# John Aprea

Jonathan Aprea (March 4, 1941 – August 5, 2024) was an American actor. He is known for playing the roles of young Salvatore Tessio in The Godfather Part II (1974), Lt. Vince Novelli on Matt Houston (1982 to 1984), Sheriff Jack North on Falcon Crest (1987), Manny Vasquez on Knots Landing (1988), Lucas Castigliano on Another World (1989 to 1992), and Nick Katsopolis on Full House (1988 to 1991) and Fuller House (2017). His other film credits include Bullitt (1968), The Stepford Wives (1975), New Jack City (1991), The Game (1997), and The Manchurian Candidate (2004).

## Early life

Aprea was born on March 4, 1941, in Englewood, New Jersey, where he was also raised. He graduated in 1959 from Dwight Morrow High School. His parents were Italian immigrants who were both from the region of Campania. His father was born in Sorrento and his mother was born in Castellammare di Stabia. While he was growing up, Aprea's family would have Sunday dinners with aunts and uncles who lived in Brooklyn and New Jersey. The family spoke the Neapolitan language.
In high school, Aprea played football as an All Bergen County tackle and linebacker. He worked in a produce store owned by his parents, California Market, located in Englewood. After graduation, he enrolled as a business major at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. Aprea decided to leave school when the dean wouldn't let him change his major to political science. He took jobs at gas stations and also worked as a truck driver.

## Career
### 1960s–1974: Early work

Aprea always wanted to act, even though he described himself as a shy person. When he was twenty-three, he attended his first audition, after reading an ad in a local newspaper. He met with a man who said that he could have a part in a movie if he paid him a few thousand dollars. Aprea turned down the offer.
He told his sister about his dream to become an actor and she introduced him to television writer Saul Turteltaub. He helped Aprea enroll in acting classes taught by Joshua Shelley, who had worked with Jon Voight, Mia Farrow, and Michael J. Pollard. While attending school, he took night jobs, including working as a doorman at Schrafft's. He was a bartender at the Pub Room at Arthur, a nightclub that was owned by Sybil Christopher and frequented by many celebrities. Aprea eventually decided to leave New York to try other opportunities in Los Angeles.
He made his film debut as 'Dr. Kinner' in Bullitt (1968), co-starring with Steve McQueen. In 1970, he appeared in the films The Grasshopper and The Dark Side of Tomorrow. Aprea played Richard in the film Sweet Kill (1972), directed by Curtis Hanson. He guest starred on The F.B.I. in 1973. He also appeared in the film Caged Heat (1974), directed by Jonathan Demme.

### 1974–1980: The Godfather Part II

While tending bar at Robert's in Los Angeles, Aprea met Francis Ford Coppola and landed an audition for the role of Michael Corleone in The Godfather. The part went to Al Pacino. Coppola eventually cast Aprea as young Salvatore Tessio in The Godfather Part II (1974). The part of the older Tessio was played by Abe Vigoda. All of Aprea's lines in the film were spoken in Italian. He called working on the movie "the high point" of his career.
In 1975, he appeared as a cop in the film The Stepford Wives. He also played Marvin in the film Crazy Mama, directed again by Jonathan Demme. Aprea had a regular role as Joseph Montefusco on the short-lived NBC comedy series The Montefuscos. He guest starred on The Rookies and Kate McShane.
Aprea played Mack in the television film The Rock Rainbow (1978). He also appeared in the television film A Guide for the Married Woman, co-starring with Cybill Shepherd. In 1979, Aprea guest starred on Wonder Woman, Mrs. Columbo, and A Man Called Sloane. He played Mario Vaccari in the film The Idolmaker (1980), directed by Taylor Hackford.

