Death robbed Hollywood of another iconic legend when John Aprea, an actor whose performances have inspired new generations of actors for decades, passed on.
Aprea is best known for portraying crooks in “The Godfather Part II” and other films and as the strict but loving father of a popular character on the sitcom “Full House.” He died on August 5, 2024, at his home in Los Angeles, surrounded by his loved ones. He was 83.
John Aprea’s Death Was Confirmed by His Manager, Will Levine
The iconic actor’s death was confirmed by his manager, Will Levine. Levine told PEOPLE on Sunday, August 18, that the actor died of natural causes on August 5 at his Los Angeles home. The actor, who hails from Englewood, N.J., was born to Italian immigrants.
John Aprea began his acting career in New York City in the 1960s, after which he moved to Los Angeles. There, he got to feature in movies, including Steve McQueen’s 1967 film “Bullitt,” 1970’s “The Grasshopper” and 1975’s “The Stepford Wives.”
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From there, he appeared in many more well-received films and TV series, including “Caged Heat,” “The Manchurian Candidate,” and the soap opera “Knots Landing.”
Aprea was especially talented at channeling mobster characters. As such, he played many such roles during his career, including in Mario Van Peebles’ 1991 movie “New Jack City” and TV shows such as the 1981 NBC miniseries “The Gangster Chronicles.”
John Aprea Bagged His First Audition After Meeting Francis Ford Coppola
John Aprea ran into Francis Ford Coppola while bartending in Los Angeles. It was during that fateful meeting he got to audition for the role of Michael Corleone in the original “Godfather” film.
The role eventually went to Al Pacino. But Aprea left a lasting impression on Coppola, who called him back for the sequel. In the sequel, Aprea played the role of mafia man Salvatore Tessio, who Abe Vigoda portrayed in the original.
He did it perfectly and cemented his name among the greats of Hollywood as movie fans fell in love with his portrayal of Corleone. Aprea always fondly looked back on the project, proud to have been part of Hollywood’s iconic history.
John Aprea on Starring in the “Godfather” Franchise
As stated earlier, the second installment featured John Aprea as Michael Corleone, allowing him to act alongside the talented Coppola and Pacino and the legendary Robert De Niro.
In a previous interview, Aprea admitted that working with Coppola, Pacino, and De Niro on the film was “the high point” of his acting career. “I was surrounded by the best in The Godfather,” he reportedly said.
Who Did John Aprea Play in Full House?
Between 1988 and 1991, John Aprea appeared on “Full House” as Nick Katsopolis, an exterminator and father to Jesse Katsopolis, played by John Stamos. He also reprised the role for the show’s 2017 Netflix reboot, “Fuller House.”
The stars Aprea worked with as an actor have been mourning his death since the news went public. On Saturday, August 18, his “Knots Landing” co-star Paul Carafotes dedicated a tribute to him. “I just heard that my old pal, friend, actor, father, husband, brother passed away,” the tribute began.
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“We had lots of laughs. We met on the set of CBS television show ‘Knots Landing’ in 1987. Over 40 years ago,” Carafotes continued. “Many will miss this man! Rest, old friend. I’ll see you on the other side.”
The late actor leaves behind his wife of 25 years, Betsy Graci, his daughter Nicole, a product of his previous marriage to actress Ninon Aprea, and his stepchildren, Marika Parker and Valentino Graci. He was predeceased by his sister, Rosanna Sole.
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