CineScope
John Ashton picture

John Ashton

Acting
Known For

76 Years Old

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.

Born

Springfield, Massachusetts, USA on 22nd February 1948

Died

26th September 2024

All Credits

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Image
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Alan Fewkes
The A-Team Image
The A-Team
Cactus Jack Slater
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Image
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Police Woman Image
Police Woman
Dallas Image
Dallas
Willie Joe Garr
Columbo Image
Columbo
Calvin MacGruder
King of the Hill Image
King of the Hill
Instructor (voice)
M*A*S*H Image
M*A*S*H
A Touch of Frost Image
A Touch of Frost
The Twilight Zone Image
The Twilight Zone
Chief Brady Simmons (segment "Chameleon")
JAG Image
JAG
Brian Turque
Kojak Image
Kojak
Cullen
Fairly Legal Image
Fairly Legal
Lou Fisher
Judging Amy Image
Judging Amy
Dashiel Purdue
Police Story Image
Police Story
The Finder Image
The Finder
Franklin Sherman
Starsky & Hutch Image
Starsky & Hutch
Police Squad! Image
Police Squad!
I Know My First Name Is Steven Image
I Know My First Name Is Steven
Del Stayner
The Tommyknockers Image
The Tommyknockers
Butch Duggan
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F Image
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
Chief John Taggart
Beverly Hills Cop Image
Beverly Hills Cop
Sgt. Taggart
Today Image
Today
Self
Beverly Hills Cop II Image
Beverly Hills Cop II
John Taggart
Gone Baby Gone Image
Gone Baby Gone
Det. Nick Poole
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension Image
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
Highway Patrolman
Hardball Image
Hardball
Charlie Battles
Fantasy Island Image
Fantasy Island
Bobby
Midnight Run Image
Midnight Run
Marvin Dorfler, Headhunter
Code R Image
Code R
Karl
Middle Men Image
Middle Men
Morgan
King Kong Lives Image
King Kong Lives
Lt. Col. R.T. Nevitt
Some Kind of Wonderful Image
Some Kind of Wonderful
Cliff Nelson
BRATS Image
BRATS
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Reign of the Gargoyles Image
Reign of the Gargoyles
Commander Latham
Curly Sue Image
Curly Sue
Frank Arnold
Instinct Image
Instinct
Guard Dacks
She's Having a Baby Image
She's Having a Baby
Ken
Breaking Away Image
Breaking Away
Mike's Brother
Trapped in Paradise Image
Trapped in Paradise
Ed Dawson
A Death in California Image
A Death in California
Bob Swalwell
Little Big League Image
Little Big League
Mac MacNally
Oh, God! Image
Oh, God!
Police Officer (uncredited)
Borderline Image
Borderline
Charlie Monroe
The Deliberate Stranger Image
The Deliberate Stranger
Det. Roger Dunn
Honky Tonk Freeway Image
Honky Tonk Freeway
Otto Kemper
Last Resort Image
Last Resort
Phil Cocoran
Meet the Deedles Image
Meet the Deedles
Capt. Douglas Pine
Death in Texas Image
Death in Texas
Asher
The Shooter Image
The Shooter
Alex Reed
I Want to Go Home Image
I Want to Go Home
Harry Dempsey
Lonesome Soldier Image
Lonesome Soldier
Macroberts
Condition Red Image
Condition Red
Deputy Warden
All Happy Families Image
All Happy Families
Roy Landry
Elvis and the Beauty Queen Image
Elvis and the Beauty Queen
Jake
Making a Deal with the Devil Image
Making a Deal with the Devil
FBI Director
Escape from Alaska Image
Escape from Alaska
Kemp
Fast Money Image
Fast Money
Lt. Diego
The Joke Thief Image
The Joke Thief
Joseph Rogers
Psycho Sisters Image
Psycho Sisters
Brock
Cat Murkil and the Silks Image
Cat Murkil and the Silks
Coach Larkin
A Letter to Dad Image
A Letter to Dad
Mike Donahue
The Last Big Save Image
The Last Big Save
Joseph Bird Sr.
Dirty Work Image
Dirty Work
Eddie Ryan
The Day Lincoln Was Shot Image
The Day Lincoln Was Shot
Ulysses S. Grant
Lawman Without a Gun Image
Lawman Without a Gun
1st State Trooper
Money Hunt: The Mystery of the Missing Link Image
Money Hunt: The Mystery of the Missing Link
Cash Hunt
Once Upon a River Image
Once Upon a River
Little Girls in Pretty Boxes Image
Little Girls in Pretty Boxes
Peter Bryant
American Christmas Image
American Christmas
Rob
My Father's House Image
My Father's House
Sergeant
Uncle John Image
Uncle John
Uncle John
An Eye for an Eye Image
An Eye for an Eye
Sgt. Matthews
For Which He Stands Image
For Which He Stands
District Attorney
Hot Bath an' a Stiff Drink 2 Image
Hot Bath an' a Stiff Drink 2
Judge Nathan Rivers
No Image
The Wilds of Ten Thousand Islands
Orville