John Ashton
Acting • Born 1948-02-22 – Died 2024-09-26
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.
Filmography
78 credits
Beverly Hills Cop
Movie • 1984
Sgt. Taggart
Beverly Hills Cop II
Movie • 1987
John Taggart
Lawman Without a Gun
Movie • 1979
1st State Trooper
Gone Baby Gone
Movie • 2007
Det. Nick Poole
Breaking Away
Movie • 1979
Mike's Brother
Little Big League
Movie • 1994
Mac MacNally
Trapped in Paradise
Movie • 1994
Ed Dawson
King Kong Lives
Movie • 1986
Lt. Col. R.T. Nevitt
Borderline
Movie • 1980
Charlie Monroe
Midnight Run
Movie • 1988
Marvin Dorfler, Headhunter
She's Having a Baby
Movie • 1988
Ken
Meet the Deedles
Movie • 1998
Capt. Douglas Pine
Reign of the Gargoyles
Movie • 2007
Commander Latham
Psycho Sisters
Movie • 1974
Brock
Some Kind of Wonderful
Movie • 1987
Cliff Nelson
An Eye for an Eye
Movie • 1973
Sgt. Matthews
Escape from Alaska
Movie • 1999
Kemp
The Shooter
Movie • 1995
Alex Reed
The Deliberate Stranger
Movie • 1986
Det. Roger Dunn
The Wilds of Ten Thousand Islands
Movie • 1978
Orville
Fast Money
Movie • 1996
Lt. Diego
Cat Murkil and the Silks
Movie • 1976
Coach Larkin
For Which He Stands
Movie • 1996
District Attorney
The Day Lincoln Was Shot
Movie • 1998
Ulysses S. Grant
Little Girls in Pretty Boxes
Movie • 1997
Peter Bryant
Middle Men
Movie • 2009
Morgan
Last Resort
Movie • 1986
Phil Cocoran
Lonesome Soldier
Movie • 2023
Macroberts
Oh, God!
Movie • 1977
Police Officer (uncredited)
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
Movie • 2024
Chief John Taggart
All Happy Families
Movie • 2024
Roy Landry
Uncle John
Movie • 2015
Uncle John
Dirty Work
Movie • 1992
Eddie Ryan
Condition Red
Movie • 1995
Deputy Warden
Instinct
Movie • 1999
Guard Dacks
BRATS
Movie • 2024
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Curly Sue
Movie • 1991
Frank Arnold
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
Movie • 1984
Highway Patrolman
The Joke Thief
Movie • 2018
Joseph Rogers
Elvis and the Beauty Queen
Movie • 1981
Jake
Making a Deal with the Devil
Movie • 2019
FBI Director
The Last Big Save
Movie • 2019
Joseph Bird Sr.
Once Upon a River
Movie • 2019
American Christmas
Movie • 2019
Rob
Honky Tonk Freeway
Movie • 1981
Otto Kemper
A Letter to Dad
Movie • 2009
Mike Donahue
I Want to Go Home
Movie • 1989
Harry Dempsey
Death in Texas
Movie • 2022
Asher
Money Hunt: The Mystery of the Missing Link
Movie • 1984
Cash Hunt
My Father's House
Movie • 1975
Sergeant
Hot Bath an' a Stiff Drink 2
Movie
Judge Nathan Rivers
Bill's Gun Shop
Movie • 2001
Bill Voight
M*A*S*H
TV • 1972
Starsky & Hutch
TV • 1975
Judging Amy
TV • 1999
Dashiel Purdue
Today
TV • 1952
Self
A Touch of Frost
TV • 1992
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
TV • 1992
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
TV • 1999
Alan Fewkes
Kojak
TV • 1973
Cullen
Dallas
TV • 1978
Willie Joe Garr
Police Squad!
TV • 1982
Police Story
TV • 1973
Hardball
TV • 1989
Charlie Battles
Code R
TV • 1977
Karl
I Know My First Name Is Steven
TV • 1989
Del Stayner
The Finder
TV • 2012
Franklin Sherman
Columbo
TV • 1971
Calvin MacGruder
The Tommyknockers
TV • 1993
Butch Duggan
A Death in California
TV • 1985
Bob Swalwell
Fairly Legal
TV • 2011
Lou Fisher
King of the Hill
TV • 1997
Instructor (voice)
The Twilight Zone
TV • 1985
Chief Brady Simmons (segment "Chameleon")
JAG
TV • 1995
Brian Turque
Fantasy Island
TV • 1998
Bobby
The A-Team
TV • 1983
Cactus Jack Slater
The Deliberate Stranger
TV • 1986
Det. Roger Dunn
Love, Lies and Murder
TV • 1991
Carrothers