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