known for his roles as young Tessio in “The Godfather Part II” and Danny Tanner’s exterminator colleague and father to Jesse Katsopolis in “Full House,” has passed away at the age of 83. His manager, Will Levine, confirmed that John Aprea Died on August 5th of natural causes, surrounded by family in Los Angeles.
Born in 1941 to Italian immigrant parents in Englewood, New Jersey, Aprea’s journey took him from the East Coast to the heart of Hollywood. He moved to New York City in the early 1960s to pursue his passion for acting before eventually relocating to Los Angeles, where he would build a lasting career in film and television.
Aprea’s early career saw him land a role in the Steve McQueen classic “Bullitt” in 1967. However, it was his portrayal of the younger Salvatore “Sal” Tessio in Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece, “The Godfather Part II,” that truly brought him widespread recognition. Interestingly, Aprea initially auditioned for the iconic role of Michael Corleone, which ultimately went to Al Pacino.
To prepare for his role as young Tessio, John Aprea reportedly reached out to Abe Vigoda, who played the older version of the character in the original “The Godfather.” Vigoda’s advice was simple and encouraging: “just have a good time, kid.”
John Aprea as young Salvatore 'Sal' Tessio in "The Godfather: Part II"
Beyond “The Godfather Part II,” John Aprea enjoyed a prolific career with appearances in numerous television shows and films. His credits include TV series such as “The Montefuscos,” “Mannix,” “The Rookies,” and “NYPD Blue,” as well as movie roles in “The Idolmaker,” “Matt Houston,” “The Stepford Wives,” “American Anthem,” and “The Game.”
For fans of the sitcom “Full House,” John Aprea was a familiar face as the father of Jesse Katsopolis, played by John Stamos. He played the recurring role of the exterminator father on ABC from 1988 to 1991 and reprised the role in the Netflix reboot “Fuller House” in 2017, further cementing his place in popular culture.
John Aprea’s passing marks the end of a rich and varied career in Hollywood. He is survived by his wife, Betsy Garci, his daughter Nicole from a previous marriage to actress Cherie Latimer, and stepchildren Marika Parker and Valentino Garci. His contributions to film and television, particularly his memorable role in “The Godfather Part II”, will ensure he is fondly remembered.