### 1981–1987: Matt Houston

He appeared in the television film Crazy Times (1981), co-starring with Ray Liotta. Aprea was cast in a regular role as Albert Anastasia in the NBC miniseries The Gangster Chronicles. In 1982, he played a lawyer in the film Comeback. He guest starred on The Powers of Matthew Star. Aprea was cast as Lt. Vince Novelli on the ABC action series Matt Houston, playing the role from 1982 until 1984. In 1983, he played Ron in the film The Act.
In 1984, Aprea guest starred on Three's a Crowd and Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer. He appeared in the television film Getting Physical. In 1985, he guest starred on Hardcastle and McCormick, Simon & Simon, Street Hawk, and The A-Team. He played Peter Shefland in the television pilot for the series Stingray.
Aprea played Mr. Tevere in the film American Anthem (1986). He guest starred on Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Fall Guy. In 1987, Aprea played Frank in the television film Blood Vows: The Story of a Mafia Wife, co-starring with Melissa Gilbert. He had a recurring role as Sheriff Jack North on the CBS series Falcon Crest.

### 1988–1993: Another World

Aprea played Salazar in the action film Picasso Trigger (1988). He guest starred on Tales from the Darkside. He had a recurring role as Manny Vasquez on the CBS series Knots Landing. Aprea received a Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Villain - Prime Time for his work on Knots Landing.
From 1988 to 1989, he played the recurring role of Nick Katsopolis, the father of Jesse (John Stamos), on the ABC sitcom Full House. He also appeared on the show in 1991. Aprea played Captain Andreas in the action film Savage Beach (1989). He guest starred on Father Dowling Mysteries and Night Court. In 1989, Aprea was cast on the NBC soap opera Another World, playing Lucas Castigliano. The character of Lucas was paired with Felicia Gallant (Linda Dano). He had previously worked with Dano when they played siblings on The Montefuscos.
Aprea played Don Armeteo in the film New Jack City (1991), directed by Mario Van Peebles. In 1992, he left Another World when his contract came to an end. The character of Lucas was killed off. In 1993, Aprea guest starred on The Hat Squad, Dark Justice, Melrose Place, Saved by the Bell: The New Class, and Silk Stalkings.

### 1994–2024

He played Senator Dilly in the science fiction film CyberTracker (1994). He also appeared in the action film Direct Hit. From 1994 to 1995, Aprea guest starred on Heaven Help Us, Renegade, and Silk Stalkings. He played Philly Bambino in the action film To the Limit (1995), co-starring with Anna Nicole Smith. Aprea played Dominic in the film Sunset Park (1996).
He appeared in the film The Game (1997), directed by David Fincher. He also appeared in the films My Brother Jack, Deadly Ransom, and Dead Man on Campus. Aprea returned to Another World, playing a new character, Alexander Nikos, from 1997 to 1998. From 1998 to 2000, he guest starred on Vengeance Unlimited, Pacific Blue, The Sopranos, and The District.
Aprea played Mafia Boss Geppetti in the film Brother (2000). From 2001 to 2002, he had a recurring role on Philly. He appeared in the film The Streetsweeper (2002). In 2004, Aprea played Rear Admiral Glick in the film The Manchurian Candidate, co-starring with Denzel Washington and directed by Jonathan Demme. He guest starred on NYPD Blue in 2005. He played Mark McPhillips in the television film Mystery Woman: At First Sight (2006).
From 2009 to 2010, Aprea guest starred on Cold Case and Lie to Me. He played Sollie in the film Dirty People (2012). He guest starred on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation in 2013. He also played Jerry Masselin in the film After You. Mr. Aprea was recruited to appear on the First Annual On Cinema At the Cinema Oscar Special in 2013. This role would later lead to Aprea appearing as General Cotter/General Cotter Clone in the hit series Decker. Aprea starred as Mike Esposito in the film Sharkskin (2015). He played Angelo in the film Stevie D (2016). In 2017, he guest starred as Nick Katsopolis on Fuller House, a revival of Full House. Aprea appeared in the film Lost Angelas (2019). From 2020 to 2023, he had a recurring role on The Bay.

