John Ashton
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
1948-02-22
Day of Death
2024-09-26 (76 years old)
Place of Birth
Springfield, Massachusetts, USA
John Ashton
Biography
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) and Beverly Hills Cop II (1987), 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.
Known For
Acting
Hot Bath an' a Stiff Drink 2
as Judge Nathan Rivers
(2024)
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
as Chief John Taggart
(2024)
BRATS
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
(2024)
All Happy Families
as Roy Landry
(2023)
Lonesome Soldier
as Macroberts
(2022)
Death in Texas
as Asher
(2019)
Making a Deal with the Devil
as FBI Director
(2019)
The Last Big Save
as Joseph Bird Sr.
(2019)
(2019)
American Christmas
as Rob
(2018)
The Joke Thief
as Joseph Rogers
(2015)
Uncle John
as Uncle John
(2009)
Middle Men
as Morgan
(2009)
A Letter to Dad
as Mike Donahue
(2007)
Gone Baby Gone
as Det. Nick Poole
(2007)
Reign of the Gargoyles
as Commander Latham
(1999)
Instinct
as Guard Dacks
(1999)
Escape from Alaska
as Kemp
(1998)
Meet the Deedles
as Capt. Douglas Pine
(1998)
The Day Lincoln Was Shot
as Ulysses S. Grant
(1997)
Little Girls in Pretty Boxes
as Peter Bryant
(1996)
For Which He Stands
as District Attorney
(1996)
Fast Money
as Lt. Diego
(1995)
The Shooter
as Alex Reed
(1995)
Condition Red
as Deputy Warden
(1994)
Trapped in Paradise
as Ed Dawson
(1994)
Little Big League
as Mac MacNally
(1992)
Dirty Work
as Eddie Ryan
(1991)
Curly Sue
as Frank Arnold
(1989)
I Want to Go Home
as Harry Dempsey
(1988)
Midnight Run
as Marvin Dorfler, Headhunter
(1988)
She's Having a Baby
as Ken
(1987)
Beverly Hills Cop II
as John Taggart
(1987)
Some Kind of Wonderful
as Cliff Nelson
(1986)
King Kong Lives
as Lt. Col. R.T. Nevitt
(1986)
The Deliberate Stranger
as Det. Roger Dunn
(1986)
Last Resort
as Phil Cocoran
(1984)
Beverly Hills Cop
as Sgt. Taggart
(1984)
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
as Highway Patrolman
(1984)
Money Hunt: The Mystery of the Missing Link
as Cash Hunt
(1981)
Honky Tonk Freeway
as Otto Kemper
(1981)
Elvis and the Beauty Queen
as Jake
(1980)
Borderline
as Charlie Monroe
(1979)
Breaking Away
as Mike's Brother
(1979)
Lawman Without a Gun
as 1st State Trooper
(1978)
The Wilds of Ten Thousand Islands
as Orville
(1977)
Oh, God!
as Police Officer (uncredited)
(1976)
Cat Murkil and the Silks
as Coach Larkin
(1975)
My Father's House
as Sergeant
(1974)
Psycho Sisters
as Brock
(1973)
An Eye for an Eye
as Sgt. Matthews