John Ashton

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

78

Gender

Male

Birthday

1948-02-22

Day of death

2024-09-26 (76 years old)

Place of Birth

Springfield, Massachusetts, USA

John Ashton

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

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

  • Columbo

    Columbo

  • JAG

    JAG

  • King of the Hill

    King of the Hill

  • M*A*S*H

    M*A*S*H

  • Dallas

    Dallas

  • Starsky & Hutch

    Starsky & Hutch

  • The A-Team

    The A-Team

  • Police Woman

    Police Woman

  • Judging Amy

    Judging Amy

  • The Twilight Zone

    The Twilight Zone

  • The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

    The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

  • A Touch of Frost

    A Touch of Frost

  • Kojak

    Kojak

  • Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F

    Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F

  • Today

    Today

  • Police Story

    Police Story

  • Beverly Hills Cop II

    Beverly Hills Cop II

  • Beverly Hills Cop

    Beverly Hills Cop

  • Fairly Legal

    Fairly Legal

  • The Finder

    The Finder

  • Police Squad!

    Police Squad!

  • Curly Sue

    Curly Sue

  • Fantasy Island

    Fantasy Island

  • King Kong Lives

    King Kong Lives

  • Gone Baby Gone

    Gone Baby Gone

  • I Know My First Name Is Steven

    I Know My First Name Is Steven

  • Hardball

    Hardball

  • Trapped in Paradise

    Trapped in Paradise

  • The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension

    The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension

  • Some Kind of Wonderful

    Some Kind of Wonderful

  • Honky Tonk Freeway

    Honky Tonk Freeway

  • Middle Men

    Middle Men

  • Midnight Run

    Midnight Run

  • Fast Money

    Fast Money

  • Meet the Deedles

    Meet the Deedles

  • The Tommyknockers

    The Tommyknockers

  • Code R

    Code R

  • Escape from Alaska

    Escape from Alaska

  • Oh, God!

    Oh, God!

  • Breaking Away

    Breaking Away

  • The Shooter

    The Shooter

  • I Want to Go Home

    I Want to Go Home

  • A Letter to Dad

    A Letter to Dad

  • Last Resort

    Last Resort

  • Instinct

    Instinct

  • She's Having a Baby

    She's Having a Baby

  • The Joke Thief

    The Joke Thief

  • Little Big League

    Little Big League

  • Dirty Work

    Dirty Work

  • Borderline

    Borderline

  • BRATS

    BRATS

  • Reign of the Gargoyles

    Reign of the Gargoyles

  • Making a Deal with the Devil

    Making a Deal with the Devil

  • Lonesome Soldier

    Lonesome Soldier

  • Death in Texas

    Death in Texas

  • A Death in California

    A Death in California

  • My Father's House

    My Father's House

  • An Eye for an Eye

    An Eye for an Eye

  • The Deliberate Stranger

    The Deliberate Stranger

  • The Wilds of Ten Thousand Islands

    The Wilds of Ten Thousand Islands

  • Lawman Without a Gun

    Lawman Without a Gun

  • The Day Lincoln Was Shot

    The Day Lincoln Was Shot

  • All Happy Families

    All Happy Families

  • Money Hunt: The Mystery of the Missing Link

    Money Hunt: The Mystery of the Missing Link

  • Elvis and the Beauty Queen

    Elvis and the Beauty Queen

  • Little Girls in Pretty Boxes

    Little Girls in Pretty Boxes

  • The Deliberate Stranger

    The Deliberate Stranger

  • Psycho Sisters

    Psycho Sisters

  • Uncle John

    Uncle John

  • For Which He Stands

    For Which He Stands

  • Cat Murkil and the Silks

    Cat Murkil and the Silks

  • The Last Big Save

    The Last Big Save

  • American Christmas

    American Christmas

  • Hot Bath an' a Stiff Drink 2

    Hot Bath an' a Stiff Drink 2

  • Condition Red

    Condition Red

  • Once Upon a River

    Once Upon a River

  • Bill's Gun Shop

    Bill's Gun Shop