## Personal life and death

In the late 1960s, Aprea married actress Cherie Latimer. They later divorced.
He married actress Ninon Aprea (then known as Ninon Zenovich) on December 31, 1987. Their daughter was born in 1989. They divorced in October 1998, and Aprea later married Betsey Graci.
Aprea died of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles on August 5, 2024, at the age of 83.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1968 | Bullitt | Killer | |
| 1970 | The Grasshopper | The Ice Pack | |
| 1970 | The Dark Side of Tomorrow | Jim Jeffers | |
| 1972 | Sweet Kill | Richard | |
| 1973 | The Seven-Ups | Killer | Uncredited |
| 1974 | Caged Heat | Dream Man | |
| 1974 | The Godfather Part II | Young Salvatore Tessio | |
| 1975 | The Stepford Wives | Young Cop | |
| 1975 | Crazy Mama | Marvin | |
| 1980 | The Idolmaker | Mario Vaccari | |
| 1982 | Comeback | Lawyer | |
| 1983 | The Act | Ron | |
| 1986 | American Anthem | Mr. Tevere | |
| 1988 | Picasso Trigger | Salazar | |
| 1989 | Savage Beach | Captain Andreas | |
| 1991 | New Jack City | Don Armeteo | |
| 1992 | Confessions of a Male Prostitute | Nick | Short film |
| 1994 | Direct Hit | Terry Daniels | Video |
| 1994 | CyberTracker | Senator Dilly | |
| 1995 | To the Limit | Philly Bambino | |
| 1996 | Sunset Park | Dominic | |
| 1997 | The Game | Power Executive | |
| 1997 | My Brother Jack | Barry Freed | |
| 1998 | Deadly Ransom | Mr. Merlin | |
| 1998 | Dead Man on Campus | Mr. Frederickson | |
| 2000 | Brother | Mafia Boss Geppetti | |
| 2002 | The Streetsweeper | | |
| 2004 | The Manchurian Candidate | Rear Admiral Glick | |
| 2012 | Dirty People | Sollie | |
| 2013 | After You | Jerry Masselin | |
| 2014 | Snapshot | Joseph Simmons | |
| 2015 | Sharkskin | Mike Esposito | |
| 2016 | Stevie D | Angelo DiMarco | |
| 2017 | Dark Image | Alex Ricci | |
| 2019 | Lost Angelas | Senator John Russell | |
| 2019 | Space Junk | Dad | Short film |
| 2021 | Cold | Daniel Woods | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1969 | That Girl | Frank | Episode: "Shake Hands and Come Out Acting" |
| 1970 | Mannix | Thug | Episode: "Murder Revisited" (Uncredited) |
| 1973 | The F.B.I. | 1st Thug | Episode: "Night of the Long Knives" |
| 1975 | The Montefuscos | Joseph Montefusco | Main role |
| 1975 | Kate McShane | | Episode: "God at $15,732 a Year" |
| 1975 | The Rookies | Phil Richards | Episode: "Shadow of a Man" |
| 1978 | The Rock Rainbow | Mack | Television film |
| 1978 | A Guide for the Married Woman | Waiter | Television film |
| 1978 | Fix-It City | Joey Bellino | Television film |
| 1979 | Wonder Woman | Dupris | Episode: "The Man Who Could Not Die" |
| 1979 | Mrs. Columbo | Phil Stoppard | Episode: "Ladies of the Afternoon" |
| 1979 | A Man Called Sloane | Harry Helms | Episode: "Architect of Evil" |
| 1981 | Crazy Times | Ralph | Television film |
| 1981 | The Gangster Chronicles | Albert Anastasia | Miniseries |
| 1982 | The Powers of Matthew Star | Howard Crawford | Episode: "The Accused" |
| 1982–1984 | Matt Houston | Lt. Vince Novelli | Main role |
| 1984 | Getting Physical | Craig Cawley | Television film |
