John Ashton
Born: 1948-02-22 in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA
Died: 2024-09-26
Known For: Acting
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), 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.
Filmography
2024
- Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F as Chief John Taggart
- BRATS as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 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
- The Last Big Save as Joseph Bird Sr.
- American Christmas as Rob
- Once Upon a River
2018
- The Joke Thief as Joseph Rogers
2015
- Uncle John as Uncle John
2012
- The Finder as Franklin Sherman
2011
- Fairly Legal as Lou Fisher
2009
- Middle Men as Morgan
- A Letter to Dad as Mike Donahue
2007
- Gone Baby Gone as Det. Nick Poole
- Reign of the Gargoyles as Commander Latham
2001
- Bill's Gun Shop as Bill Voight
1999
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Alan Fewkes
- Judging Amy as Dashiel Purdue
- Instinct as Guard Dacks
- Escape from Alaska as Kemp
1998
- Fantasy Island as Bobby
- Meet the Deedles as Capt. Douglas Pine
- The Day Lincoln Was Shot as Ulysses S. Grant
1997
- King of the Hill as Instructor (voice)
- Little Girls in Pretty Boxes as Peter Bryant
1996
- Fast Money as Lt. Diego
- For Which He Stands as District Attorney
1995
- JAG as Brian Turque
- Condition Red as Deputy Warden
- The Shooter as Alex Reed
1994
- Trapped in Paradise as Ed Dawson
- Little Big League as Mac MacNally
1993
- The Tommyknockers as Butch Duggan
1992
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
- A Touch of Frost
- Dirty Work as Eddie Ryan
1991
- Curly Sue as Frank Arnold
1989
- I Want to Go Home as Harry Dempsey
- Hardball as Charlie Battles
- I Know My First Name Is Steven as Del Stayner
1988
- Midnight Run as Marvin Dorfler, Headhunter
- She's Having a Baby as Ken
1987
- Beverly Hills Cop II as John Taggart
- Some Kind of Wonderful as Cliff Nelson
1986
- King Kong Lives as Lt. Col. R.T. Nevitt
- Last Resort as Phil Cocoran
- The Deliberate Stranger as Det. Roger Dunn
- The Deliberate Stranger as Det. Roger Dunn
1985
- The Twilight Zone as Chief Brady Simmons (segment "Chameleon")
- A Death in California as Bob Swalwell
1984
- Beverly Hills Cop as Sgt. Taggart
- The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension as Highway Patrolman
- Money Hunt: The Mystery of the Missing Link as Cash Hunt
1983
- The A-Team as Cactus Jack Slater
1982
1981
- Honky Tonk Freeway as Otto Kemper
- Elvis and the Beauty Queen as Jake
1980
- Borderline as Charlie Monroe
1979
- Breaking Away as Mike's Brother
- Lawman Without a Gun as 1st State Trooper
1978
- Dallas as Willie Joe Garr
- The Wilds of Ten Thousand Islands as Orville
1976
- Cat Murkil and the Silks as Coach Larkin
1975
- Starsky & Hutch
- My Father's House as Sergeant
1974
- Police Woman
- Psycho Sisters as Brock
1973
- Kojak as Cullen
- Police Story
- An Eye for an Eye as Sgt. Matthews
1972
1971
- Columbo as Calvin MacGruder
1952
- Today as Self