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John Aprea

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John Aprea
Aprea in 1975
Born
Jonathan Aprea

(1941-03-04) March 4, 1941 (age 83)
Englewood, New Jersey, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1968–present
Spouse
Ninon Aprea
​
​
(m. 1987; div. 1998)​
Children1

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

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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

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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]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1968 Bullitt Killer
1970 The Grasshopper The Ice Pack
The Dark Side of Tomorrow Jim Jeffers
1972 Sweet Kill Richard
1973 The Seven-Ups Killer Uncredited
1974 Caged Heat Dream Man
The Godfather Part II Young Salvatore Tessio
1975 The Stepford Wives Young Cop
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
CyberTracker Senator Dilly
1995 To the Limit Philly Bambino
1996 Sunset Park Dominic
1997 The Game Power Executive
My Brother Jack Barry Freed
1998 Deadly Ransom Mr. Merlin
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
Space Junk Dad Short film
2021 Cold Daniel Woods

Television

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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 9 episodes
Kate McShane Episode: "God at $15,732 a Year"
The Rookies Phil Richards Episode: "Shadow of a Man"
1978 The Rock Rainbow Mack Television film
A Guide for the Married Woman Waiter Television film
Fix-It City Joey Bellino Television film
1979 Wonder Woman Dupris Episode: "The Man Who Could Not Die"
Mrs. Columbo Phil Stoppard Episode: "Ladies of the Afternoon"
A Man Called Sloane Harry Helms Episode: "Architect of Evil"
1981 Crazy Times Ralph Television film
The Gangster Chronicles Albert Anastasia Television miniseries

13 episodes

1982 The Powers of Matthew Star Howard Crawford Episode: "The Accused"
1982–1984 Matt Houston Lt. Vince Novelli 24 episodes
1984 Getting Physical Craig Cawley Television film
Three's a Crowd Armando Episode: "Maternal Triangle"
Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer Matt Rainey Episode: "Catfight"
1985 Hardcastle and McCormick Episode: "What's So Funny?"
Simon & Simon Sidney Gretchen Episode: "The Mickey Mouse Mob"
Street Hawk Dumos Episode: "Follow the Yellow Gold Road"
Stingray Peter Shefland Television film
The A-Team Woody Stone Episode: "There Goes the Neighborhood"
1986 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Fisher Episode: "A Very Happy Ending"
The Fall Guy Joe Bradley Episode: "I Now Pronounce You...Dead"
1987 Blood Vows: The Story of a Mafia Wife Frank Television film
Private Eye Larry Robbins Episode: "Blue Movie"
Falcon Crest Sheriff Jack North Recurring role

16 episodes

1988 Tales from the Darkside Lee Episode: "Going Native"
Knots Landing Manny Vasquez Recurring role

12 episodes

1988–1989; 1991 Full House Nick Katsopolis Recurring role

7 episodes

1989 Father Dowling Mysteries Peter Luciani Episodes: "The Mafia Priest Mystery Part 1 & Part 2"
Night Court Marty Cologne Episode: "From Snoop to Nuts Part 1"
1989–1992; 1998 Another World Lucas Castigliano; Alexander Nikos Contract role

400+ episodes

1993 The Hat Squad Stevenson Episode: "Dead Man Walking"
Dark Justice Episode: "Clean Kill"
Melrose Place John Bryant Episode: "Of Bikes and Men"
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 Rough Crossing Dr. Bryce
Pacific Blue Sonny Sorrento Episode: "Thicker Than Water"
The Sopranos U.S. Attorney Episode: "I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano"
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"

References

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  1. ^ "Aprea, John 1941–". encyclopedia.com. Archived from the original on June 4, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "Bullitt - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Archived from the original on May 28, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  6. ^ "The Grasshopper - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Archived from the original on July 27, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  7. ^ "The Dark Side of Tomorrow". tcm.com. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  8. ^ "Sweet Kill". tcm.com. Archived from the original on June 24, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
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