| 1984 | Three's a Crowd | Armando | Episode: "Maternal Triangle" |
| 1984 | Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer | Matt Rainey | Episode: "Catfight" |
| 1985 | Hardcastle and McCormick | | Episode: "What's So Funny?" |
| 1985 | Simon & Simon | Sidney Gretchen | Episode: "The Mickey Mouse Mob" |
| 1985 | Street Hawk | Dumos | Episode: "Follow the Yellow Gold Road" |
| 1985 | Stingray | Peter Shefland | Television film (pilot) |
| 1985 | The A-Team | Woody Stone | Episode: "There Goes the Neighborhood" |
| 1986 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Fisher | Episode: "A Very Happy Ending" |
| 1986 | The Fall Guy | Joe Bradley | Episode: "I Now Pronounce You...Dead" |
| 1987 | Blood Vows: The Story of a Mafia Wife | Frank | Television film |
| 1987 | Private Eye | Larry Robbins | Episode: "Blue Movie" |
| 1987 | Falcon Crest | Sheriff Jack North | Recurring role |
| 1988 | Tales from the Darkside | Lee | Episode: "Going Native" |
| 1988 | Knots Landing | Manny Vasquez | Recurring role |
| 1988–1989 & 1991 | Full House | Nick Katsopolis | Recurring role |
| 1989 | Father Dowling Mysteries | Peter Luciani | Episodes: "The Mafia Priest Mystery Part 1 & Part 2" |
| 1989 | Night Court | Marty Cologne | Episode: "From Snoop to Nuts Part 1" |
| 1989–1992 & 1997–1998 | Another World | Lucas Castigliano/Alexander Nikos | Contract role |
| 1993 | The Hat Squad | Stevenson | Episode: "Dead Man Walking" |
| 1993 | Dark Justice | | Episode: "Clean Kill" |
| 1993 | Melrose Place | John Bryant | Episode: "Of Bikes and Men" |
| 1993 | Saved by the Bell: The New Class | Mr. De Luca | Episode: "Tommy A" |
| 1993 & 1995 | Silk Stalkings | Ross Simon/Frank Danner | Episodes: "Daddy Dearest" & "Friendly Persuasion" |
| 1994 | Heaven Help Us | Det. Walker | Episode: "Stepping Out" |
| 1995 | Renegade | Vino Borelli | Episode: "Den of Thieves" |
| 1998 | Vengeance Unlimited | | Episode: "Ambition" |
| 1999 | Pacific Blue | Sonny Sorrento | Episode: "Thicker Than Water" |
| 1999 | The Sopranos | U.S. Attorney | Episode: "I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano" |
| 1999 & 2012 | Days of Our Lives | Arthur/Dr. Bryce | Recurring role |
| 2000 | The District | Chief of Detectives | Episode: "Dirty Laundry" |
| 2001–2002 | Philly | Victor Tommasino | Episodes: "Blown Away" & "San Diego Padre" |
| 2005 | NYPD Blue | Owen Munson | Episode: "Old Man Quiver" |
| 2006 | Mystery Woman: At First Sight | Mark McPhillips | Television film |
| 2007 | American Heiress | Lionel Wakefield | Main role |
| 2009 | Cold Case | Paul Romano '09 | Episode: "Libertyville" |
| 2010 | Lie to Me | Victor Musso | Episode: "The Whole Truth" |
| 2011 | The Christmas Pageant | Herb | Television film |
| 2012 | Interglobal Trading Fund | Howard | Short |
| 2013 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Pit Boss | Episode: "Take the Money and Run" |
| 2016–2017 | Decker | General Cotter/General Cotter Clone | Recurring role |
| 2017 | Drive Share | Frank's Dad | Episode: "Balls Deep" |
| 2017 | Fuller House | Nick Katsopolis | Episode: "Wedding or Not Here We Come" |
| 2020–2023 | The Bay | Jack Madison | Recurring role |