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Actor · Acting

John Ashton

Born 1948-02-22
Died 2024-09-26
📍 Springfield, Massachusetts, USA

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 77

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