John Ashton

Known for ActingBorn 1948-02-22Died 2024-09-26Springfield, Massachusetts, USA

John David Ashton (February 22, 1948 – September 26, 2024) was an American actor best known for his role as Sergeant John Taggart in the hit action-comedy films Beverly Hills Cop (1984), Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) and Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2025) where he played alongside Eddie Murphy. Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, Ashton developed a passion for acting early in life, later attending the University of Southern California's School of Theatre. Beyond his iconic role in the Beverly Hills Cop series, Ashton appeared in a wide range of films and TV shows throughout his career. His notable film appearances include Midnight Run (1988) alongside Robert De Niro, where he portrayed a bounty hunter named Marvin Dorfler. On television, Ashton has made guest appearances on popular series such as Columbo, MASH, and The A-Team. Ashton's performances are often characterized by his ability to balance humor and toughness, making him a beloved character actor, especially in roles that highlight his everyman charm and strong screen presence.Read more

Movies & web series

Psycho Sisters

Bill's Gun Shop

Money Hunt: The Mystery of the Missing Link

Lawman Without a Gun

My Father's House

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Columbo

Code R

Police Squad!

M*A*S*H

Fantasy Island

The Twilight Zone

A Touch of Frost

Judging Amy

Gone Baby Gone

King of the Hill

The A-Team

JAG

The Finder

Midnight Run

Beverly Hills Cop

Starsky & Hutch

Kojak

Breaking Away

Dirty Work

Hardball

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F

The Day Lincoln Was Shot

Police Story

Fairly Legal

Once Upon a River

Dallas

Some Kind of Wonderful

Middle Men

I Know My First Name Is Steven

Instinct

For Which He Stands

Beverly Hills Cop II

The Deliberate Stranger

BRATS

Curly Sue

Oh, God!

The Deliberate Stranger

Uncle John

A Death in California

The Last Big Save

Little Big League

A Letter to Dad

MAS*H