John Ashton
Acting
Born 1948-02-22
Died 2024-09-26
Springfield, Massachusetts, USA
78 credits
Read 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.
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Filmography
— top 60 of 78
Acting
55 credits
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
King of the Hill
Columbo
Dallas
JAG
The A-Team
Judging Amy
A Touch of Frost
The Twilight Zone
Kojak
Today
Beverly Hills Cop
Fairly Legal
The Finder
Gone Baby Gone
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
Midnight Run
Beverly Hills Cop II
Fantasy Island
Instinct
Curly Sue
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
The Tommyknockers
I Know My First Name Is Steven
King Kong Lives
Hardball
Some Kind of Wonderful
Code R
The Deliberate Stranger
Middle Men
She's Having a Baby
Breaking Away
Trapped in Paradise
BRATS
Borderline
Oh, God!
The Shooter
Little Big League
A Death in California
The Deliberate Stranger
Love, Lies and Murder
Meet the Deedles
Honky Tonk Freeway
Psycho Sisters
Death in Texas
Lonesome Soldier
Last Resort
Elvis and the Beauty Queen
I Want to Go Home
Reign of the Gargoyles
The Day Lincoln Was Shot
Uncle John
Making a Deal with the Devil
For Which He Stands
Dirty Work
Other credits
5 credits
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