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John Ashton
Born · February 22, 1948
Died · September 26, 2024 (76 years old)
Known For: Acting
Place of Birth: Springfield, Massachusetts, USA
Bio
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) and Beverly Hills Cop II (1987), 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.
All Happy Families
0.0
2024
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
Chief John Taggart
6.7
2024
BRATS
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
5.9
2024
Lonesome Soldier
Macroberts
8.0
2023
Death in Texas
Asher
4.5
2022
American Christmas
Rob
3.7
2019
Making a Deal with the Devil
FBI Director
0.0
2019
The Last Big Save
Joseph Bird Sr.
7.3
2019
Once Upon a River
6.0
2019
The Joke Thief
Joseph Rogers
5.8
2018
Uncle John
Uncle John
5.9
2015
The Finder
Franklin Sherman · (1 episode)
7.1
2012
Fairly Legal
Lou Fisher · (1 episode)
6.6
2011
A Letter to Dad
Mike Donahue
6.0
2009
Middle Men
Morgan
6.5
2009
Gone Baby Gone
Det. Nick Poole
7.3
2007
Reign of the Gargoyles
Commander Latham
5.9
2007
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Alan Fewkes · (1 episode)
7.9
1999
Judging Amy
Dashiel Purdue · (1 episode)
7.5
1999
Escape from Alaska
Kemp
4.2
1999
Instinct
Guard Dacks
6.5
1999
Fantasy Island
Bobby · (1 episode)
7.5
1998
The Day Lincoln Was Shot
Ulysses S. Grant
6.8
1998
Meet the Deedles
Capt. Douglas Pine
4.5
1998
Little Girls in Pretty Boxes
Peter Bryant
5.0
1997
King of the Hill
Instructor (voice) · (1 episode)
7.3
1997
Fast Money
Lt. Diego
6.0
1996
For Which He Stands
District Attorney
6.0
1996
The Shooter
Alex Reed
4.8
1995
Condition Red
Deputy Warden
4.5
1995
JAG
Brian Turque · (2 episodes)
7.3
1995
Trapped in Paradise
Ed Dawson
5.6
1994
Little Big League
Mac MacNally
5.8
1994
The Tommyknockers
Butch Duggan · (2 episodes)
5.6
1993
A Touch of Frost
(1 episode)
7.5
1992
Dirty Work
Eddie Ryan
0.0
1992
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
(1 episode)
5.4
1992
Curly Sue
Frank Arnold
6.4
1991
I Want to Go Home
Harry Dempsey
4.9
1989
Hardball
Charlie Battles · (18 episodes)
7.0
1989
I Know My First Name Is Steven
Del Stayner · (2 episodes)
6.7
1989
Midnight Run
Marvin Dorfler
7.2
1988
She's Having a Baby
Ken
5.9
1988
Beverly Hills Cop II
John Taggart
6.5
1987
Some Kind of Wonderful
Cliff Nelson
6.9
1987
King Kong Lives
Lt. Col. R.T. Nevitt
5.1
1986
The Deliberate Stranger
Det. Roger Dunn
6.5
1986
Last Resort
Phil Cocoran
3.4
1986
The Twilight Zone
Chief Brady Simmons · (1 episode)
7.7
1985
A Death in California
Bob Swalwell · (2 episodes)
2.0
1985
Beverly Hills Cop
Sgt. Taggart
7.2
1984
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
Highway Patrolman
6.0
1984
Money Hunt: The Mystery of the Missing Link
Cash Hunt
0.0
1984
The A-Team
Cactus Jack Slater · (1 episode)
7.5
1983
Police Squad!
(1 episode)
7.8
1982
Honky Tonk Freeway
Otto Kemper
5.1
1981
Elvis and the Beauty Queen
Jake
2.2
1981
Borderline
Charlie Monroe
5.9
1980
Lawman Without a Gun
1st State Trooper
0.0
1979
Breaking Away
Mike's Brother
7.1
1979
Dallas
Willie Joe Garr · (6 episodes)
6.8
1978
The Wilds of Ten Thousand Islands
Orville
0.0
1978
Oh, God!
Police Officer (uncredited)
6.5
1977
Code R
Karl · (1 episode)
0.0
1977
Cat Murkil and the Silks
Coach Larkin
4.0
1976
Starsky & Hutch
(2 episodes)
7.2
1975
My Father's House
Sergeant
0.0
1975
Psycho Sisters
Brock
0.0
1974
Police Woman
(1 episode)
6.2
1974
Kojak
Cullen · (1 episode)
6.9
1973
An Eye for an Eye
Sgt. Matthews
5.0
1973
Police Story
(1 episode)
7.1
1973
M*A*S*H
(1 episode)
7.9
1972
Columbo
Calvin MacGruder · (1 episode)
8.1
1971
Today
Self · (1 episode)
5.5
1952