John Ashton
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- February 22, 1948
- Died
- September 26, 2024 (aged 76)
- Birthplace
- Springfield, Massachusetts, USA
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.
Known For
Photos
Filmography
Hot Bath an' a Stiff Drink 2
Movie · as Judge Nathan Rivers
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
Movie · as Chief John Taggart
All Happy Families
Movie · as Roy Landry
BRATS
Movie · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Lonesome Soldier
Movie · as Macroberts
Death in Texas
Movie · as Asher
Making a Deal with the Devil
Movie · as FBI Director
The Last Big Save
Movie · as Joseph Bird Sr.
Once Upon a River
Movie
American Christmas
Movie · as Rob
The Joke Thief
Movie · as Joseph Rogers
Uncle John
Movie · as Uncle John
The Finder
TV · as Franklin Sherman · 1 ep
Fairly Legal
TV · as Lou Fisher · 1 ep
Middle Men
Movie · as Morgan
A Letter to Dad
Movie · as Mike Donahue
Gone Baby Gone
Movie · as Nick Poole
Reign of the Gargoyles
Movie · as Commander Latham
Bill's Gun Shop
Movie · as Bill Voight
Escape from Alaska
Movie · as Kemp
Instinct
Movie · as Guard Dacks
Judging Amy
TV · as Dashiel Purdue · 1 ep
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
TV · as Alan Fewkes · 1 ep
Meet the Deedles
Movie · as Capt. Douglas Pine
The Day Lincoln Was Shot
Movie · as Ulysses S. Grant
Fantasy Island
TV · as Bobby · 1 ep
Little Girls in Pretty Boxes
Movie · as Peter Bryant
King of the Hill
TV · as Instructor (voice) · 1 ep
Fast Money
Movie · as Lt. Diego
For Which He Stands
Movie · as District Attorney
The Shooter
Movie · as Alex Reed
Condition Red
Movie · as Deputy Warden
JAG
TV · as Brian Turque · 2 eps
Little Big League
Movie · as Mac MacNally
Trapped in Paradise
Movie · as Ed Dawson
The Tommyknockers
TV · as Butch Duggan · 2 eps
Dirty Work
Movie · as Eddie Ryan
A Touch of Frost
TV · as Ridley · 1 ep
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
TV · 1 ep
Curly Sue
Movie · as Frank Arnold (uncredited)
Love, Lies and Murder
TV · as Carrothers · 2 eps
I Want to Go Home
Movie · as Harry Dempsey
Hardball
TV · as Charlie Battles · 18 eps
I Know My First Name Is Steven
TV · as Del Stayner · 2 eps
Midnight Run
Movie · as Marvin Dorfler
She's Having a Baby
Movie · as Ken
Beverly Hills Cop II
Movie · as John Taggart
Some Kind of Wonderful
Movie · as Cliff Nelson
King Kong Lives
Movie · as Lt. Col. R.T. Nevitt
The Deliberate Stranger
Movie · as Det. Roger Dunn
Last Resort
Movie · as Phil Cocoran
The Deliberate Stranger
TV · as Det. Roger Dunn · 2 eps
A Death in California
TV · as Bob Swalwell · 2 eps
The Twilight Zone
TV · as Chief Brady Simmons (segment "Chameleon") · 1 ep
Beverly Hills Cop
Movie · as Sgt. Taggart
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
Movie · as Highway Patrolman
Money Hunt: The Mystery of the Missing Link
Movie · as Cash Hunt
The A-Team
TV · as Cactus Jack Slater · 1 ep
Police Squad!
TV · 1 ep
Elvis and the Beauty Queen
Movie · as Jake
Honky Tonk Freeway
Movie · as Otto Kemper
Borderline
Movie · as Charlie Monroe
Lawman Without a Gun
Movie · as 1st State Trooper
Breaking Away
Movie · as Mike's Brother
The Wilds of Ten Thousand Islands
Movie · as Orville
Dallas
TV · as Willie Joe Garr · 6 eps
Oh, God!
Movie · as Police Officer (uncredited)
Code R
TV · as Karl · 1 ep
Cat Murkil and the Silks
Movie · as Coach Larkin
My Father's House
Movie · as Sergeant
Starsky & Hutch
TV · 2 eps
Psycho Sisters
Movie · as Brock
An Eye for an Eye
Movie · as Sgt. Matthews
Kojak
TV · as Cullen · 1 ep
Police Story
TV · 1 ep
M*A*S*H
TV · 1 ep
Columbo
TV · as Calvin MacGruder · 1 ep
Today
TV · as Self · 1 ep