John Aprea, best known for his portrayal of young Salvatore “Sal” Tessio in The Godfather Part II, passed away on August 5th at the age of 83. According to his manager, Will Levine, the actor died of natural causes in Los Angeles surrounded by loved ones.
Levine described Aprea as “an incredibly talented actor and loved by his friends. One of the classiest guys I knew.”
Born in 1941 to Italian immigrants in Englewood, New Jersey, Aprea’s acting career began with a role in the 1968 Steve McQueen classic Bullitt. His breakthrough came when he was cast as the younger version of Sal Tessio in The Godfather Part II. Seeking advice on the character, Aprea reportedly called Abe Vigoda, who played the older Tessio. Vigoda’s simple response, “I don’t know what I did. Just have a good time, kid,” became a memorable anecdote.
Throughout his career, Aprea appeared in various crime dramas and soap operas. He held prominent roles in daytime hit Another World and played John Stamos’ father in the beloved sitcom Full House.
Aprea reprised his Full House character in the Netflix reboot Fuller House and also starred as Jack Madison in the TV series The Bay. Creator Gregori J. Martin praised Aprea as a “true gentleman and absolute pro” who brought “beautiful moments” to the role of Jack.
Aprea is survived by his wife Betsy Graci, daughter Nicole, and stepchildren Marika Parker and Valentino Graci. He was previously married to actresses Ninon Aprea and Cherie Latimer.
