John Aprea
John Aprea | |
|---|---|
.JPG) Aprea in 1975 | |
| Born | Jonathan Aprea March 4, 1941 Englewood, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1968–present |
| Spouse |
Ninon Aprea
(m. 1987; div. 1998) |
| Children | 1 |
Jonathan "John" Aprea (born March 4, 1941)[1] is 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).
Early life
[edit]Aprea was born and raised in Englewood, New Jersey.[2] His parents were Italian immigrants who were both from the region of Campagna. His father was born in Sorrento and his mother was born in Castellammare di Stabia. While 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.[3]
In high school, Aprea played football as an All County tackle and linebacker.[4] He worked in a produce store owned by his parents, California Market, located in Englewood.[2] 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.[4]
Career
[edit]Aprea had always wanted to act, even though he has 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.[3]
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, working as a doorman at Schrafft's and as a bartender at the Pub Room at Arthur. Aprea eventually decided to leave New York to try other opportunities in Los Angeles.[4]
He made his film debut as Killer in Bullitt (1968), co-starring with Steve McQueen.[5] In 1970, he appeared in the films The Grasshopper and The Dark Side of Tomorrow.[6][7] Aprea played Richard in the film Sweet Kill (1972), co-starring with Tab Hunter.[8]
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 him as young Salvatore Tessio in The Godfather Part II (1974).[4][3]
Selected Filmography
[edit]- 1968 Bullitt as Killer
- 1970 The Grasshopper as The Ice Pack
- 1970 The Dark Side of Tomorrow as Jim Jeffers
- 1972 Sweet Kill as Richard
- 1973 The Seven-Ups as Killer (uncredited)
- 1974 Caged Heat as Dream Man
- 1974 The Godfather: Part II as Young Salvatore Tessio
- 1975 The Stepford Wives as Young Cop
- 1975 Crazy Mama as Marvin
- 1980 The Idolmaker as Mario Vacaro
- 1982 Comeback as Lawyer
- 1986 American Anthem as Mr. Tevere
- 1988 Picasso Trigger as Salazar / Picasso Trigger
- 1989 Savage Beach as Captain Andreas
- 1991 New Jack City as Don Armeteo
- 1991 Another World (TV series) as Lucas
- 1994 CyberTracker as Senator Dilly
- 1995 To the Limit as Philly Bambino
- 1987-1995 Full House as Nick Katsopolis
- 1996 Sunset Park as Dominic
- 1997 The Game as Power Executive
- 1998 Dead Man on Campus as Mr. Frederickson
- 1999 The Sopranos as U.S. Attorney
- 2000 Brother as Mafia Boss Geppetti
- 2004 The Manchurian Candidate as Rear Admiral Glick
- 2013 On Cinema (as himself)
- 2016 Stevie D as Angelo DiMarco
- 2014-2017 Decker as General Jeffrey Cotter
- 2017 Fuller House as Nick Katsopolis
References
[edit]- ^ "Aprea, John 1941-". encyclopedia.com. Archived from the original on June 4, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ a b "Englewood Native Strikes Out on Own - The Record (Bergen County, NJ) | HighBeam Research". web.archive.org. 2011-05-16. Retrieved 2024-07-27.
- ^ a b c "Life and career of John Aprea, "napoletano d'America"". italoamericano.org. February 11, 2016. Archived from the original on March 1, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Rout, Nancy E.; Buckley, Ellen (1992). The Soap Opera Book: Who's Who in Daytime Drama. Todd Publications. p. 7. ISBN 978-0-915344-23-9.
- ^ "Bullitt - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Archived from the original on May 28, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ "The Grasshopper - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Archived from the original on July 27, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ "The Dark Side of Tomorrow". tcm.com. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ "Sweet Kill". tcm.com. Archived from the original on June 24, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
External links
[edit]
- John Aprea at IMDb
- John Aprea at AllMovie
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
