Tributes pour in after death of The Godfather Part II and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation star John Aprea

John Aprea has died of natural causes at the age of 83. The beloved actor died at his Los Angeles home on August 5, according to his manager, Will Levine. He was surrounded by his family.

Born March 4, 1941, in Englewood, New Jersey, John began his decade-long career with a small role in the 1968 classic Bullitt, starring Steve McQueen. In the early 70s, the star appeared in The Grasshopper (1970), Sweet Kill (1972) and The Seven-Ups (1973) before landing one of his most popular roles.

Playing the young Salvatore Tessio in Francis Ford Coppola's crime film, The Godfather 2 (1974), John inherited the role of Abe Vigoda. The film won six Academy Awards and a BAFTA, among others.

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In a 2020 interview withDigital Journal, John spoke of his enduring pride. “There have been jobs that have changed things for me, like The Godfather Part II, which was monumental for me. There’s also been a series here and there, and a pilot that aired. Those are the things that keep you going.”

“The Godfather Part II stays with you,” he continued. “It becomes part of who you are.” It’s one of the best movies ever made.

John had also qualified The Godfather 2 "highlight" of his career. Looking back on his work with Francis Ford Coppola, Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, he noted: "I was surrounded by the best in The Godfather."

While John's portrayal of Salvatore Tessio may be the most talked about, the New Jersey native has also made his mark on television. From 1988 to 1991, he played Nick Katsopolis — the father of John Stamos' character Jesse — and later signed on to Another World.

The Sopranos (1999), Days of our Lives (1999), CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2013), Decker (2016-17), Fuller House (2017) and The Bay (2020-2023) complete his long list of television credits.

John is survived by his third wife, Betsy, with whom he was for 25 years; his daughter, Nicole, from his second marriage to actress Ninon Aprea; and his stepchildren Marika and Valentino.

Following the news of his passing, tributes poured in on X, formerly known as Twitter. “#JohnAprea has passed away. What a great actor! I loved him in #AnotherWorld and @TheBaytheSeries,” one fan wrote.

“RIP to John Aprea, a talented and ever-present character actor,” wrote a second.