John Ashton
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.
78 acting credits
Acting · 78
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
1999
Columbo
1971
JAG
1995
Dallas
1978
King of the Hill
1997
The A-Team
1983
M*A*S*H
1972
Judging Amy
1999
The Twilight Zone
1985
A Touch of Frost
1992
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992
Starsky & Hutch
1975
Kojak
1973
Police Story
1973
Beverly Hills Cop
1984
The Finder
2012
Fairly Legal
2011
Today
1952
Fantasy Island
1998
The Shooter
1995
Hardball
1989
Beverly Hills Cop II
1987
Code R
1977
Police Squad!
1982
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
1984
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
2024
Gone Baby Gone
2007
I Know My First Name Is Steven
1989
Midnight Run
1988
Some Kind of Wonderful
1987
The Tommyknockers
1993
Instinct
1999
Love, Lies and Murder
1991
Curly Sue
1991
King Kong Lives
1986
Middle Men
2009
She's Having a Baby
1988
BRATS
2024
A Death in California
1985
Breaking Away
1979
Borderline
1980
The Deliberate Stranger
1986
Little Big League
1994
Meet the Deedles
1998
Trapped in Paradise
1994
Oh, God!
1977
The Deliberate Stranger
1986
Last Resort
1986
The Day Lincoln Was Shot
1998
Psycho Sisters
1974
Honky Tonk Freeway
1981
Elvis and the Beauty Queen
1981
I Want to Go Home
1989
Fast Money
1996
Reign of the Gargoyles
2007
All Happy Families
2024
A Letter to Dad
2009
Lawman Without a Gun
1979
Escape from Alaska
1999
Uncle John
2015
Little Girls in Pretty Boxes
1997
Death in Texas
2022
The Last Big Save
2019
Dirty Work
1992
Money Hunt: The Mystery of the Missing Link
1984
Making a Deal with the Devil
2019
My Father's House
1975
The Joke Thief
2018
The Wilds of Ten Thousand Islands
1978
An Eye for an Eye
1973
Condition Red
1995
American Christmas
2019
Cat Murkil and the Silks
1976
For Which He Stands
1996
Hot Bath an' a Stiff Drink 2
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Lonesome Soldier
2023
Once Upon a River
2019
Bill's Gun Shop
2001