John Aprea, Iconic Actor of ‘The Godfather Part II’ and ‘Full House,’ Passes Away

John Aprea, the distinguished actor renowned for his performances in “The Godfather Part II” and “Full House,” has passed away at the age of 83. His manager, Will Levine, confirmed that Aprea died of natural causes on August 5 at his Los Angeles home, surrounded by his loved ones, as reported by Deadline.

Born on March 4, 1941, in Englewood, New Jersey, Aprea’s acting career began in 1968 with his role in the Steve McQueen classic Bullitt. However, it was his portrayal of Young Tessio in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather Part II (1974) that truly cemented his place in Hollywood. Interestingly, Aprea had originally auditioned for the role of Michael Corleone in the first Godfather film in 1972.

Aprea’s career spanned several decades, with notable appearances in films such as The Stepford Wives (1975), New Jack City (1991), The Game (1997), Dead Man on Campus (1998), and The Manchurian Candidate (2004).

In addition to his film work, Aprea was a familiar face on television, most memorably playing Nick Katsopolis, Jesse’s father, in both Full House and its sequel, Fuller House. His extensive TV credits also included roles in The Gangster Chronicles, Matt Houston, Knots Landing, Wonder Woman, The A-Team, Melrose Place, and The Sopranos, among others.