Godfather II actor John Aprea dead at 83: Star passes away at LA home

John Aprea has passed away at the age of 83.

The Godfather II and Full House star died of natural causes at his Los Angeles home on August 5, according to his manager Will Levine.

Aprea, who played young Salvatore Tessio in the beloved Godfather movie franchise, died with his family members by his side earlier this month, according to TMZ. 

The New Jersey-born actor moved to New York in the 1960s to pursue his dreams after playing football at school and living in Italy for a few years with his family.

Actor John Aprea has died at the age of 83

The Godfather II and Full House star passed away from natural causes at his Los Angeles home on August 5, according to his manager Will Levine. He is pictured in the Godfather II

He then moved to LA, and played a hitman in the Steve McQueen movie Bullitt and acted as a mob boss on the 1981 NBC miniseries The Gangster Chronicles.

During his career, he also starred as the patriarch of a multi-generational Italian American family on NBC's The Montefuscos in the 1970s, as well as performing in TV show Knots Landing in 1988. 

Aprea first auditioned for the role of Michael Corleone in The Godfather after meeting director Francis Ford Coppola while he was bartending in LA. 

The role eventually went to Al Pacino, but Aprea was snapped up for the film's sequel. All of Aprea's lines as young Tessio in the film were spoken in Italian. 

In 1988, he was cast as Nick Katsopolis - John Stamos' father - in beloved American sitcom Full House, and he joined the cast again in 2017 for Fuller House. 

Young Sal Tessio (John Aprea), Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro) and Peter Clemenza (Bruno Kirby) attend festivities in New York's Little Italy, in the 1920s, where they will begin their ascent to power in Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather: Part II

During his career, he also starred as the patriarch of a multi-generational Italian American family on NBC's The Montefuscos in the 1970s, as well as performing in TV show Knots Landing in 1988

Seen here from left, Bruno Kirby as a young Peter Clemenza, Robert De Niro as Vito Corleone and John Aprea (back to camera) as a young Sal Tessio

John is pictured on June 4, 1982. Tributes have poured in following his death

John Aprea pictured in Full House

Aprea was married to his first wife actress Cherie Latimer, but the pair divorced after 11 years together.

He then married Ninon Zenovich in 1987, and they had a daughter together in 1989. 

Up until last year, Aprea was still working - with a reoccurring role as Jack Madison in crime-drama series The Bay. 

The show's creator and showrunner Gregori J. Martin announced: 'It was such a great honor to have the privilege of working with an icon like John on The Bay. 

'I have always been a fan of his work and he was a true gentleman and absolute pro who brought some beautiful moments to the role of Jack in these later seasons. We will all miss him dearly.'

The actor's Knots Landing co-star Paul Carafotes paid tribute to his longtime friend: 'I just heard that my old pal, friend passed away. We had lots of laughs. 

'We met on the set of CBS television show Knots Landing, 1987. Many will miss this man! Rest old friend. I'll see you on the other side.'

Fans across the world have also paid tribute to the actor.

One wrote online: 'I'm so sorry to hear of John Aprea's passing. This news was announced late Saturday night. I am just heartbroken to hear it, I just loved him so much.'